one thing i love to do when i'm back home... is to watch foreign films.
junior year, my french teacher totally opened my eyes to the beauty of french films. yes, they're kinda "weird" and way different than the typical Hollywood. but that's exactly what's so great about it. there's an air of freshness. same thing w. independent films. they're weird bc they don't fit into the easy equation Hollywood has spelled out and solved for us.

for example, the 2005 winner of the cannes film festival was a french film called "l'enfant" and guess what? there was no background music. even during the rolling credits. at first, i was about to go mad because i absolutely enjoy movie soundtracks and how dare this NOT have a soundtrack! and the more i thought about it, the more i realized that the film was so real. music's just fluff to make you feel what the director wants you to feel. w.o the music, you're right there w. the actors, in the moment, in the place and feeling all sorts of different things because no one's subliminally telling you what to feel. i had to watch it again.. this time with no frustrations just bc there's no music. =)

here's a list of films i've seen so far since i've come back in june.

1. water [hindi] 2005
2. crossing [korean] 2008
3. combination platter [chinese] 2005
4. place vendome [french] 1998
5. the italian [russian] 2005
6. hors de prix (priceless) [french] 2008
7. good morning, night [italian] 2003

i highly recommend crossing because it's a topic that's personally hits home to me (and cha in-pyo [차인표] is one of the main characters!) and the italian because the at the end of the movie i asked myself, "how far am i willing to go.. how much am i willing to do.. how long will i endure and persevere for someone i love?" and the little boy is so cute. how can you resist? it was also kind of cool that i could pick up on like 4 words throughout the entire film.

and some films i have yet to watch... basically all the winners of the cannes film festival =)
i'm so lucky that our local public library has most of them!


so check out your local library!