On watching foreign-language films

I don’t really watch English-speaking films. I prefer foreign-language ones and always have done. Overall, I think they’re better written, produced and acted. Sure, there are some truly awful ones out there, just as there are some beautifully made English language films (Blue Valentine comes to mind).

If you’ve never watched a foreign language film because you think their ‘arty’ message will go over your head, relax. I hate pretentiousness of any kind, and I can tell you that I’m the first person to walk out of a cinema if I think a film’s trying too hard. My mantra is simple: art is meant to bring people together, not create and enforce intellectual ghettos, and any pretentious git who breaks this fundamental rule really has no business being an artiste.

So, anyway, in no particular order, these are the must-see foreign language films I’ve enjoyed this year. Live dangerously, and try and check at least one of them out.

I am Love, starring Tilda Swinton (Italian)

The Stoning of Soraya M (Iranian)

The Lemon Tree (Arabic, Hebrew, English)

Brotherhood (Korean)

The Secret in their Eyes (Spanish, Argentinian)

Rang De Basanti (Indian)

Seen the films? Tell me what you think.