The Curates Egg

Don't do subtitles?

Hands up all of you who "don't do subtitles" - and those who think foreign language films are only for the pretentious and arty. I have to admit I can understand this as I can remember struggling with subtitles myself, and trying to watch films that where either incomprehensible or seemed incredibly dull. This means my experience of foreign films is still limited, but I'm glad that I overcame my reservations as in recent years some of the best films I've seen have been subtitled.

Worth the Effort

Subtitles may take a bit of getting used to but if you stick with it I have found that most people soon become able to read them and simultaneously watch the action with little effort. Last month we watched the Italian film 'Life is Beautiful' (La Vita è Bella) as a family and even Katharine and Rebekah quickly got used to the subtitles and thought the film excellent. It's a film I would highly recommend because it deals with a very serious subject (the Holocaust) in a way which is suitable for all but very young children (cert. PG). Some may question the use of humour when dealing with this topic but it is done sensitively and in such a way that those who could not manage heavier films (e.g. Schindler's List) can be reminded of this dark period of human history whilst still recognising the essential beauty of life - even when tragically restricted or cut short.

Having overcome the subtitles barrier you quickly realise that even when high on artistic merit foreign films don't have to be pretentious or hard going. Another of my favourites is the French film Amelie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain). It is quirky and 'arty' but essentially it's an escapist romantic comedy and as such is hugely entertaining. It is probably the ideal film to introduce teenagers (or anyone who enjoys 'romcoms') to subtitles - though they would have to be late teens as being French it deserves its 15 certificate.

Eventually you may even find yourself starting to enjoy some of those films you never thought would be your sort of thing. Of course it may take a while before you are in to the works of Ingmar Bergman (and I'm not sure I'm there yet!) but some foreign classics can be appreciated quite quickly. The Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) for example, by the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, is superb and regularly features in lists of the best films ever made. It is also often credited with being the first modern action movie (it was remade as 'The Magnificent Seven') and proves that foreign films can be of the highest artistic standard whilst being totally compelling.    

Awards

By the time you read this we will know who won this year's Oscars (the ceremony is on February 27^th) and I suppose the Aviator is probably favourite for best film having already won the BAFTA and Golden Globe. I haven't yet seen any of the nominated films, or any of those nominated for best foreign language film, but I am surprised at some of the films which I have seen that weren't nominated. I recently saw The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de Motocicleta) for example, a visually stunning film chronicling the young Che Guevara's travels around South America in the early 50s, which actually won the BAFTA for best foreign film but still isn't even nominated for an Oscar. Despite this there is still something special about the Academy Awards so I shall be awaiting the results on the 27^th with interest.

Tim