there is something unique about foreign movies, but especially french ones. as much as i love american and british movies, foreign movies are in a whole different category. what i have often noticed in french movies is a larger focus on what the character(s) are feeling as the circumstances happen rather than the actual circumstances. the point of the movie is not always to figure out the plot but to observe the feel of the movie, the music, the expressions of the people's faces. its about the journey - not the final destination.
now there are some independent american and british movies that fall into this category but it is not as common as in french movies. when you stop worrying about where the plot is going and really focus on the characters and how their expressions and the music is affecting the story, it is a completely different movie watching experience; i love it. i find that i want to call these sorts of movies films rather than movies. somehow there's a distinction in my mind.
the music is often different as well - often mainly instrumental with lots of character that lends a certain feeling to scenes that other music would not. i've long thought that classical and instrumental music are able to convey depth of feeling in a way other types of music are not. why? who knows, but there is nothing like a scene backed by an exceptional classical or instrumental piece.
if you have never tried watching foreign or french films before - give it a try. i understand that not everyone will enjoy them and even if you do, it may take you a while to get used to watching a different sort of movie - the style, the language and subtitles, the characters and plot. but you may find over time that there is a satisfaction you feel after watching such a film that you do not get in your average blockbuster or popular movie.
here are some of my favorite french films.
amelie (2001)
click here to watch the trailer
les choristes (the chorus) (2004)
click here to watch the trailer
hors de prix (priceless) (2006)
i enjoyed these as well. they aren't completely in french - but they have french characters or are set in france.
2 days in paris (2007)
if you watch any of the movies i listed above, write me and tell me how you liked them! have any favorite foreign films already? suggest them to me! i'm always looking for new foreign films to watch.
merci et bonne journée!
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