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International Films:
A trip around the world with your DVD player…
Now that the Oscar race is over, and we can all take a moment to ponder Crash as Best Film of the Year, it’s time to look forward to watching new and ground-breaking works of cinema. Regrettably, The Shaggy Dog, Aquamarine (JoJo, is that you?), and She’s The Man hardly do it for most people. If you’ve got some time to be entertained but no place to do it, look no further than your DVD player, a big bowl of popcorn, and some excellent international films that let you get away without ever leaving your living room. ¤ C.Ho.
Amélie (2001)
Country of Origin: France, where it’s known as Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain.
Although the only copy of the film available at the time was an old, scratched up DVD with diminished volume, it did nothing to diminish my love for the story. Amélie is just an all-around feel good movie that will renew your faith in humanity, especially if the latest Oscar-nominated film has got you down. Amélie is a sweet, naïve young woman who, through a very strange coincidence, helps out a complete stranger. On a do-gooder high, Amélie sets out to help those around her, often with amusing, heart-warming consequences. In the process, she also manages to fall in love. French actress Audrey Tatou, who will soon be appearing in The Da Vinci Code, simply shines as the lovable protagonist. Miramax has released an “Inspired Romance Collection,” which includes Amélie, Like Water for Chocolate, Il Postino, and Chocolat, and this is your best bet for a relaxing night in.Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Country of Origin: U.K., where it’s known as Bend It Like Beckham.
This charming little film earned rave reviews and good word-of-mouth upon its release several years ago, and it still captivates to this day. The plot is nothing short of predictable, but the performances, especially that of Parminder Magra, more than make up for the lack of suspense. The story is about a young Indian girl (Magra) growing up in England who finally has a chance to realize her dream of playing professional soccer. Unfortunately, her old-fashioned parents are less than thrilled at the prospect of their youngest daughter canoodling on a soccer field with cleats, so she sets out to keep those two worlds apart. There is also an exceptional performance to be found in a much-younger Kiera Knightley, who puts in a fun performance as best friend Jules Paxton. And if you’re sick of seeing too much Knightley as of late, this film will renew your faith in her. Another great thing about this film is Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who serves up the eye-candy as team coach Joe. If you’ve already caught this movie during its box office run, a second viewing via DVD will provide new goodies like deleted scenes, outtakes, and director commentary.Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
Country of Origin: France, where it’s known as Cyrano de Bergerac.
The classic story gets the big-screen treatment with Gérard Depardieu as the titular character who is deeply in love with beautiful Roxane (Anne Brochet), but is plagued with low self-esteem because of his large nose. So what is a sensitive yet rugged poet/soldier to do? He sets out to help another one of Roxane’s suitors, simple and tongue-tied Christian de Neuvillette (Vincent Perez), woo her with lovely prose and meaningful verses. The film plays for laughs, but the story is all about the excrutiating cases of mistaken identities. De Bergerac is a likeable character, and Depardieu puts in a powerful performance; he’s confident and strong when he’s writing love letters to Roxane, and yet vulnerable and withdrawn when he’s confronted by his own insecurities. There is an earlier, 1987 updated version of this film starring Steve Martin, but this adaptation, which sticks very close to the original, is a better representation of this timeless tale. And luckily, this gem was just released on DVD in 2004 for everyone to enjoy in widescreen.
Delicatessen (1991)
Country of Origin: France, where it’s known as…Delicatessen.
I saw this quirky film eons ago, during a slow day in my high school French class. (I don’t recall the teacher letting us see this with subtitles, so the translation might be a little hazy, and kind of untrue at times.) The premise is kind of kooky: in a post-apocalyptic world (that much resembles the Depression), meat has become scarce. A shady butcher capitalizes on this fact by overcharging his patrons for the delicacy, and no one really stops to wonder how this butcher got his hands on endless supplies of meat. Louison, played by the distinctive character actor Dominique Pinon, who some might recognize from Amélie or Aliens, stumbles upon this meat black market and, with the help of the butcher’s daughter, tries to put a stop to the evil butcher’s plans. The film is shot entirely through a yellowed lens that adds an eerie feeling to the black comedy, and the characters are truly unforgettable. It’s available on DVD and recommended for those looking for an unconventional story – but for the faint at heart, the subject matter might be hard to stomach.Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (1994)
Country of Origin: Taiwan, where it’s known as Yin shi nan nu.
Ang Lee has always been a great director, but now that he’s officially the director of the hour, it’s time to forget about Brokeback Mountain and explore his earlier works. With a deft hand, Lee brings the story of a widowed father and his three daughters to life. A revered master chef in his heyday, Chu (Sihung Lung) is starting to lose his sense of taste as his daughters grow up and start to assert their own independence. Life seems to be spiraling out of control for all members, including the youngest daughter who navigates the channels of forbidden love, and the eldest, who has grown too uptight to notice that life is passing her by. Once a week, the family comes meets for a traditional Sunday dinner, which used to bring them together but now only highlights their separation more. This is a slower film driven by silences and dialogue, but it’s worth a perusal for Lee’s stunning camera work (if you love food, you’ll love the devotion that the camera gives it) and the appreciation that the story gives to father-daughter relationships.Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
Country of Origin: Mexico, where it’s known as Como agua para chocolate.
I’m a sucker for unrequited love stories, and none come close to Alfonso Arau’s Like Water for Chocolate. Originally adapted from a novel of the same name by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate follows the lives of Pedro and Tita, who instantly fall in love with each other but can never be together. Archaic family traditions keep the two lovers apart, and Pedro ends up marrying Tita’s older sister instead. Spanning years, the two lovers learn how to get by with a glance or an accidental touch, which is never enough but must sustain them. The story takes a surreal turn when Tita’s feelings begin to manifest into her cooking, but thankfully the magical realism components are kept to a minimum and do nothing to diminish from the real heart of the tragic love story. (If you’ve seen the atrocious and completely uninspired Simply Irresistible, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, then you’ll know what I mean.) I saw Like Water for Chocolate long before things like DVDs existed, but now you can see the film in the 2000 DVD version at your local Blockbuster. And if you have some extra time, pick up the novel by Esquivel, which includes yummy recipes to keep your stomach (and heart) titillated.
Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Country of Origin: Italy, where it’s known as La vita è bella.
While you’re sitting around pondering what happened to Roberto Benigni, it might be worthwhile to go out and rent Life Is Beautiful, the film that initially propelled Benigni into the crossover North American market. Benigni wrote, directed and starred in this heartbreaking movie about a man who uses his sense of humour and positive outlook to help his son cope with being detained in a Nazi death camp. A moving performance earned Benigni the Best Actor Oscar, as well as a quirky and exuberant Oscar acceptance speech. I didn’t see this film until after all the hype had died down, but was equally impressed with the acting, script, and cinematography. It’s a brilliant film under the surprisingly capable hands of Benigni, and should not be missed. This film is available on DVD, and it’s also in a Miramax Home Entertainment compilation, “Academy Award Winning Movies - Volume I.” With this boxed set, you can also catch Chicago and Frida.My Sassy Girl (2001)
Country of Origin: Korea, where it’s known as Yeopgijeogin geunyeo.
I’m usually not a sucker for sappy love stories, but since this is one of Bee’s favourite films, it was inevitable that I would end up watching it – twice. Luckily, Bee had this film on a new DVD, and since I haven’t had much luck with watching rented foreign films without my VCR eating the tape, the DVD skipping, or the volume crapping out, it really helped. Based on a true story, My Sassy Girl is a terrible name for a movie that ends up being quite bittersweet and charming. Kyun-woo, played by an adorable and hapless Tae-hyun Cha, befriends and falls for a mysterious and complicated girl (Ji-hyun Jun, whose character is simply known as “The Girl”). At first he wants nothing to do with her, but as their paths cross again and again, he can’t help but be intrigued. The Girl is quite mean and demanding and never really lets up, but by the film’s end, all motivations are revealed. Kudos for making this film less about sex and lust and more about character development and plot. The DVD might be hard to procure, but it's worth a look as this makes a great date movie.The Professional (1994)
Country of Origin: France, where it’s known as Léon.
Luc Besson hasn’t exactly had the most stellar career as a director or producer (The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Taxi, and Transporter 2 come to mind), but he’s a pro when it comes to stories about hit people and the tragic lives that they lead. 1990’s Nikita (which was later remade into Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda) is a stylish film about a young criminal who is trained as an assassin and, in 1994, Besson returned to the big screen with the male version. Starring Jean Reno, The Professional follows the life of Léon, a hermit-like killer who, under dire circumstances, takes in a young girl that has just lost her family. The young girl in question is Natalie Portman – in her very first movie role – and she’s absolutely wonderful as Mathilda, effortlessly keeping up with veterans Reno and Gary Oldman. From the suave opening sequence to the last moments of the film, The Professional never lets up (although Oldman's character sometimes morphs into a caricature of what a villain should be). The DVD features are scant (Besson has claimed that he never provides interviews or commentary because he believes that it takes away from the impact of the film), but the film is more than good enough to stand alone.
The Ring (1998)
Country of Origin: Japan, where it’s known as Ringu.
Forget about Naomi Watts and the American remake – the original Ringu is much, much more frightening. The story revolves around the urban legend of a mysterious tape that is being circulated (much like a chain letter); anyone who watches the strange tape falls prey to a curse that will kill him or her in seven days, and when reporter Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) unearths the tape, it’s a race against time to see if she can reverse the curse before it’s too late. Although horror movies that involve technology are rarely good or believable, The Ring works because director Hideo Nakata was painstakingly involved a back-story that serves to explain the origin of this tape, and why the little girl in the well, Sadako (Rie Inou), is just so angry. The film has its scary, jump-out-of-your-seat moments, but it’s the atmosphere that makes this one so chilling. The infamous tape that has the power to kill is cryptic at best, but it, and Inou’s performance, will definitely make the hairs on your arms stand up and possibly run off to hide for a couple of hours. I haven’t seen the others in this trilogy, but the “Ringu Anthology of Terror,” which includes Rasen, Ringu, Ringu 2, and Ringu 0, is a good bet for any horror buff.
