Kurosawa, Fellini, and Truffaut Are the Masters of Foreign Films
Foreign Films You Must See
By Jacob MalewitzTakeaways
- Akira Kurosawa and "Seven Samurai"
- Fellini and "La Dolce Vida"
- Truffaut and "Shoot the Piano Player"
Foreign films are in vogue lately. Just
tune into channels like Independent Film Channel (IFC) or Sundance,
and you'll find a plethora of them. I'm no expert on foreign films,
but I do enjoy directors like Francois Trauffaut and Akira Kurosawa.
What's interesting is the effect each
of these directors has on American film. Take Kurosawa's masterpiece
"Seven Samurai." Hollywood reworked it into "The
Magnificent Seven," which the only thing I can remember is the
fact that it wasn't close to being as good as the original.
What makes films like these so strong
is the vivid characterization. Action isn't essential in "Seven
Samurai," but it is there. The same could be said of Trauffaut's
greatest film, "Shoot the Piano Player."
Both had action, but focused on
characters. Hollywood should take note. Some directors have learned
from the masters. Directors like Paul Thomas Anderson ("Magnolia")
or Martin Scorsese ("Age of Innocence") do at times seem to
understand that characters are often what make films great.
If one wanted the most known and famous
of all foreign directors, Federico Fellini would likely be the
choice. Films like "La Dolce Vita" and "8 ½" are
always tops on best films ever lists. American filmmakers aren't
always outdone. I recently watched the Japanese film "The Eye,"
and saw how a lot of Japanese horror has fallen into simple copycat
stories. "The Eye" was very much like the "The Sixth
Sense" in the way it was presented, in which a person was able
to see the dead.
"The Eye" was released in
2003 and "The Sixth Sense" in 1999. These films together
are a prime example of how movie ideas are constantly recycled in the
major film markets. Independent films may have a better chance now
than they used to, but Hollywood has opted away from character films
for more action films which usually guarantee money.
Character stories are still used, but
films by action stars like Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwar-zenegger
usually make more money. Take "Terminator 3: Rise of the
Machines," Schwarzenegger's latest film, which ended up grossing
over $400 million.
Any time foreign films are discussed,
anime should become at least a side note. Anime does extremely well
in America, where some young adults desire to learn Japanese just
because their favorite movies are in Japanese. Some TV stations are
devoted to playing anime films, like Cartoon Network and Animid-night
on Encore.
The success of these anime movies
provide a good note for foreign films. Though action epics tend to
succeed, every now and then films like "Akira" and
"Princess Mononoke" prove characters can be alive even if
they are animated.
Today, older foreign films tend to get
more respect and the newer ones might not be successes until the next
generation. Movies are in many ways like novels.
But movie markets are expanding through the world, even countries like Russia are beginning to get an influx of directors. How many foreign film directors who are still living can you name off the top of your head?
But movie markets are expanding through the world, even countries like Russia are beginning to get an influx of directors. How many foreign film directors who are still living can you name off the top of your head?
Even if you know a couple of directors
because of your time at Blockbuster, it still merits some thought.
I've seen a lot of foreign director films and while I know of many
movies I can't think of one living director. Foreign films may be in
vogue, but the clock is still ticking on when a great foreign
director will make the next "Seven Samurai" or "Shoot
the Piano Player," and have it noticed in America.
You may have to look beyond Blockbuster
to find it.
