I think that it would be a good idea to have a topic about European Cinema. I used to watch only Hollywood movies and British films when i was teenager but i started to appreciate European Cinema in the last 5 years. So, i will refer my favourites of them based on every country.

But there is only one rule : Not only the production is important but also the language of the film..For example, if a movie has french production but it is an english language, it will not count..(For example "The Ghost Writer"). But there will be some exceptions like "Le Havre". It's a finnish/french/germany production which it has finnish director but it's a french language film..It will count as a finnish movie because it was the official submission of Finland to the 84th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

If you also watch European cinema, it will be great to write your favourites too. It's not exclusively a rate..It's only for discussion..

 

Belgium :

 

1. A Perdre La Raison/Our Children (2012)

2. The Broken Circle Breakdown (2013)

 

Denmark :

 

1. Jagten/The Hunt (2013)

2. En kongelig affære/A Royal Affair (2012)

3. Hævnen/In a Better World (2011)

 

France :

 

1. De Rouille et d' Os /Rust and Bone (2012)

2. La Vie d'Adele/Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

3. Intouchables /The Intouchables (2012)

4. Les garçons et Guillaume, à table !/Me, myself and Mum (2013)

5. Le Prenom/What's in a Name? (2012)

6. Des hommes et des dieux/Of Gods and Men (2010)

7. Amour (2012)

8. Renoir (2012)

9. La Delicatesse (2011)

10. Dans la maison/In the House (2012)

11. L'Immortel/22 Bullets (2010)

12. Comme Un Chef (2012)

13. L'Homme Qui Rit/The Man Who Laughs (2012)

14. Micmacs (2009)

15. L'Arnacoeur/Heartbreaker (2010)

 

Finland :

 

1. Le Havre (2011)

 

Germany :

 

1. The White Ribbon (2009)

2. Oh Boy! (2013)

 

Greece :

 

1. Mikra Anglia (2013)

 

Norway :

 

1. Kon-Tiki (2012)

2. Hodejegerne/Headhunters (2011)

 

Spain :

 

1. Los ojos de Julia/Julia's Eyes (2010)

2. La Piel Que Habito/The Skin I Live (2011)

3. Los Abrazos Rotos/Broken Embraces (2009)

4. Blancanieves (2013)

 

Sweden :

 

1. Män som hatar kvinnor/The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

2. Låt den rätte komma in/Let the Right One In (2009)

 

 

p.s1 I have watched some Greek movies but only "Mikra Anglia" deserved to be in my list because it's the best Greek film ever!!! Some of them were really bad (God loves caviar, The Kings of Mykonos, Soula Ela Xana)..I'm ashamed of our modern/current movies.

 

p.s2 I would have also Italian movies but i have watched only one of them (Production & language) in the last 5 years. And I don't think that "La Grande Bellezza/The Great Beauty" deserved to be in my list...

 

p.s3 United Kingdom is an European country (of course) but i have watched so many British films which they totally overshadow the rest of countries. British films are also in the strong categories at the Oscars (Like "Best Picture" and "Best Director") and never in the "Best Foreign Film"..

Edited March 22, 201411 yr by Insomnio

great list, lots that i'll be adding to my watch list and many of those french ones i've been meaning to watch, esp in the house & of gods and men

 

kon-tiki and the hunt especially <3

I love watching European movies but every movie i can currently think of is from pre-2009.

 

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Krótki film o zabijaniu / A Short Film About Killing :: 1988

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Krótki film o miłości / A Short Film About Love :: 1988

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Życie jako śmiertelna choroba przenoszona drogą płciową / Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease :: 2000

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Dzień świra / Day of the Wacko :: 2002

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Norway.png Den Brysomme mannen / The Bothersome Man :: 2006

 

sorry.

 

however, i loved the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, i need to see the rest of the trilogy.

 

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Germany.png

/ Heart of Fire :: 2009

Edited March 23, 201411 yr by luk≡

great list, lots that i'll be adding to my watch list and many of those french ones i've been meaning to watch, esp in the house & of gods and men

 

kon-tiki and the hunt especially <3

 

"Of Gods and Men" has a really slow beginning but it ends up with suspense..It's based on a true story. I wouldn't say that "In My House" is my favourite french movie but it has a really mystery plot..The young actor is very good.

"Kon-Tiki" has fantastic cinematography. It's very easy on the eyes...Try to watch it in a big screen because i think that you will lose all the magic on your laptop/pc..I watched it to an official festival in Athens. The reaction of the audience were very positive. "The Hunt" is one of my favourite movies ever!!! Mads Mikkelsen is a great actor!! The screenplay is very interesting!! Shame that it lost the "Best Foreign Movie" from "La Grande Belleza'.. It was a travesty..

 

p.s French cinema has improved a lot in the last years..I remember that it had many unfunny comedies in the past when their new films are hilarious..But their social movies are still the best (Rust and Bone/Blues is The Warmest Colour are 10/10 material).

"Of Gods and Men" has a really slow beginning but it ends up with suspense..It's based on a true story. I wouldn't say that "In My House" is my favourite french movie but it has a really mystery plot..The young actor is very good.

"Kon-Tiki" has fantastic cinematography. It's very easy on the eyes...Try to watch it in a big screen because i think that you will lose all the magic on your laptop/pc..I watched it to an official festival in Athens. The reaction of the audience were very positive. "The Hunt" is one of my favourite movies ever!!! Mads Mikkelsen is a great actor!! The screenplay is very interesting!! Shame that it lost the "Best Foreign Movie" from "La Grande Belleza'.. It was a travesty..

 

p.s French cinema has improved a lot in the last years..I remember that it had many unfunny comedies in the past when their new films are hilarious..But their social movies are still the best (Rust and Bone/Blues is The Warmest Colour are 10/10 material).

 

only got to see kon-tiki on my little screen but I can imagine how much better it woulda been on the big. (& yer not heard great things about la grande belleza, reluctant to give it a go)

I love watching European movies but every movie i can currently think of is from pre-2009.

 

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Krótki film o zabijaniu / A Short Film About Killing :: 1988

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Krótki film o miłości / A Short Film About Love :: 1988

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Życie jako śmiertelna choroba przenoszona drogą płciową / Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease :: 2000

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Poland.png Dzień świra / Day of the Wacko :: 2002

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Norway.png Den Brysomme mannen / The Bothersome Man :: 2006

 

sorry.

 

however, i loved the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, i need to see the rest of the trilogy.

 

http://www.eurovision.tv/img/upload/flags/mini/Germany.png Feuerherz / Heart of Fire :: 2009

 

I haven't watched a polish or czech movie yet..But i have watched the Swedish and the American version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". I found very good Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander but Noomi's performance defines the whole movie...The Swedish version is the best of them.

I find European cinema FAR more enjoyable and interesting than most US (+ some Irish and UK) films that are mostly churned out for profit with very little meaning or character/story development. Most of these are pre-2009 and I've forgotten loads as this is off the top of my head but I'll share anyway:

 

Germany:

 

Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990) (Info) - Excellent film that deals with the issue of their Nazi past and how one town tries so hard to keep a dark secret hidden.

(Info) - Great film starring Hanno Koffler (who, funnily enough, plays a character in Sommersturm (2004) who is the exact opposite in character traits and it was weird to see him play Marc in this!) and the issues of machismo within the German police force is dealt with very well.

(Info) - Classic. :wub:

Lola Rennt (1998) (Info) - Always used to confuse the hell out of me when I was a kid because of all the different 'endings'. Was great to see German cinema produce something GREAT as it was pretty bleak for a good while.

(Info) - Great film which gives you an insight into the Stasi's activity in East Berlin.

(Info) - A comedy, but quite sombre in places, that deals with the issue of 'Ostalgie' in East Germany after the fall of the Wall.

 

Sweden:

 

Ondskan (2003) (Info) - LOVE LOVE LOVE. Not groundbreaking or anything but just a great watch. Great to see a more conservative side to Swedish society as well.

Patrick 1,5 (2008) (Info) - A fun film that gives you an idea of what the more liberal side of Swedish society is like, albeit slightly exaggerated in places.

 

France:

 

(Info) - I remember the HYPE around this when I was living in France. I saw it a few times in the cinema and each time it was packed. Such a great film (albeit with some flaws) but the relationship between the two mains just makes for excellent viewing. Really funny in places (even if some of the jokes went completely over my head).

(Info) - Loved everything about this when I first saw it as part of a French module in uni. The style and spectacle made it a cult classic. Would recommend it to anyone who fancies a good French film.

(Info) - Set during the Occupation. Probably my favourite French film. Beautifully sad.

La Haine (1995) (Info) - Will probably get lynched for saying this but it's not AS amazing as most people say it is. I watched it years ago and then a few times since then and although it's great and deals with a lot of issues in contemporary France, I *still* don't get most of the hype oops.

(Info) - Desperately sad and haunting in places, but a fantastic watch. Probably the best of the 'Trois couleurs' trilogy (that said, I can't remember much of the other two as it's been YEARS since I watched them).

 

Spain:

 

(Info) - Makes me want to flee to Spain whenever I watch it.

El espíritu de la colmena (1973) (Info) - Fantastic film that tears Franco Spain to shreds. So much symbolism was used that it was able to slip past the censor and be released without anyone batting an eyelid. Love.

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988) (Info) - Great mixture of drama and black comedy. Almodovar gets rid of the male and male dominance and hands the power over to the females. A must see!

oh Cal, what a wonderful review of the movies! will watch the trailers asap!

 

my friend watched 'Onskan' last year and loved it, i need to see that movie (i've been saying it for a year though :()

I find European cinema FAR more enjoyable and interesting than most US (+ some Irish and UK) films that are mostly churned out for profit with very little meaning or character/story development. Most of these are pre-2009 and I've forgotten loads as this is off the top of my head but I'll share anyway:

 

Germany:

 

Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990) (Info) - Excellent film that deals with the issue of their Nazi past and how one town tries so hard to keep a dark secret hidden.

(Info) - Great film starring Hanno Koffler (who, funnily enough, plays a character in Sommersturm (2004) who is the exact opposite in character traits and it was weird to see him play Marc in this!) and the issues of machismo within the German police force is dealt with very well.

(Info) - Classic. :wub:

Lola Rennt (1998) (Info) - Always used to confuse the hell out of me when I was a kid because of all the different 'endings'. Was great to see German cinema produce something GREAT as it was pretty bleak for a good while.

(Info) - Great film which gives you an insight into the Stasi's activity in East Berlin.

(Info) - A comedy, but quite sombre in places, that deals with the issue of 'Ostalgie' in East Germany after the fall of the Wall.

 

Sweden:

 

Onskan (2003) (Info) - LOVE LOVE LOVE. Not groundbreaking or anything but just a great watch. Great to see a more conservative side to Swedish society as well.

Patrick 1,5 (2008) (Info) - A fun film that gives you an idea of what the more liberal side of Swedish society is like, albeit slightly exaggerated in places.

 

France:

 

(Info) - I remember the HYPE around this when I was living in France. I saw it a few times in the cinema and each time it was packed. Such a great film (albeit with some flaws) but the relationship between the two mains just makes for excellent viewing. Really funny in places (even if some of the jokes went completely over my head).

(Info) - Loved everything about this when I first saw it as part of a French module in uni. The style and spectacle made it a cult classic. Would recommend it to anyone who fancies a good French film.

(Info) - Set during the Occupation. Probably my favourite French film. Beautifully sad.

La Haine (1995) (Info) - Will probably get lynched for saying this but it's not AS amazing as most people say it is. I watched it years ago and then a few times since then and although it's great and deals with a lot of issues in contemporary France, I *still* don't get most of the hype oops.

(Info) - Desperately sad and haunting in places, but a fantastic watch. Probably the best of the 'Trois couleurs' trilogy (that said, I can't remember much of the other two as it's been YEARS since I watched them).

 

Spain:

 

(Info) - Makes me want to flee to Spain whenever I watch it.

El espíritu de la colmena (1973) (Info) - Fantastic film that tears Franco Spain to shreds. So much symbolism was used that it was able to slip past the censor and be released without anyone batting an eyelid. Love.

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988) (Info) - Great mixture of drama and black comedy. Almodovar gets rid of the male and male dominance and hands the power over to the females. A must see!

 

Your list is very interesting. I have watched some of them..Germans has very good cinema. I would suggest you to watch the amazing "Das Experiment (2001)". It's a great film!!! Your country's cinema has improved a lot. I watched 15 french movies in the last 5 years. I enjoyed all of them at the cinema. Greeks love french movies and we have very often french releases in my country. Some of them are very successful here ( La Vie d'Adele, Intouchables and Amour).