The Best Foreign Films of This Decade You Might Have Missed
The Best Foreign Films of This Decade
Some might argue that the foreign language film scene has been a little quiet in the 2000s. If you’re an avid foreign film fan, you’ll know there’s been a few hot titles that have received great reviews from the critics, but the world has been a little crazy lately, so you might have missed some of the best foreign films of this decade.
I’ve put together this list of the best foreign films from this decade that either haven’t received a great deal of critical attention or simply aren’t talked about enough despite being standout pieces.
In the last ten years Spanish movie-making has hit new highs, reaching UK audiences with success. This may be due to Spanish film’s “tendency to focus on realism, perceived notions of deviance, and wrestle with the modern character of Spain”, as language learning app Idyoma describes.
Films like El Labarinto del Fauno, otherwise known as Pan’s Labyrinth, is a typical example of this as the Mexican director Guillermo del Toro released it in 2006 and has earned a startling $80M in the box office.
But there’s so much more to the foreign film spectrum than the popularised features we’ve all heard about. This list comprises Spanish, Polish and Thai directors and producers, so you know there’s a variety of watching out there, just waiting!
Plus, if you’d like to know my personal, all-time favourite foreign film, stick around to the end of the list to find out and see if we’re favourite film twinsies.
The Best Foreign Films of This Decade
1. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
2. A Separation
3. Leviathan
4. Train to Busan
5. Blue is the Warmest Colour
1. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives received a resounding 86% from the Rotten Tomatoes critics, compared to a 61% audience score. Not totally surprising considering that this is a film that doesn’t follow a traditional plot structure or timeline. You might be surprised to learn that it won the Palme d'Or award, but Parisian critics have since labelled it 'pointless, obscure and excruciatingly boring'. This discord of opinion makes this one a must-watch, simply so you can form your own opinion on whether it’s a Thai breakthrough or one to miss.
What’s it about?
The opening scene is a great sample of the gentle, mystical, and altogether absurd tones throughout Uncle Boonmee; we settle on a surprisingly graceful water buffalo breaking free of its constraining rope and then steadily roaming the dusky Thai woodland. Boonmee is our star protagonist. He has retreated to a peaceful cabin in the forests after needing kidney dialysis and deciding to spend his final days in a place that has nostalgic value to him. Boonmee is gradually confronted by spirits of the loved ones he’s lost, forcing him to face the manner in which he will die and the transformative, spiritual journey which illness and death puts upon everyone.
2. A Separation, One of the Best Foreign Films of This Decade? (2011)
A Separation is a film you can go into with confidence that you’ll enjoy and understand, especailly if you know the language.. Having scored a reliable 99% from Rotten Tomatoes critics and a not-too-shabby 92% from audience reviews, you can be sure that this foreign language film is a must to see. This film was also a Foreign Film Academy Award entry. If you particularly enjoy lingering family drama, A Separation will definitely satisfy.
What’s it about?
This film is centred upon the moral struggles of a slowly dissolving relationship and puts focus on the role of the child caught in the middle of their parent’s dilemma and spiralling drama. When Nader refuses to leave Tehran, his wife, Simin sues for divorce. Simin hopes that she can make an easier, happier life for their young daughter abroad. However, Nader hires a carer for his senile father. The carer is Razieh, a married woman whose chador hides her pregnancy. Nader shoves her after becoming enraged, and she has a miscarriage, leading Razieh's husband to take Nader to court. The story closes on their young daughter choosing to stay with one of her parents – and I won’t spoil it by telling you which one.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwEgDPPATy0
3. Leviathan (2015)
Leviathan offers up social satire and critique on the scale that its title presumes. The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scored this film a resounding 98% alongside an audience score of 80%. This Russian epic has impressed reviewers widely, including The Guardian, which rated it in its 50 Best Films of 2015. making it one of the best foreign film sof this decade. Russian films haven’t always had the best reputation, slated for confusing plotlines in previous years, but Andrei Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan is a clear frontrunner for foreign language films.
What’s it about?The story of Leviathan takes its basis from The Book of Job and also the theses of English social philosopher, Thomas Hobbes. We are introduced to the lead, Nikolay, who lives with his second wife, Lilya, as well as their typically annoying teenage son. The emphasis, however, is put upon the lovely but not immodest lakeside home they all live in. As the scenic home was built by Nikolay’s ancestors, he is understandably angry when the local mayor wants to build an entirely modern and overt villa there instead. Nikolay, his friend, and the family set upon battling the mayor in a vicious and lengthy legal discourse. The ending to this film might not be such a surprise if you’re familiar with the biblical story of Job already.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj0SMgg9Jqg
4. Train to Busan (2016)
Busanhaeng or Train to Busan is a 2016 Korean zombie horror that hit fans and critics with equal delight as easily one of the best foreign films of this decade. Korean filmmakers have built up a fair amount of renown for their ability to betray true, visceral horror. If you enjoy this film, similar examples might be Haunted Asylum and The Wailing, but be sure to keep all the lights on while you watch. It won’t surprise you that Train to Busan received a ‘Fresh Tomato’ score of 98% from Rotten Tomatoes critics and a reasonable 88% from audience scoring.
What’s it about?
If you love zombie flicks, you’ll love this. It has all the essentials for a fast-paced mystery plus believable special effects and makeup for the living dead. To start, the film opens with – you guessed it -- our main characters on a train. Seok-woo and his estranged daughter, Su-an, become trapped on a train when it quickly becomes clear that the train has become overrun with flesh-hungry zombies, and it is up to the protagonists and fellow survivors to make their way through the cars and get to shelter. There are some fantastic and heart-rending moments of sacrifice and human nature at its best that make this film a non-stop action that hits hard too.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Uxw9Wlq68
5. Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
Number five on our list, this film didn’t go unnoticed by watchers worldwide. In fact, its portrayal of female intimacy and lesbian culture has caused mild outcry from some viewers in various countries. Nevertheless, Blue is the Warmest Colour, from director Abdel Kechiche, received a score of 89% from Rotten Tomatoes critics. The audience score surprisingly mirrors the critical opinion at 85%, which gives you a good idea that you know what you’re going to watch going in and that it’s sure to be one of the best foreign films of this decade. It’s described as an emotional and raw lesbian drama and that’s exactly what you get.
What’s it about?
French teenager, Adele, goes to a lesbian bar. There she meets the enchanting, blue-haired art student, Emma, who captures Adele’s attention as well as her heart. Together they explore social rules, sexual expression, self-image, and emotional maturity. As Emma is a naturally free-spirited, slightly older, girl, she takes on an instructive position and leads Adele by example. Adele comes to realise and achieve a new level of self-awareness, but it certainly comes at a price of loss and uncomfortable realisations.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOiug_u7Wns
My Personal Favourite - The Best Foreign Film of This Decade
As a remote working writer I have to keep on top of my time management, but as you can imagine, working from home gives me a lot more chance to catch up on my favourite foreign films and what I think are the best foreign films of this decade.. I approached this list without any particular countdown or bias, but I’d like to share my personal favourite foreign language movie and why I think it might top this list…
The Hunt, released in 2012, is a Danish showstopping drama from filmmaker director, Thomas Vinterberg. Not only does it feature everyone’s favourite villainous yet suave actor, Mads Mikkelsen, it also ticks all the boxes for great watching. Mads plays a well-rounded teacher who is suddenly and viciously accused of sexually abusing a young child, and if the shock and disgust of the accusation isn’t enough, our stress levels are amped up when we realise the accusations are entirely false. Mikkelsen unsurprisingly won Best Actor for his engaging performance, and The Hunt was also nominated for Golden Globes and Oscars awards. It sits up there with the best foreign films of this decade. with a Rotten Tomatoes freshness score of 94%.
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