After you've exhausted your domestic supply of movies this summer, reach beyond the sea. From Germany to France, the foreign language films will not only sweep you off your feet but also add a few more foreign words to your vocabulary. If you're overwhelmed with choices, here's a condensed list for where to begin.
1. "Downfall"
The portrayal of Hitler in modern day Germany brings us closer to understand the terrifying man that Adolf Hitler was. Thoroughly consumed with power, Hitler sets out on a quest to gain of power as in WWII. Portrayed by Bruno Ganz, this stunning movie received the Oscar Nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film. Also, most of Ganz’s lines were spoken by Hitler himself in official documents.
2. "Blue is The Warmest Colour"
This coming of age story takes the main character Adele on a journey which included coming to terms with her sexuality through a journey of love, heartbreak and finding love again. This three hour long movie is stunningly shot with shattering sex scenes. The movie won the Palme d’Or unanimously at Cannes and is widely considered to be the best movie of 2013.
3. "Hijacking"
This terrifying thriller which takes on the plot of Captain Phillips is worth watching on movie night. The plot follows a Danish cargo ship that is overcome by Somali pirates and there is a subsequent struggle for survival for the Danish crew. This work in suspense focuses on working men who are trying to make it out alive through wit and the help of each other.
4. "Lore"
This movie about World War II takes on a different angle through the perspective of five German children who must find their way across a war torn country to find their grandmother. The children’s parents were also Nazis and in their journey, they are forced to re-examine their beliefs. It’s a difficult watch but nonetheless utterly compelling.
5. "The Great Beauty"
This movie is a character study of a 65 year old man who has a love affair with the city of Rome. Even though, it’s not a drama, there are other things to enjoy such as the stunning cinematography used for the portrait of the city. As the hedonistic main character looks back on his life, the director Paul Sorrentino takes us on a journey of Rome without ever leaving our seats.
