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Eastern/Central Europe Film Recs
Jan. 11th, 2008 03:07 pmI've been meaning to do this for a long time. I have a special place in my heart for Polish films, but there are other European films recommended here as well.
Very generally speaking, mainstream American films (and audiences) are very concerned with the endings of movies. We want to know what happens to the characters we've invested our time and emotions into. We want to know where the story goes, and we it's very important for a movie to conclude properly. If the last ten minutes of the movie don't satisfy us, the movie is a disappointment. Most mainstream viewers know that a mainstream movie will conclude well, and are left to enjoy the unfolding spectacle, because the hero will definitely punish the bad guy, the underdog will win the competition, and the couple will state their undying love for each other in a way that erases all doubts about their future together.
The films below are more concerned with the journey of the film than the ending. The emotions and thoughts you experience on the way are much more important. In fact, some of them have downright depressing endings, or disappointing endings, by American standards. These films have an uncertainty that stems from taking chances. The audience is kept in genuine suspense because anything can happen.
I'm not bashing American films at all. Simply put, these are different experiences than mainstream American films. They have a different pace. Different expectations.
If you're interested, click on the cut to read about some of my favorite European films. They're not always easy to find, but they're worth it. I've liberally borrowed from papers I wrote about the films at the time I watched them.
( My favorite European films )
Very generally speaking, mainstream American films (and audiences) are very concerned with the endings of movies. We want to know what happens to the characters we've invested our time and emotions into. We want to know where the story goes, and we it's very important for a movie to conclude properly. If the last ten minutes of the movie don't satisfy us, the movie is a disappointment. Most mainstream viewers know that a mainstream movie will conclude well, and are left to enjoy the unfolding spectacle, because the hero will definitely punish the bad guy, the underdog will win the competition, and the couple will state their undying love for each other in a way that erases all doubts about their future together.
The films below are more concerned with the journey of the film than the ending. The emotions and thoughts you experience on the way are much more important. In fact, some of them have downright depressing endings, or disappointing endings, by American standards. These films have an uncertainty that stems from taking chances. The audience is kept in genuine suspense because anything can happen.
I'm not bashing American films at all. Simply put, these are different experiences than mainstream American films. They have a different pace. Different expectations.
If you're interested, click on the cut to read about some of my favorite European films. They're not always easy to find, but they're worth it. I've liberally borrowed from papers I wrote about the films at the time I watched them.
( My favorite European films )