Can anyone recommend any mainstream foreign films?

I've really started to increasingly enjoy foreign films over the past year, and I was wondering if anyone could recommend any recent flicks that are relatively mainstream or straightforward in tone, rather than something extremely avant-garde/experimental with no coherent plot.





By mainstream/straightforward, I'm talking about stuff like "Good Bye Lenin", "Amelie" "Tae Guk Gai: The Brotherhood Of War", "Crimen Ferpecto", "Children Of Heaven", "Kung Fu Hustle", etc. that have understandable storylines, interesting characters, and perhaps quirky or funny situations.





The language doesn't matter, as I watch films from any country. It can be of any genre, although I'm not a big fan of horror movies.


country.

Can anyone recommend any mainstream foreign films?
- Life Is Beautiful (Italy) - one of my favourite films, for what it is worth, Roberto Bernigni - about an Italian Jewish man and his family in WWII, esp. how he looks after his little son - sad and wonderful story at the same time.


- Monsoon Wedding (India) - a film about a family gathering for an arranged wedding and the different characters and what is going on. I really liked this film too.


- Volver (Spain) - a bit different, but still an interesting film I think. Good cast too, including Penelope Cruz


Good question. Hope you find some more good films to see.
Reply:Two of my favourites are "Zatoichi" (a Japanese martial arts film about a blind swordsman) and "The Red Violin" (a French film that follows the life of a violin through five different countries).
Reply:In my french Class, we're watching these two french films called Jean De Florette and Manon of the Spring (Manon is the sequel to Jean.) They're a little old ('86) but they're really good and the plot is very easy to understand. It's also a little sad. But I think you might enjoy them, if you don't I'm sorry.
Reply:Deepa Mehta's trilogy Fire, Earth and Water (serious)


Battle Royale directed by Kinji Fukasaku (bloody good fun)


Le Pacte Des Loups (Marc Dacascos is sooo hot)


Trainspotting (classic)


9 Dead Gay Guys (hilarious but not mainstream)
Reply:La Strada


Diva


Small Change


The 400 Blows


Day for Night


Forbidden Games


The Bicycle Thief


Pan's Labyrinth


The Devil's Backbone


Beauty %26amp; the Beast (Cocteau film)


House of Flying Daggers


Garden of the Finzi-Continis


Claire's Knee


Knife in the Water


Madame Rosa


Rashomon


The Bridge aka Die Brucke


The Virgin Spring


Sundays and Cybele


8 1/2





animated:


Spirited Away


Howl's Moving Castle


Steamboy


My Neighbor Totoro


Akira
Reply:Run Lola Run is an interesting German film. It was mainstream a few years back.
Reply:I think 28 Days Later is considered a foreign film. It came out in Europe before it did in America. A friend of mine saw it in Paris about 6 months before it came out here. It was pretty good. Also, Onk Bak A Thai Warrior was also pretty good.
Reply:I'm Not Afraid


Volver


Curse of the Golden Flower


Pan's Labyrinth
Reply:Most of my favorite films come from japan/china, here is a short list:





Battle royal (awarded goriest film ever)


Akira (Best anime film ever)


Snake in eagles shadow


Drunken master (Jakie Chan at his best)


Hero/fearless (gud Jet Lee films)


Azumi (great ninja flick)


Zatoichi (a truly awesome film with great humor)