Foreign films to look out for in 2009 are already edging their way onto the radar, no doubt helped by the annual race for recognition at the Oscars.
Foreign Film Oscar Hopefuls
The shortlist is yet to be finalised, but several films already stand out at this stage:
- Waltz With Bashir (Israel) is an animation unlike anything seen before. A harrowing meditation, not just on the 1982 Lebanon war that director Ari Folman was caught up in as a young soldier, but about the nature of war itself and how it affects the mind. The film examines this through surreal, expressive imagery as well as through interviews with old friends and comrades.
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) is a helluva mouthful to say, and according to early critiques quite a mouthful to swallow too. The film concerns the rise of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a terrorist group led by Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof. Their left wing political tendencies (their kick against the system), invokes a degree of sympathy and understanding at first, but this is soon undone by their methodology; killings, kidnappings and robberies. Uli Edel's film is an interesting proposition, reportedly undermined only by its eagerness to cram too much into the story. The only way to find out if that's true is to watch the film and decide.
- The Class (France) is about a year in the life of a French high school teacher and his students. Laurent Cantet's film has already scooped the Palm d'Or at Cannes, and has entranced critics and audiences with its frankness, authenticity and social drama.
Other films in the running for Oscar nominations include Tear This Heart Out, from Mexico, which is based on the life of General Maximiano Avil Camacho and cost a record $6.5 million to make. 3 Monkeys, from Turkey, which judging from its trailer (see it here - 3 Monkeys trailer) is a harrowing drama about family hardships, and Everlasting Moments from Sweden – about a woman who discovers a passion for photography.
Golden Globe winner Waltz With Bashir looks the most promising, come Oscar night, but even if it doesn't win it is probably still the top pick foreign film to see in 2009.
Other Foreign Films to Look Out For in 2009
Although Sweden picked Everlasting Moments to submit as Oscar contender, it's Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In that is grabbing the headlines.
- Let The Right One In (Sweden) is a dark and brooding vampire film. Despite the obligatory human-vampire romance, this is no Twilight. In true, glorious foreign film style everything is much darker and more ominous in Let The Right One In. Check it out here, in the gory Let The Right One In trailer.
- Lesbian Vampire Killers (Britain), to continue the vampiric theme, is a British schlocky horror pic starring James Corden and Mathew Horne, fresh from Gavin and Stacey. The title pretty much sums up the story of newbie director Phil Claydon's latest project.
- The Damned United (Britain) is a film about erstwhile football (soccer) manager, old big head himself, Brian Clough. Famously explosive, both on and off the field, and yet in possession of a charm and charisma that endeared him to fans, Cloughie was a bigger star than any of his players. Tom Hooper's film, based on David Peace's bestselling book, concentrates on a lull in Cloughie's career, his disastrous 44 day reign at Leeds united. A stint which began by Cloughie announcing to the injury prone star player Eddie Gray “If you were a racehorse you'd have been put down”. To hear those acerbic words coming out of chameleon-like actor Michael Sheen's mouth is a prospect that marks The Damned United as, potentially, one of the films of the year.
- Flame and Citron (Denmark) stars Casino Royale baddie Mads Mikkelsen and fellow accomplished Danish actor Thure Lindhardt, as a pair of famous World War 2 resistance fighters. It looks like it will be an interesting drama about an overlooked (cinematically, at least) aspect of WW2 history.
Other films worth a look include Ponyo on the Cliff, the latest Japanese animation from Studio Ghibli. Broken Embraces, from Pedro Almodavar, which finds him re-united with leading lady Penelope Cruz. Gomorrah, an Italian film that looks at the influence of the modern day Mafia, and I've Loved You So Long, an emotional French drama featuring a star turn from bilingual actress Kristen Scott Thomas.
Further Reading
Readers may also be interested in The Best Foreign Films of 2008 or Foreign Film: Cult Classics and Quirky Favourites.
