OLESYA SALNIKOVA
Staff Writer
When people think of films, they automatically associate them with Hollywood. I tend to think that American films are the pinnacle of cinematography and are the only acceptable films to watch.
This is why I had some serious reservations when I found myself staring blankly at the English subtitles of a film in Spanish, caught absolutely off guard and a little irritated. The film was “Pan’s Labyrinth” or “El Laberinto del Fauno,” directed by Guillermo del Toro and nominated for six Academy Awards. This film, which portrays authentic Spanish culture and history, opened my eyes to the numerous possibilities that are just past the boundaries of Hollywood, namely, foreign films.
The film exposes the Fascist repression toward the end of World War II during General Franco’s dictatorship. The brutality and violence against anyone who spoke out against the regime is vividly portrayed through the sadistic captain and stepfather of the main character, Ofelia. The reality is woven creatively into a parallel imaginary world that Ofelia may have experienced.
People tend to discount foreign films because they do not like to read subtitles; they think they will not understand what is going on or that the movie will be about something that means nothing to them.
These closed-minded views are exactly why I have decided to put a little list together of reasons why foreign films are worth watching:
1. Just because there are subtitles does not necessarily mean that you will not understand the film. Here’s a suggestion: multitask and actually read the subtitles.
2. The authentic language makes the film more realistic and believable. Foreign languages also give viewers a taste of a culture and a people unlike their own.
Whether the characters are swearing in Spanish or professing their undying love in French, it’s fun to hear people get emotional in another language.
3. Foreign films allow audiences to experience kung fu like never before. Flying people through the woods, superhuman feats, reckless passions and, of course, intense kung fu fighting — and all in an old form of Mandarin — is what made “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” so amazing.
4. Foreign films are much more honest as seen in the 2000 film “Y tu Mama Tambien,” in which two teenage boys explore life and learn a thing or two about the intimacy of friendships. Often, these films are willing to explore the aspects of life that American films only hint at but rarely show, making them more appealing to college students.
5. These films let viewers experience a different culture. In “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the austere honesty of the people, portrayed through the loyalty and deceit of those opposed to Franco’s regime, can only be felt through Spanish-speaking actors who resemble the simplicity, and not the glitz, of the time period.
6. These films let viewers fall in love in Paris, or wherever. In “Amelie,” a shy waitress discovers the meaning of love in Paris, making the film even more romantic because it is in French. Everyone who has been in love will relate to the characters’ emotions. There are certain emotions that are common to all people and can be experienced despite the language barrier.
7. Finally, foreign films are a welcome hiatus from the often disappointing and generic Hollywood entertainment. From lackluster sequels to empty films whose primary goal is to make money, Hollywood films can be a waste of time. Foreign films provide a good alternative when there is a particular dry spell by providing never-before-seen actors and fresh ideas.
02-22-2007