By Cheryl Mattox Berry
Okay, so you can’t take a trip abroad this summer. That doesn’t mean you can’t discover another country via the movies. Foreign films are an excellent way to learn about the history, architecture, people and culture of countries that intrigue you.
Foreign films allow me to escape into another world for a couple of hours. I enjoy the cinematography, character development and topics explored in each movie. I leave the theater feeling worldly.
If you’ve never seen a foreign film, you’ll have to get used to subtitles (though many are in English) and being able to read and watch action at the same time. Start by viewing films that were nominated for an Oscar this year. Make sure they’re age appropriate. The 2013 nominees:
Amour (Austria) – The winner. In the final months of her life, a retired music teacher and her husband of 60 years struggle with the debilitating effects of two strokes. As Georges cares for the increasingly unhappy Anne, the pair finds the nature of their life irrevocably changed.
A Royal Affair (Denmark) – The relationship between the queen of Denmark and the German doctor who is her husband’s trusted advisor leads to sweeping changes in the country. Married as a teenager to the mentally unstable King Christian VII, Queen Caroline Mathilde finds herself drawn to the compassionate and intelligent Johann Friedrick Struensee. They fall in love and work together to reform Danish society.
Kon-Tiki (Norway) – When anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl develops a theory that native Polynesians came originally from the Americas rather than Asia, the scientific community dismisses his ideas. Determined to prove that the ocean journey was possible, Heyerdahl builds a raft, the Kon-Tiki, and sets sail with five companions from Peru to Polynesia.
No (Chile) – Rene Saavedra is a Chilean advertising executive recruited by opponents of the Pinochet regime to create an ad persuading people to vote against a referendum supporting the dictator. While many on the left fear that the government will rig the voting, Saavedra hopes that his marketing skills can sell the Chilean people on the possibility of a better world.
War Witch (Canada) – In a war-torn central African nation, 12-year-old Komona is abducted from her village and forced to fight as a child soldier. She endures a brutal and horrific existence that will damage her irrevocably.
You can view trailers from these movies on the Internet. After you’ve checked out the 2013 nominees, watch the nominations from previous years. Pretty soon, you’ll become familiar with the actors and directors, and be on the lookout for their next film.
There are cinemas in most cities that feature foreign and indie films exclusively, and many regular theaters show them. You can also rent foreign movies or borrow them from the library.