The Stuck-at-Home International Film Festival goes on!
It’s dawning on me how long it will likely be before I can safely go out and do one of my favorite things again… traveling. I miss taking in the immersive feeling of being in a new place, taking in the sounds of a plaza, the smells of a roadside eatery, and the simple act of discovery.
All that makes me appreciate the international films I’ve been watching while in quarantine even more.
The United States is the world’s top exporter of movies. Hollywood films are regularly shown all over the world, giving international audiences multiple opportunities to see portrayals of American life. On the other hand, very rarely does an international film get the distribution it needs to be widely seen in the U.S. That makes things a one-way street.
Other film industries are catching up, though! Bollywood releases more films each year than any other country. Nollywood– Nigeria’s film industry– might catch people by surprise as the third largest film industry in the world.
If you’ve seen one film from, say, Brazil, you’ve still only seen one impression of Brazil, which is why I’m including multiple films from the same country in this series. Booksmart and Ford vs. Ferrari would give you very different impressions of American culture, after all.
By the way… would you ever guess the country of origin of these other film industries based on their name and a movie poster from that country?
Ghollywood
Aussiewood
Lollywood
Hallywood
Chinawood
Chollywood
Follywood
Dhallywood
Answers down at the bottom of this post. But first… let’s get on with our next batch of films, yes?
This week’s picks for the Stuck-at-Home International Film Festival represent a pretty diverse mix of genres. We have a musical, a murder mystery, and a truly genre-bending pick where sci-fi meets tropes from Old Westerns. We’re going back to Brazil and South Korea for some of these selections, along with stops in Iceland, Mexico, Spain, Nigeria, and Ireland.
ICELAND • 2018
AND BREATHE NORMALLY
What’s this about: A single mom struggling with poverty in Iceland takes a job with immigration at the airport. In the process, her life becomes intertwined with an asylum-seeker from Guinea-Bissau.
What’s interesting: As an economically strong country, many people wouldn’t peg Iceland as a setting for a film that explores the challenge of poverty. But And Breathe Normally does this exceptionally. On the other hand, you might expect an Icelandic film to maybe focus more on a social issue like LGBT matters. And this one does, but not in the way you’d expect.
You might like this if: you appreciate a good character-driven drama like Short Term 12. If you’ve ever seen the movie The Visitor from back in 2008, this one has a strong similarity. Since this is set in Iceland with characters of different nationalities, English and Icelandic are used in tandem.
My thoughts: For a film that seemed bleak on paper, this one was actually extremely watchable. I thought the performances were a strength, and this film tells a refugee story while mostly avoiding white savior tropes.
Where to watch: Netflix
NIGERIA • 2018
LIONHEART
What’s this about: The daughter of a Nigerian CEO is suddenly forced to manage the family’s enterprise- a state of the art coach bus service competing for a position that would make it a main service provider between two major hubs.
What’s interesting: Hollywood is the world’s largest film industry, followed by Bollywood. No surprise there. But fewer people are aware of Nollywood- the Nigerian film industry whose popularity has catapulted it into the world’s third spot. This film was supposed to be an entry into the 2019 Oscar Awards, but was disqualified from the Foreign Language Feature category because of the amount of English dialogue. This was probably unfair, given that English is widely spoken in Nigeria alongside Ibo.
You might like this if: you want one of the more light-hearted picks from this list. This is also a great introduction into Nollywood- accessible to those less familiar with Nigerian film, but still a good look into one example of life in the country.
My thoughts: Lots of strong messages in this one related to family, female perseverance, and competition. The tone of the movie is consistently upbeat making this a fun feature. It isn’t the most complicated movie, but it certainly has heart.
Where to watch: Netflix
BRAZIL • 2019
BACURAU
What’s this about: A small town in a remote part of Brazil. This film is completely bizarre, with a number of plot twists and multiple genres. The story begins with the death of a community elder in Bacurau, but we then learn about how the town has been erased from online maps, how water delivery trucks are shot on their way in, and how townspeople have been followed by UFOs. The second half of the film is best left unspoiled.
What’s interesting: One of the big things to keep in mind are the tropes of the Western film genre. I’ll admit that Westerns are probably my least favorite film genre, but the way Bacurau turns things on its head is brilliant. Consider the racial dynamics of a typical western and you might notice how this film flips them on their head.
You might like this if: you can stomach a fair amount of Tarantino-esque violence, not gonna lie. If you liked District 9 you might like the way this film takes social issues and examines it through certain genres.
My thoughts: Midway through, I wondered if I’d still go ahead and recommend this, given that certain parts get a bit extreme, but the genre subversion and genre bending ended up too good to ignore.
Where to watch: This was supposed to be screened at San Diego’s Latino Film Festival. You can support the festival’s organizers and creatives by streaming this for just $12 at Kino Lorber.
SPAIN • 2016
THE INVISIBLE GUEST
What’s this about: A man wakes up next to his dead mistress, and all signs point to him. He didn’t do it, though, so he hires a brilliant and direct detective to figure out what really happened.
What’s interesting: In recent years, Spanish film has drifted in a darker direction. There are definitely a lot of moody tones in this film, but this is pretty accessible. One thing that I’ve noticed from all the Spanish movies I’ve seen is that they waste little time launching you into the action and hit the ground running.
You might like this if: you liked Knives Out. Honestly, I think that’s a fair comparison. It has the puzzle film component paired with being a thriller.
My thoughts: This is a strong movie all the way through. The characters are pretty memorable, the plot is captivating, and it’s a truly fun and enjoyable movie. There are a few minor bumps in the road, but overall, it’s a lot of fun.
Where to watch: Netflix
IRELAND • 2016
SING STREET
What’s this about: It’s a musical! In the middle of a depressed and conflict torn 1980’s Ireland, a private school transfer tries adjusting to a new school by starting his own rock band, largely inspired by Duran Duran.
What’s interesting: It might be easy to lose sight of the significance of the 80’s setting in Ireland. Not only does that become a vehicle for The Cure and Hall & Oates to populate the soundtrack, it also raises the stakes a bit. At that time, Ireland struggled with both a severe economic recession and ethno-nationalist conflicts.
You might like this if: you’re an eighties kid, or close enough. Also, if you don’t mind musicals. Actually, this film has enough appeal to please people who aren’t that into musicals as well. If you enjoyed Once, you’ll probably like this one too.
My thoughts: This is one of the more lighthearted entries I’ve put on this list, but it’s still poignant and meaningful.
Where to watch: Now that Sing Street has left Netflix, you can stream this for free via Vudu (with ads) or Hoopla (with subs)
MEXICO • 2018
ROMA
What’s this about: The beauty and resilience of the human spirit. Okay, it’s about the struggles of a young domestic worker employed by a family in Mexico City around the early 1970s.
What’s interesting: Lead actress Yalitza Aparicio won the lead role of Roma while having virtually no acting background. When she received an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actress, she was only the second Mexican woman to do so and the first Indigenous American woman. Much of the film is based on director Alfonso Cuaron’s childhood memories, One of the film’s climactic scenes happens against the backdrop against the Corpus Christi massacre of student protestors in 1971.
You might like this if: stunning visuals mean something to you. One of the most memorable features of this film is the gorgeous, symbol-rich camera work set in stunning black and white.
My thoughts: You probably recall a lot of the hype around Roma when it came out, and in my opinion, the hype was deserved. The stunning visuals and Yalitza Aparicio’s performance will probably be the most memorable parts, while the film as a whole gorgeously captures a resilient human spirit. It’s a truly beautiful watch.
Where to watch: Netflix
SOUTH KOREA • 2016
BURNING
What’s this about: A drifting writer runs into a childhood friend who asks him to housesit while she takes a short trip to Africa. She returns and introduces him to another charismatic, Gatsby-like friend who has quite the unusual hobby: arson.
What’s interesting: This film is a great companion piece to a much more well-known film that came out one year later: Parasite. The similar themes of work and class and confidence are present, but perhaps more subtle. It’s valuable to consider how the economic evolution of South Korea over the past three generations have led to shifting values around work and finding meaning.
You might like this if: you get as invested in characters’ inner conflicts as the plot of a movie. If you like the moody mindfulness of a Haruki Murakami novel, you’ll probably like this. It was based on a short story of his, after all.
My thoughts: My first thought was that this film started slow, but it has such complex characters that the more I got to know them, the richer this watching experience grew. Be patient with Burning and it will love you back.
Where to watch: Netflix
Answers to the International Film Industry Quiz:
Ghollywood = Ghana // Lollywood = Pakistan // Chinawood = China // Follywood = Sri Lanka
Aussiewood = Australia // Hallywood = South Korea // Chollywood = Peru // Dhallywood = Bangladesh