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It may seem unforgivably narrow-minded to divide films into "American" and "Foreign-language" (what about all the great British and Australian films, to begin with?). If you look at lists of French, Italian, Québecois or Japanese films, you'll find many you've never heard of simply because you've never had a chance to see them. But given these limitations, here is a list of my favourite foreign-language films (alphabetically by director): either films I've seen repeatedly or films which left a vivid impression the first time and which I'd love to see again. [I've omitted films like "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and "Life is Wonderful" that I've seen and hated.] Favourite Foreign-Language Films Almodovar, Pedro All About My Mother Talk to Her Volver Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Antonioni, Michelangelo Blow-Up The Passenger Arcand, Denys Jesus of Montreal The Barbarian Invasions The Decline of the American Empire Axel, Gabriel Babette’s Feast Bergman, Ingmar Autumn Sonata Cries and Whispers Fanny and Alexander Persona Scenes From a Marriage Smiles of a Summer Night The Magic Flute The Seventh Seal Wild Strawberries Bunuel, Luis Belle de Jour That Obscure Object of Desire The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie The Milky Way The Phantom of Liberty Camus, Marcel Black Orpheus Carion, Christian Joyeux Noël Carne, Marcel The Children of Paradise Corbiau, Gérard The Music Teacher Costa-Gavras Z De Sica, Vittorio The Bicycle Thief Dell Toro, Guillermo Pan’s Labyrinth Fellini, Federico 8 ½ Amarcord Ginger and Fred Godard, Jean-Luc Breathless Henckel von Donnersmarck, Florian The Lives of Others Kieslowski, Krzystof Three Colours: Blue Three Colours: Red Three Colours: White Kunuk, Zacharias The Fast Runner The Journals of Knut Rasmussen Kurosawa, Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams Lang, Fritz M Metropolis Leconte, Patrice The Man on the Train Lee, Ang Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Lelouch, Claude A Man and a Woman Malle, Louis Lacombe, Lucien Mehta, Deepa Water Mélançon, André The Dog Who Stopped the War Polanski, Roman Knife in the Water Repulsion Radford, Michael The Postman Resnais, Alain Last Year at Marienbad Robert, Yves My Father’s Glory My Mother’s Castle Saura, Carlos Carmen Cria Cuervos Tango Scola, Ettore Le Bal Tachella, Jean-Charles Cousin, Cousine Tati, Jacques Mr. Hulot’s Holiday Taviani, Paolo and Vittorio Kaos Teshigahara, Hiroshi Woman of the Dunes Tornatore, Giuseppe Cinema Paradiso Truffaut, François The Bride Wore Black Day for Night Fahrenheit 451 Jules et Jim Pocket Money (or Small Change) Shoot the Piano Player Stolen Kisses The Story of Adele H. The Wild Child Two English Girls |
