Movies have the power to transform our way of seeing the world. They allow us to look at things from a different perspective, through someone else’s eyes.
They let us experience times and places that we would never have the chance to otherwise. A good film can completely expand our horizons, and that could not be more true for foreign films.
The brilliant Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “The limits of your language are the limits of your world.”
Who doesn’t want to push their limits a little?
If you’re someone who’s been resistant to foreign films (maybe because you’re too lazy to read subtitles) now is the time to step up your game by expanding your limits a little.
You can start here, with this list of the ten best foreign films of all time. Read on to find out what they are.
Contents
- 1 1. Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella)
- 2 2. Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)
- 3 3. Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai)
- 4 4. Hero (Yingxiong)
- 5 5. Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
- 6 6. The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville)
- 7 7. Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain)
- 8 8. Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too)
- 9 9. Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)
- 10 10. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon)
- 11 Kick Back With the Best Foreign Films of All Time
1. Life is Beautiful (La Vita e Bella)
Both hilarious and extremely moving, the 1997 Italian film Life is Beautiful won three Academy Awards and eight of Italy’s David di Donatello Awards.
Roberto Benigni co-wrote and directed the story of a father and his young son, who are imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. Benigni plays the role of the father, who tries to transform the traumatic experience into a playful adventure, by pretending that the whole thing is some sort of make-believe game.
While some critics felt that the humorous take on such a grave subject was inappropriate, audiences around the world fell in love with the characters, who were able to find love, laughter and beauty in a dark and terrifying place.
2. Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)
Italians don’t mess around when it comes to making great films.
Bicycle Thieves, the 1948 drama directed by Vittorio De Sica, also focuses on a father’s intense love and his struggle to protect his family.
The film is a neorealistic look at Enzo Staiola and his young son, who are on a desperate search through Rome to find his stolen bicycle. If they don’t find the bicycle, Enzo will lose his job and not be able to feed his family, so there is a lot on the line.
Four years after its release, the magazine Sight & Sound named Bicycle Thieves as the greatest film of all time.
3. Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai)
For all of you action movie lovers out there, Seven Samurai is the quintessential martial arts drama.
The great Japanese director Akira Kurasawa released Seven Samurai in 1954, but it takes place way back in 1586, during Japan’s Sengoku Period. It tells the story of a small farming community who hire seven samurai to help protect their crops from evil-doing bandits.
It’s often credited as being one of the most influential action movies of all time.
4. Hero (Yingxiong)
For a more contemporary martial arts masterpiece, check out the 2002 wuxia film starring Jet Li. Wuxia is a classic type of Chinese literature that focuses on the hero’s journey.
This action-packed drama is one of the most visually stunning films ever made. If you thought Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was cool, then you are definitely going to love this next-level work of art.
5. Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
If you like the Japanese aesthetic but aren’t as much of a martial arts fan, then check out Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 adventure Spirited Away.
This animated, coming-of-age fantasy is unforgettably fun and creative. It’s playfulness and stunning imagery are perfect for the whole family. And if you love it as much as we do, you’re in luck, because Miyazaki has a whole slew of other beautifully animated tales that will keep you entertained for days.
6. The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville)
Another marvelous animated film is the 2003 French comedy The Triplets of Belleville.
Writer and director Sylvain Chomet really thinks outside the box, so it’s not recommended for those who don’t appreciate the weirder side of life.
The Triplets of Belleville weaves a strange and complicated story about the adventures of an elderly woman and her grandson. The plot is heavily driven by the music, which was also co-written by Chomet.
If you enjoy French films, click here for other great ideas of French movies to watch.
7. Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain)
The single most creative and heartwarming movie of all time might just be the 2001 French masterpiece Amelie.
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou, Amelie is technically a romantic comedy, but it’s also so much more.
Amelie answers the questions “What is love?”, “What is identity?” and “What is the meaning of life?” all while unraveling a quirky and charming mystery. The playfulness and cinematography that Jeunet uses cannot be found elsewhere, making Amelie a truly one-of-a-kind film.
8. Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too)
This next film on our list is the only one that’s more commonly known by its original foreign title, and it is definitely NOT one you want to watch with the whole family.
In fact, there are some grown adults who might be shocked by the raw and explicit scenes that take place in this 2001 Mexican coming-of-age story.
Y Tu Mama Tambien grossed $2.2 million the first weekend it was released, which is the record for any movie released in Mexican cinema. This racy, deep, and visually stunning film does not disappoint.
9. Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt)
Germans also know a thing or two when it comes to making compelling films.
Tom Tykwer directed this 1998 heart-pounding thriller about a young woman named Lola who has twenty minutes to save her boyfriend’s life by somehow getting her hands on 100,000 Deutsche Marks.
Music is a huge driving factor in this movie, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat, your pulse racing as Lola races against a ticking clock.
10. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le Scaphandre et le Papillon)
Last but certainly not least, is the stunning 2007 French film The Diving Bell and The Butterfly.
It’s the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a man who suffered a terrible stroke which left him trapped in his body, unable to communicate with the outside world.
Director Julian Schnabel based the film on Bauby’s actual memoir, which he wrote little by little, after slowly regaining the ability to communicate by blinking his left eye.
If there was ever a compelling story about the indomitable spirit of man, this is it.
Kick Back With the Best Foreign Films of All Time
These are our top votes for the best foreign films of all time, but your top ten list might look totally different. That’s what’s so great about cinema–there’s really something for everybody.
If you’re more of a funny action movie type of person, then we’ve definitely got you covered.
Check out our blog to get the latest news on action movies, their stars, and other fun, movie-related miscellany.
Happy viewing!