If you haven’t dipped your toes into international cinema, it can be hard to know where to start. The world of international movies is so expansive, and this can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it makes it difficult to find an entry point. However, on the other hand, there’s undoubtedly a wealth of gems you’ve yet to discover. There is a common misconception that movies made outside Hollywood are automatically pretentious, but this is far from the truth. Just because a film isn’t in English, it doesn’t mean that it’s not accessible, and believing so isn’t doing you any favors.
The recognition of international movies has come a long way in recent years. In 2020, Bong Joon-Ho’sParasitebecame the first international-language feature to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Director Bong’sspeech at the Golden Globesin which he said, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,” also struck a chord with many viewers. It’s great that awards shows are beginning to include world cinema more but what matters most is that viewers actually watch these movies. Whether you’re looking to get into international-language films more or you’re already well-versed and just looking for recommendations, here are 13 suggestions based on English-language favorites.
13Lady Bird — Nobody’s Daughter Haewon
If you loveGreta Gerwig’sLady Bird, you should try outNobody’s Daughter Haewon. Although separated in age with Lady Bird being in high school and Haewon being in college, the protagonists are united in their aimlessness. Lady Bird mentions wanting to live through something, likewise, Haewon wants her life to be more interesting. Both are somewhat awkward and stumble into relationships that aren’t quite right but with good intentions.Nobody’s Daughter Haewonmay be quieter thanLady Bird,but it’s no less enigmatic.
12Bones and All — Raw
The parallelbetweenBones and AllandRawis fairly evident: they are both cannibal movies. However, beyond that, they are also both coming-of-age stories that take a particular interest in female desire. The protagonists, Maren and Justine, are both setting out on their own for the first time and coming face to face with the hunger they harbor. Desire is just one of the many concepts cannibalism can be read as an allegory for, and this makes these films rich for analysis. The two movies make a fascinating double bill and if you lovedBones and Allthere’s no way you won’t also enjoyRaw.
Related:9 Underrated International Horror Movies You Should Know
11A Bigger Splash — It’s Only the End of the World
In terms of plot,A Bigger SplashandIt’s Only the End of the Worldare not hugely similar, but they do converge thematically and atmospherically.A Bigger Splashtells the story of a rockstar and her husband going on holiday to Italy, where they get a surprise visit from an old friend.It’s Only the End of the Worldfinds its protagonist visiting his family for the first time in over a decade to tell them he is terminally ill. While these premises are very different, they share an antagonistic air. The characters in both are prone to arguments and lack empathy for one another. Taking place in European summers, these two movies make an interesting pairing.
10Frances Ha — Attenberg
Frances HaandAttenbergare films in the vein ofThe Worst Person in the World. They’re both movies addressing the disillusionment of being in your 20s and not knowing where your life is going. Both are interesting and quirky, withFrances Hain Noah Baumbach’s typical style andAttenbergfeaturing choreographed dance segments with the protagonist and her friend dancing in a courtyard. If you’re a fan ofFrances Haand the like,Attenbergis the one for you.
9Se7en — Memories of Murder
For fans ofSe7en(or any of David Fincher’s detective movies), a great recommendation isMemories of Murder. This is one of Bong Joon-Ho’searliest feature films. It follows the story of detectives trying to solve a case of serial murders in a small Korean town, which is complicated by the lack of forensic testing available. Both directors have an impeccable grasp of tension-building and know how to craft an entertaining screenplay. With humor and a great plot,Memories of Murderis accessible to an international audience, and there’s no chance of getting bored halfway through.
8One Day — Goodbye First Love
One DayandGoodbye First Loveboth tackle the experience of a first love that never really dies. InOne Daywe see how the central pair spend the same day every year for a few decades, sometimes together, and others not.Goodbye First Loveis not so structured but has a similar premise in which we see how a first relationship impacts the protagonist Camille over several years, with that first boyfriend coming in and out of her life. The tone ofOne Dayis lighter than that ofGoodbye First Love, but this makes it interesting to compare their approaches to a similar subject.
7The Favourite — The Handmaiden
On the surface,The FavouriteandThe Handmaidenmight appear very different, set hundreds of years apart and on opposite sides of the world. But both present fascinating, psychosexual relationships and worlds where everyone is attempting to gain power. Despite the darkness present in both movies, they also draw on comedy to balance out the tone.The Handmaiden’s director Park Chan-Wook tellsThat Shelfthat he “can’t stand cheesy scenes that drone on and on in an overly serious manner, even if they are supposed to be romantic.”
6The Pursuit of Happyness — Roma
The Pursuit of HappynessandRomashare acentral critique of class systems. The way they go about their discussions of it is different given the different settings and time periods.The Pursuit of Happynessis set recently in the United States and follows the struggles of a salesman and his son as they are left homeless. In contrast,Romais set in Mexico in the 1970s and depicts the story of a middle-class family’s maid. Both movies pay attention to the way wealth and class impact children in these different scenarios.
5Rocks — Girlhood
In differing but mirroring stories,RocksandGirlhoodtell the stories of young girls living in council estates in the UK and France, respectively. Both girls, Rocks and Vic, have absent parents and are left with more responsibility than a young person should have. However, instead of either movie falling into bleakness and misery, the girls are able to display growth and resilience. These similar stories from either side of the channel create thought-provoking contrast.
Related:Best International-Language Movies of 2022
4Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me — Vagabond
David Lynch’sTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Meand Agnès Varda’sVagabondshare a similar premise: they both depict a murdered girl’s final weeks or days. Neither holds back on its imagery, which can be brutal at times, given the subject matter. However, while Varda employs a rigid tone of realism, Lynch sticks to his usual stylized, nightmarish approach. These distinct methods of portraying similar events create a compelling distinction between the movies. There’s no guarantee thatFire Walk WIth Mefans will also enjoyVagabond, but love it or hate it, it’ll give them much to think about.
