5 Foreign Films you Must See

Whether it’s the subtitles which keep our eyes fixated on the screen or those unfamiliar, far away filming locations, there’s something impossibly endearing about foreign films.

From Spanish melodramas to stylish French features, leave the chick flick for a rainy day, cosy up with your girl friends and get lost in the best foreign language films. Here are five of our favourites:

#5 Volver

Image Source

Any long-time fans of the Spanish actress should consider Volver essential viewing. Cruz plays Raimunda, a stylish young mother who willingly takes the rap for her husband’s suspicious death. Released in 2006, the kitchen sink drama is full of intense emotion, vivid characterisation and infectious charm which will have you laughing and wincing in equal measure.

#4 Dans La Maison

Image Source

Claude Garcia isn't your average 16 year old. Sneaking into his best friend’s house at random intervals, Claude writes a series of shocking essays based on what he sees. When Claude’s bored literature teacher Germain realises his pupils stories are based on real life and not fiction, he gets more than he bargained for. Dans La Maison is a fast moving, voyeuristic thriller that will keep you guessing up to the very last moment. And who doesn't love a French accent?! 

#3 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Image Source

It’s the sort of scenario people have nightmares about, but for former Elle magazine Editor Jean-Dominique Bauby the stroke which alters his life was startlingly real. The film is based on a poignant memoir written by Bauby himself over a period of 10 months. Physically paralysed and unable to use a pen, Bauby wrote the entire memoir just by blinking. Sounds unbelievable right? You’ll need tissues to get through this one.

 #2 Headhunters

Image Source

On the surface protagonist Hennie is a regular guy - corporate head hunter by day, flash socialite by night. Scratch beneath the surface though and there’s more to this city slicker than meets the eye. Not content with his high-paying day job, Hennie also works as an art thief, a position he abuses to fund his lavish lifestyle. As you’ve probably guessed, it’s all about to go horribly wrong for the Norwegian fox.

Headhunters is the highest grossing Norwegian film of all time, watch out for Nikolaj Coster - Waldau (otherwise known as Jaime Lannister in GOT) who features heavily.

#1 Amélie

Image Source

It would be impossible to compile a list of must-see foreign films without including one of the best French features of all time. If you haven’t seen Amélie already, then, drop all of your Netflix recommendations at once and put aside the best part of 2 hours to watch it.

From the zany soundtrack composed by Yann Tierson to Audrey Tautou’s radiant onscreen presence, it’s hard not to fall in love with this story of a shy waitress who sets out on a mission to make others happy and find a boyfriend in the process. 

Do you have a favourite foreign film to add to our list? Share them with us in the comments section below or tweet us @Nica_Handbags.