Wallingford Public Library has a good collection of foreign films in many different languages:
In AlbanianBefore the Rain - A fascinating look at several intertwining lives in the new republic of Macedonia.
In Bengali
Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road), Aparajito (The Unvanquished) and The World of Apu - These three films, the Apu Trilogy, are directed by India’s legendary Satyajit Ray.
In Czechoslovakian
Kolya - A confirmed bachelor becomes guardian to a young Russian boy. Academy Award - Best Foreign Film, 1997.
Closely Watched Trains- Tragicomedy about a naive young man’s attempts at sexual initiation. Academy Award - Best Foreign Film, 1966
In Chinese
Ju Dou (Cantonese) - An erotic tale of forbidden passion. Siskel and Ebert gave it "Two thumbs up!"
Raise the Red Lantern (Mandarin) - The story of a man with four wives and the battle of wills among the women.
Eat Drink Man Woman (Cantonese) - A retired master chef is worried about the future of his three unmarried daughters.
Farewell My Concubine (Cantonese)- The story of two men who have been friends for 50 years and the woman who comes between them.
In Dutch
Antonia’s Line - The portrait of a family and an indomitable woman.
In French
La Cage Aux Folles (Birds of a Feather) - This is the film that The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams, is based on.
All the Mornings of the World (Tous les matins du monde) - An exquisitely detailed biography about a 17th-century cellist and his protege.
Blue, White and Red - Krizysztof Kieslowski’s trilogy has received rave reviews worldwide.
Cyrano de Bergerac - Gerard Depardieu stars in this version.
My Father’s Glory - The enchanting story of Marcel Pagnol’s childhood.
Au Revoir les Enfants (Goodbye, Children) - A moving, autobiographical account of a boy’s first friendship - and his discovery of the real world.
The Vanishing - A modern psycho-thriller in the tradition of Hitchcock with a little Stephen King thrown in.
The Wages of Fear - A study of courage and cowardice in the face of insurmountable odds.
Camille Claudel - Biography of a scupltress who single-mindedly pursues her art.
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie - Reality and illusion blend in this surreal comedy. Academy Award - Best Foreign Film, 1972.
Ridicule - Intrigue and romance in the court of Louis XVI. Winner 1996 Academy Award Best Foreign Film.
Small Change - A charming and intelligent film that examines children’s lives in a small French village.
King of Hearts - A French town has been abandoned by all except the residents of the insane asylum when British soldiers arrive.
The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cent Coups)- With sensitivity, humor and poignancy, Francois Truffaut explores the pain and joy of childhood.
Vagabond- Siskel & Ebert gave this two thumbs up.
Babette’s Feast - A superb French chef living on the desolate coast of Denmark decides to create the most mouth-watering meal ever eaten.
The Eighth Day (Le Huiteme Jour) - Two men, one with mental retardation, discover the joys of true friendship.
Ponette - A moving story about a child dealing with the loss of a parent.
Jesus of Montreal - A troupe of unemployed actors join a charismatic young man to help a church update its annual passion play.
Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink) - This unique film tells a story of difference, rejection, and childlike faith in miracles.
The Man Who Planted Trees - This highly acclaimed film uses the breathtaking animation of Frederik Back to tell a parable for all ages.
Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring - The story of Jean Cadoret and his daughter Manon. It is a tale of greed, passion and ambition.
Too Beautiful for You - A darkly comic picture of beauty, love and obsession starring Gerard Depardieu.
Umbrellas of Cherbourg - A charming modern opera.
Weekend - A middle-class couple on a weekend trip get caught up in an armed liberation struggle.
Grand Illusion- Jean Renoir’s commentary on the senselessness of war and its fading glory is a timeless classic.
Diva - Action, arias and assassins all collide in Diva, a romantic thriller directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix.
Z - Winner of two Academy Awards including Best Foreign Film, Costa-Gravas’ Z has been called the greatest political thriller ever made.
In Finnish
Ariel - Voted Best Foreign Film of 1990 by the National Society of Film Critics, Ariel offers a unique mixture of comedy and crime.
In German
Wings of Desire - A wonderfully romantic fantasy about an angel who wishes he were mortal. Directed by Wim Wenders.
Far Away So Close - Another Wim Wenders film about angels. This time an angel in post-Cold War Berlin fights to protect the mortals he loves.
The Boat (Das Boot) - The best submarine movie ever made.
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant- A wealthy lesbian fashion designer worries about her lover.
Fitzcarraldo - Deep in the Amazon jungle, a man obsessed with smoldering ambition struggles to make his fortune.
M - A harrowing melodrama about a psychotic child murderer.
In Hindi
Salaam Bombay - Winner of the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988, it is the story of a boy alone on the streets of Bombay.
In Hungarian
Hungarian Fairy Tale - Rolling Stone magazine called this "One of the most sheerly beautiful films in ages."
In Italian
La Dolce Vita - Federico Fellini’s sensational view of the decadent "sweet life" of Rome’s society.
Cinema Paradiso - The story of a young boy mesmerized by the movies in post-WWII Italy. It won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1988.
Amarcord - Siskel and Ebert called Fellini’s film "Breathtaking. A movie for everybody, even those who hardly ever see foreign films."
Dark Eyes - Marcello Mastroianni won the Best Actor award at the 1987 Cannes Festival for his role in this tragicomic romantic fable.
The Icicle Thief - A visually stunning romantic comedy.
Swept Away - Directed by Lina Wertmuller, Judith Crist called this "A fierce battle of the sexes that is as witty as it is wise."
Seven Beauties - Set in WWII Naples, this is the story of a small-time crook and lady-killer who lives with his mother and seven sisters.
Open City - Winner of the Best Picture Award at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival, Roberto Rossellini’s film is a cinematic milestone.
Juliet of the Spirits - Fellini’s surrealistic masterpiece is full of passion and adventure.
Il Postino - A charming story about a mailman in rural Italy and his quest for romance.
81/2- A director tries to develop a new film, amid frequent visions and countless subplots. Fellini’s most personally revealing film.
Johnny Stecchino - Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful) plays a meek school bus driver who is mistaken for a notorious ganster.
In Japanese
Tampopo - A celebration of the role of food in Japanese culture. It has been called a "noodle Western" for its delightful parody of Westerns.
Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior - Akira Kurosawa’s powerful epic drama of feudal conflict in 16th-century Japan.
The Seven Samurai - Gene Siskel called Kurosawa’s masterpiece "One of the greatest films ever made"
Ran - A Japanese King Lear.
Shall We Dance -This is a charming movie about a Japanese businessman who is enchanted by a ballroom dance instructor.
Black Rain - Winner of 5 Japanese Academy Awards including Best Picture, this stunning film is about humanity and survival.
Grave of the Fireflies - This animated film is a beautiful and tragic story of survival in post-war Japan.
In Polish
Knife in the Water - This absorbing drama is Roman Polanski’s first feature film.
In Portuguese
Black Orpheus - Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1958, Time magazine called it "An amazing creation."
Bye Bye Brazil - Bawdy comedy/drama about a troupe of traveling entertainers.
In Russian
Alexander Nevsky - The story of the invasion of Russia in 1242, and the decisive resistance led by Prince Alexander Nevsky.
Burnt by the Sun - Winner of the 1994 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this is the unforgettable story of a Soviet hero.
Siberiade - An epic story the spans more than 6 decades of Russian history.
Dersu Uzala- The story of a Russian guide and an explorer. Academy Award - Best Foreign Film - 1975.
In Spanish
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - A very young Antonio Banderas appears in this very funny film.
Like Water for Chocolate - An erotic tale of forbidden love. The Los Angeles Times called it "Scrumptious . . . sensual . . . alluring!"
Belle Epoque (Age of Beauty) - Fernando, a handsome young Spanish Civil War deserter becomes involved in a romantic dilemma.
Green Wall - A young couple forsake their urban existence for life in the exciting, but dangerous, Peruvian jungle.
The Official Story - The true account of a woman who discovers that her adopted daughter may have been stolen from murdered parents.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez Collection:
I’m the One You’re Looking For -Based on a story by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this is a taut thriller.
The Summer of Miss Forbes - By day Miss Forbes is a stern governess; by night she indulges in drunken binges.
Letters from the Park - Two young lovers enlist the help of a local poet to write passionate letters to each other.
Fable of the Beautiful Pigeon Fancier - The story of a wealthy aristocrat’s obsessive desire.
Miracle in Rome - A man whose daughter died suddenly returns to her grave after 12 years to find her body perfectly preserved.
In Swedish
Smiles of a Summer Night - One of Ingmar Bergman’s most erotic, whimsical and charming films. A Little Night Music is based on this film.
Cries and Whispers - A complex and harrowing drama about four women’s search for spiritual peace in a world of despair.
Persona - The story of a famous actress who withdraws into silence and the nurse who becomes her companion. An Ingmar Bergman film.
Pelle the Conqueror - The story of a Swedish father and his son Pelle who travel to Denmark in search of a new life.
Fanny & Alexander - Ingmar Bergan’s last film and winner of 4 Academy Awards in 1983 including Best Foreign Film.
Persona - A hauntingly poetic story about a disturbed woman.
After the Rehearsal - A complex film about a director and his relationships with two actresses.
In Vietnamese
The Scent of Green Papaya - Set in Vietnam in the ‘50s and ‘60s, this is a love story of exquisite beauty and originality.
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