Thursday, July 14, 2022

Thursday Movie Picks-Non-English Language Movies

 


Good ole foreign films... I have not seen enough of but I believe I found 3 that work. Wandering through the Shelves chose a good theme once again. Here are my 3...

1. LA RONDE-1950


What a great movie, which I so want to see again, has an all star cast from Anton Walbrook as the ringmaster who shows all the different aspects of love, Simone Signoret as the prostitute( ooh...big surprise) to Danielle Darrieux as the grande married lady (again, big surprise). Everyone is connected by a character who moves the plot along. It starts off with the hooker(Simone Signoret), who makes a soldier happy only for the soldier leaving her arms to pick up a chambermaid. The chambermaid goes off to meet...and so it goes around and around like the carousel of love...This film is directed by the legendary Max Ophuls and it is a classic worth watching more than once.

2. THE 400 BLOWS-1959

I actually watched this when I took a film class in University and really enjoyed it that I watched it a couple more times since then. It’s directed by the famous Francois Truffaut one of the leaders of the French New Wave, who decided to create a semi-autobiographical film abouthis youth.  A young boy, frustrated by his life with parents who don’t get who he is and school that berates him tries to figure out who ge is. This is the first of 4 more films about the life of Antoine Doinel played by Jean-Pierre Leaud who played this character all the way through. I really enjoyed this film and could relate to the kid but I think, we all can relate to him on some level.

3. RENOIR-2012


I love art and have had the privilege of seeing some of the great works in many museums. Renoir is one of the most famous of the Impressionists as well as one of the most loved. This man was famous even during his life time unlike Van Gogh. This film takes place in the last few years of his life when Rheumatoid Arthritis took its hold, but he still painted despite great pain. It is 1915, at the height of the Great War, when his final muse, Andree Heuschling, aka Catherine Hessling,  came into his life. She is willing to ingratiate herself with the aging painter and when his son, the future famous director Jean Renoir, comes home from the war, she decides to get to know the son better. You see the difficult life both artists have and the girl in the middle of it all. It is beautifully photographed inspired by Renoir’s paintings and you feel the sense of loss from Renoir’s arthritic movement to the war itself. In reality, Andree aka Catherine became the muse of  Jean Renoir in his early career as a director becoming his star of most of his silent films.  I would love to see this one again too.

Which films come to your mind?

On a fun note....anything but fun, I have to go for a colonoscopy tomorrow since I had blood in my stool. It's fresh blood which is better to have than old and it happened only once. well a couple of times, but during the same week. That means today I gave to drink this whole gallon of liquid hell. At least it's fruit flavoured....oy vey. 








35 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I hope today's comment gets published AOK, dear friend. If not, please check your spam bin. Of course, if you are able to read what I just wrote, it means that my comment was indeed published AOK. So, if that is the case, then... "Never mind!" :)

    Non-English language film is a tough category for me because I haven't seen many. I appreciated the chance to learn some of your recommendations this morning.

    In recent decades, I have become a fan of black and whites, and therefore I wouldn't have any qualms about watching your two 50s offerings. I am familiar with Simone Signoret because I studied her 1955 mystery - suspense - thriller film Diabolique in my college film course. 400 Blows interests me because, as you noted, we can all relate to the angst of youth and trying to find ourselves. The third film, Renoir, would be of greatest interest because Mrs. Shady and I are lovers of Impressionist art, fascinated by the life stories of the master artists that pioneered the movement, and because I can relate to the R-A aspect of Renoir's story, his determination to work through crippling pain to pursue his passion.

    Bottom's up, Birgit! I wish I could join you in guzzling the joy juice. When I saw those two pictures of you, I first thought that I was looking at game show model Carol Merrill in a scene from Let's Make A Deal showing what losing contestants take home with them as a consolation prize. Anyhow, I hope you get an A+++ on your colonoscopy tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you.

    I want you to know that I am taking a 9-day blogging hiatus starting tomorrow. Mrs. Shady and I will be vacationing and she made me promise that I would avoid all social media during that time. Therefore, I regret that I will need to miss your posts next week. I hope to return to the blog scene on Sunday, July 24. Until I see you again, take good care of yourself and my buddy Harley, dear friend BB!

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    1. I'm late here but I hope you see this when you return from your wonderful vacation. I think you would love all 3 films . Renoir is a brilliant, little known film but it must become part of my collection.
      I scored an F and must so the colonoscopy again...sigh.
      Harley is such a character and he is finding his speech.

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  2. That does sound like liquid hell. Hope it's nothing.
    There are so many foreign films that are great. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Devil's Backbone...

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    1. I have to redo it..bubblegum tsdye is not appealing. Your pick is excellent..love that film

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  3. Birgit,

    No movies come to mind. While these films look interesting I rarely enjoy watching those with a subtitles as it's a bit distracting.

    Colonoscopies aren't fun...well, the prep before the procedure isn't. One is usually none the wiser of the going-ons after sedation kicks in which is immediate once it begins. I'm supposed to have one yearly but haven't since 2020. Maybe, next year I'll do it. I hope your results are good. The bright red makes me think you have hemorrhoids which also develop internally.

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    1. Continuing to send positive thoughts and prayers your way, Birgit. I hate that you have/had to repeat the process so close together. Rest and be well, dearie!

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    2. Yes...it sucks. Yearly! Yikes that truly sucks

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  4. I agree with Cathy on the hemorrhoids, my first thought.

    I love foreign language films and TV shows. There are just so many to choose from. My problem is having to constantly read the subtitles, lol.

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    1. I think it's that or diverticulitis because my insides were in pain for the past 3 days. I'm aom now
      Yes subtitles are tough especially when they are white on white

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    2. Exactly!!! I just watched Wuhan, Wuhan and they did white subtitles. Hey folks. We are in a hospital and everyone is wearing white. Idiots.

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  5. I really like 400 Blows. I'd like to see it again. Renoir sounds really interesting!

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    1. 40 Hundred Blows is great and I think you would love Renoir

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  6. Sorry to hear about the trouble Birgit! The prep for the procedure is worse than the actual thing!!

    La Ronde is a very good film. I didn't love it and never had a desire to revisit it but liked it during the first watch. It was much better than the 1964 remake "Circle of Love" despite that one featuring Jane Fonda.

    I found 400 Blows more interesting than enjoyable. It's vision is very dark but it's well-made.

    I'm unfamiliar with your last pick but I love Renoir's work so I'll have to take a look for it.

    I'm a bit behind on my foreign viewing, the most recent was a charming French comedy about a pro swimmer who makes a homophobic remark on air and is required to coach a gay swim team to make reparation called The Shiny Shrimps.

    Otherwise, there's the crazy Monica Vitti comedy Girl with a Pistol. She plays a Sicilian woman who is disgraced by her lover and sets out to London to exact justice. It's quite odd but often very funny.

    The last is one I saw just before we lost TCM-Late Spring directed by Yasujiro Ozu. A youngish woman is perfectly happy with her life living with her father until her aunt convinces her father that she should be married, and it creates upheaval in both their lives. Quite touching and a bit sad.

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    1. I have to repeat it...yuck. I can't do the 4L so they better have just the 2 glass full of Jim Jones juice I've done these before and, yep the prep is the nastiest.
      I really like LA Ronde and how we an be all interconnected .
      400 Blows is interesting but I do really like it even though it's that sad kitchen sink type movie.
      You should see Renoir..so beautiful and touching.
      You mentioned that funny movie to me previously and I'd like to see it. I'm not sure about the Monica Vitti film but the last one sounds good do me too.

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  7. Hi Birgit, I've not seen any of these films, not a genre I tend to go for, I'm a philistine lol. Although I do like the Scandi Noir films that we get here.
    Oh I just feel for you having to take that vile stuff. I had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy in February...both at the same time, thankfully nothing sinister lurking. Hope that will be the same for you, Kate x

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    1. Talk about both ends! I failed and have to redo it. I just can't drink that much liquid. I just need the 2 vile, disgusting glasses of yuck to drink

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  8. I've seen The 400 Blows a long time ago. Don't remember much of it.

    I've seen Renoir too. It's a beautiful looking film. Some scenes look like they jump out of the paintings.

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    1. You are so right about Renoir...the scenes are so beautifully captured

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  9. Lives of Others (I say that every time), The Lacemaker - possibly the first foreign language film I ever saw.

    Hope the colonoscopy is ok. Two of my cousins had them recently, for similar reasons. A suggested above, they turned out to be hemorrhoids. Not pleasant, obviously, but benign.

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    1. Yeah, it's either that or the diverticulitis. I failed so I have to repeat it. I just can't drink that much liquid

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  10. Is it right to say good luck with a colonscopy? Best wishes?

    I don't think I've seen any of these, but then again, I avoid foreign language films. I keep the captions on for regular shows, so I'm not sure why I don't want to foreign languages, but whatever. I did see Persepolis (I think I got that name wrong), but there's also and English version, so I'm not sure if that counts.

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    1. Yes, that counts and I have yet to see it.
      I failed at the colonoscopy and have to do it again I just can't drink that much liquid. There are other vile drinks to take that are usually 2 glasses

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  11. Colonoscopies are a piece of cake. Not so the prep, of course. And not just because cake has nothing to do with it. Unless you're one of those masochists that want to be awake for the procedure, it's a quick nap. I wrote an article about it, "Journey To the Center of My Bowels." Maybe I'll repost it. Heck, it'll save me from having to write anything new.

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    1. I have had this procedure before but I failed this time because there is no way I could drink that much. I can't drink anything to that degree and so...I threw up.
      The day before is hell and thankfully, we are asleep when the camera goes up the butt.

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  12. BTW, my inner middle school student just couldn't get past "The 400 Blows" without giggling.

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    1. Haaa....I giggled that I used this film when I was having the colonoscopy

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  13. I'm back after two days without internet. I've never heard of any of these, but I'm really not into foreign films. I would love to see the Renoir film, though.

    LOVED your photos of you prepping for your colonoscopy. I sincerely hope all went well.

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    1. Yes, foreign films are not for everyone. I have to redo my procedure. I was not cleaned out but I could not drink that much liquid.I can take 2 glasses of vile liquid to drink but not 4L

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  14. I hope all went well with your colonoscopy! I get them every 3-4 years and know how much "fun" the prep is. These films are new to me, so thanks for the education! The first one that came to mind is Life Is Beautiful, from Italy. Also, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which I watched in Germany, decades ago. Speaking of Germany, The Lives of Others is an excellent film about East German oppression.

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    1. I have to redo it...ughh. I can't drink 4L of anything never mind bubblegum flavour.
      I love Life Is Beautiful which I'd like to see again. That Roberto Begnini guy was just wild at the Oscars..I loved it. The Umbrellas was ok but I eas not wowed by it.
      TIMES of Others is brilliant and just so great. Another one to see again.

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    2. Bubble gum flavour? How gross! Sorry you have to do it again!

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  15. Hi Birgit - I hope all went well ... I haven't seen your films - but always remember Babette's Feast ... and recently 'Flee' that I blogged about at the end of June ... wonderful film - highly recommended. Cheers and good luck - Hilary

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    1. I enjoyed Babette's Feast bit I dont know the other 2. Have to check them out.

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  16. Oh boy! Hope everything went well.

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    1. Nope. I have to redo it because I was not cleaned out. Hopefully, I will get to drink just 2 glasses of hell.

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