It’s Thursday and I’m back with a new Thursday Movie Picks feature post. This series is hosted by Wandering through the Shelves and offers you a weekly prompt to post some movie recommendations/talking points according to the theme. Usually, you are supposed to post about 3-5 examples, which I find a very manageable amount.
This week is once again part of the Oscar Winner Edition, which will continue to be a reoccurring theme during each month. This month is all about Best Foreign Language Movies. I certainly know one movie that comes to mind, but I’m sure I’ll once again have to consult some lists to see which movies won in the past years. Let’s get this started!
Parasite (South Korea)
This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned Parasite and it probably won’t be the last. I mean, Parasite made history, so why would I not mention it first thing in this post!?
Amour (Austria)
I could not resist including movies that represent my own country, despite this movie being shot in French! I know the director, Michael Haneke, and his work well, I’ve even met him a couple of times. I have to say, I’m not his biggest fan? However, I very much respect the career he has made for himself and you can’t deny there’s a certain genius in him. After all, he won with Amour, but he was nominated another time as well.
The Counterfeiters (Austria)
Austria’s movie industry was once described as the feel bad capital of the world, so … the movies are mostly on the depressing side. We still won though?
Amélie (France)
Amélie did not actually win, but it was nominated. I feel like it was more of a commercial success despite its quirkiness and I also feel like commercial appeal doesn’t always work with the Academy? Could be only my interpretation …
Life and Other Disasters 
I really have to make a point to see Parasite. It and Nomadland are the only two Best Picture winners I’ve yet to see (the pandemic really threw me off my game!) One day soon hopefully!! Same goes for The Counterfeiters.
Amour is a lovely, sad beautifully acted film but I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again.
Amélie was sweet but I fail to see what all the shoutin’ was about. I had a certain charm but I never gave it a second thought once it ended.
I’ve used several of the foreign winners I liked the most before but I did enjoy these three, well in the case of the first enjoy might not be the right word it’s too heavy for that, appreciate is more appropriate.
The Sea Inside (2004)-Quadriplegic Ramón Sampedro (Javier Bardem) is tired of the loss of mobility he’s endured since a diving accident crippled him years before. Though celebrated for the writing he’s passed the years with, he now sees his life as pointless and wishes to die with what dignity he still possesses. His friend Gené and attorney Julia work with a “Right to Die” organization attempting to persuade the courts to let Ramón end his own life. Heavy going but Bardem is brilliant.
Day for Night (1973)-Director Francois Truffaut’s bittersweet satire of the chaotic behind the scenes happenings during the filming of the frothy comedy “Meet Pamela”. The calamities include a leading lady (Jacqueline Bisset) recovering from a nervous breakdown, the unions threatening to walk, the main supporting actress (Oscar nominated Valentina Cortese) being snockered most of the time, the cat can’t hit her mark and the thousand little emergencies that go into making a picture.
A Man and A Woman (1966)-While visiting their children at boarding school a race car driver (Jean Louis Trintignant) and movie script supervisor (Anouk Aimée) meet and embark on a brief but gentle, swoony romance.
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I’m just not that big on Oscar movies in general. I’ve found myself not being pulled in by the story a lot of times, because it felt boring to me. I never really try to watch all the nominated films either way haha
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I liked all of these except Amour, which I hated with a passion. Mostly because it made me feel so awful.
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As I said in the post, Austrian is the feel bad capital of movies. It’s just awful … so, valid feeling!
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Out of this bunch, I’ve only seen Parasite and Amelie (loved Parasite!). But I DID watch every single Oscar nominated film this year and there were some great foreign films! Better Days and Quo Vadis Aida? were favorites. But they were all good. I liked Better Days the least of the bunch (of course, it won), but it’s worth watching for Mads Mikkelsen doing ballet.
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Wow, that’s quite the feat! I rarely enjoy Oscar movies, so I don’t really attempt to watch them all haha but every now and then something slips through because of hype or a certain cast. I do get watching something for Mads Mikkelsen for sure!
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I think I was bored and decided this was the only year I would ever have the time. So I can say I did it once in my life. But it was kind of fun. I probably wouldn’t have watched Sound of Metal otherwise.
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Ah yes, that’s actually a movie I still intend to get to … eventually.
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Really want to try parasite at some point. I also think that commercial appeal doesn’t usually do well with the academy (which seems unfair on movies like amelie!!)
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I honestly didn’t love Parasite (too violent for me), but I feel like it’s a must-watch just for cultural phenomenon purposes.
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