Favorite Foreign Language Films
The following is a list of my favorite foreign language films, ranked according to preference. It is by no means an authoritative list, as many of you may disagree on certain rankings. Besides, this is simply a compilation of the foreign language films that I have seen thus far, so of course a number of excellent entries are missing. The list will be updated when necessary, and the rankings are subject to change over time.
For more information on each film, click on the titles to go to their IMDB page to learn more about them. Also, be sure to come back each Friday for “Foreign Language Film Fridays” and read a review of one of the following films.
*Last Updated August 18, 2011.
|
Rank |
Film Title |
Year |
Country |
Rating (1-5) |
Full Review |
|
1 |
The Lives of Others |
2006 |
Germany |
***** |
|
|
2 |
Oldboy |
2003 |
S. Korea |
***** |
|
| A Tale of Two Sisters |
2003 |
S. Korea |
***** |
||
|
3 |
The Secret in Their Eyes |
2009 |
Argentina |
***** |
|
|
4 |
J.S.A. – Joint Security Area |
2000 |
S. Korea |
**** |
|
| Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War |
2004 |
S. Korea |
**** |
||
|
5 |
Tell No One |
2006 |
France |
**** |
|
|
6 |
Diving Bell and the Butterfly |
2007 |
France |
**** |
|
|
7 |
Waltz With Bashir |
2008 |
Israel |
**** |
|
|
8 |
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days |
2005 |
Germany |
**** |
|
| Downfall |
2004 |
Germany |
**** |
||
|
9 |
I Saw the Devil |
2010 |
S. Korea |
**** |
HERE |
| Memories of Murder |
2003 |
S. Korea |
**** |
||
|
10 |
The Chaser |
2008 |
S. Korea |
**** |
|
|
11 |
The Orphanage |
2007 |
Spain |
**** |
|
| Let the Right One In |
2008 |
Sweden |
**** |
||
|
12 |
City of God |
2002 |
Brazil |
**** |
|
|
13 |
Incendies |
2010 |
Canada |
**** |
|
|
14 |
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo |
2009 |
Sweden |
**** |
|
|
15 |
Biutiful |
2010 |
Mexico |
**** |
|
|
16 |
Pan’s Labyrinth |
2006 |
Mexico |
**** |
|
|
17 |
Sin Nombre |
2009 |
Mexico |
**** |
|
|
18 |
Life is Beautiful |
1997 |
France |
**** |
|
|
19 |
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari |
1920 |
Germany |
**** |
|
|
20 |
Metropolis |
1927 |
Germany |
**** |
|
|
21 |
Timecrimes |
2007 |
Spain |
*** |
|
|
22 |
[Sympathy for] Lady Vengeance |
2005 |
S. Korea |
*** |
|
|
23 |
In a Better World |
2010 |
Denmark |
*** |
|
|
24 |
A Prophet |
2009 |
France |
*** |
|
|
25 |
The White Ribbon |
2009 |
Germany |
*** |
|
|
26 |
Battle Royale |
2000 |
Japan |
*** |
|
|
27 |
Amélie |
2001 |
France |
*** |
|
|
28 |
Osama |
2003 |
Afghanistan |
*** |
|
|
29 |
The Host |
2006 |
S. Korea |
*** |
|
|
30 |
Crossing |
2008 |
S. Korea |
** |
|
|
31 |
Untold Scandal |
2003 |
S. Korea |
** |
——-
The Modern Allegory 