62 Foreign Films or Shows You Have To Watch!
International films often offer a different perspective and cultural context than American films.
They can provide a window into different societies and ways of life, allowing viewers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures. This can be particularly valuable in a globalized world where people are increasingly interacting with individuals from different backgrounds.
In addition to offering a diverse range of perspectives, international films also tend to be more experimental and daring in terms of storytelling and style. They are often not constrained by the commercial pressures and formulaic conventions that can limit the creativity of Hollywood productions.
Furthermore, not having the same budget as US films, can lead to more unique, thought-provoking, and oftentimes more original storytelling without relying on expensive special effects or big-name actors.
There are obviously many more amazing international movies and films in circulation that I haven’t seen or that I have but just couldn’t fit into the list.
Perhaps in the future, I will write “55 Foreign Films or Shows You Have To Watch, Part 2”.
So here they are, some of the best foreign films or shows, in no particular order.
1. Fauda
Country: Israel
Summary: “Fauda” (Arabic for ‘Chaos’) depicts the two-sided story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Each season it’s a different story but the main character Doron, a commander of an undercover Israeli unit, is the main actor in all of them. Fauda is probably the most famous Israeli show to ever succeed internationally and for good reason. Each episode is packed with edge-of-your-seat action but also heart-wrenching drama that humanizes the characters and makes for a fantastically entertaining show.
2. Suburra: Blood on Rome
Country: Italy
Summary: A fight over land in a seaside town near Rome spirals into a deadly battle between organized crime, corrupt politicians, and the Vatican. This is a must-see show, the characters, the music, the storyline, and everything about it is absolutely fantastic.
The show centers around the power struggle between rival criminal organizations and corrupt politicians as they vie for control of the city’s waterfront development. The series follows a diverse cast of characters, including a young ambitious politician, a powerful crime boss, and a group of ambitious young criminals, as they navigate the dangerous and corrupt world of organized crime in Rome.
3. Our Boys
Country: Israel
Summary: This show is based on actual events, it was a limited series, so no season 2. In the summer of 2014, three Jewish teenagers are kidnapped and murdered by Hamas militants. Israel is shocked, shaken, and furious. This is the story of the events that followed, the entire cast of the show was extremely believable which helped create a very real tense feeling throughout the show.
4. Gully Boy
Country: India
Summary: The film is based on the lives of street rappers in India and follows the story of a young man named Murad, who lives in the slums of Mumbai and aspires to become a successful rapper. 22-year-old “Murad” is the son of a driver, his parents worked hard to get him educated so that he could have a white-collar job. However, Murad has a different dream and an uncontrollable passion to chase it.
5. Yara
Country: Italy
Summary: A determined prosecutor becomes consumed with the case of a missing 13-year-old and goes to extreme lengths to get to the truth. Based on a real case.
6. Squid Game
Country: South Korea
Summary: It would be silly to have a list of the best foreign films or shows and not add the biggest hit of 2021! I don’t think I need to write a summary as I’m sure most of you have either seen it or heard of it. However, if you haven’t seen it, go to Netflix and check it out because it's really, really good.
7. The Father Who Moves Mountains
Country: Romania
Summary: Mircea, a retired intelligence officer, finds out that his son has gone missing in the mountains. After days of searches, Mircea put his own rescue team together, leading to an altercation with the local squad. This is a clear example of what a father's love is.
8. A Separation
Country: Iran
Summary: “A Separation” is a 2011 Iranian film directed by Asghar Farhadi. The movie tells the story of a married couple, Nader and Simin, who are facing a major conflict in their relationship. Simin wants to leave Iran and move abroad with their daughter, while Nader wants to stay in Iran to take care of his elderly father who has Alzheimer’s disease. The couple eventually separates and Simin moves out of the house, leaving Nader to take care of his father alone. The situation becomes further complicated when Nader hires a caregiver.
9. Shtisel
Country: Israel
Summary: This human story is a critically acclaimed Israeli television drama series that follows the lives of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shtisel family in the Geula neighborhood of Jerusalem. The show focuses on the relationships and struggles of the family members, including their desires, beliefs, and conflicting values, as they navigate their traditional community and modern-day life. Through its depiction of the community and its customs, “Shtisel” provides a unique insight into a world that is often shrouded in mystery for many outsiders.
10. The Salesman
Country: Iran
Summary: While Ranaa and Emad, a married couple, are participating in a production of “Death of a Salesman,” she is assaulted in their new home, which leaves him determined to find the perpetrator over his wife’s traumatized objections.
11. Dangal
Country: India
Summary: Former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his two wrestler daughters struggle towards glory at the Commonwealth Games in the face of societal oppression. Biopic of Mahavir Singh Phogat who taught wrestling to his daughters. Geeta Phogat was India’s first female wrestler to win at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she won the gold medal (55 kg) while her sister Babita Kumari won the silver (51 kg).
12. On The Spectrum
Country: Israel
Summary: A bittersweet comedy about three roommates, living together under one roof. All are in their late twenties, each diagnosed with a disorder on the autistic spectrum. Through their unique, surprising, and extremely un-PC perspective about relationships, family, work, friendship, sex, and social conventions, we’ll get to look at ourselves in a new, strange, and funny way. This show is both hilarious and deeply heartwarming.
13. Sir
Country: India
Summary: A prosperous young Indian man falls in love with his servant, a widow with the dream of becoming a fashion designer.
14. On My Skin: The Last Seven Days of Stefano Cucchi
Country: Italy
Summary: The incredible true story behind the most controversial Italian court cases in recent years. Stefano Cucchi was arrested for a minor crime but in just one week’s time, a family is changed forever.
15. L’ultimo Paradiso
Country: Italy
Summary: During the 1950s in “Italy”, a free and enthusiastic spirit dreams of love, justice and a better life, until a forbidden relationship threatens all of her dreams — inspired by real events.
16. A Man Called Ove
Country: Sweden
Summary: Ove, an ill-tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules and visiting his wife’s grave, has finally given up on life just as an unlikely friendship develops with his boisterous new neighbors.
17. The Namesake
Country: India/USA
Summary: American-born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, despite his family’s unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways.
18. Valley Of Tears
Country: Israel
Summary: The show is a war drama that focuses on the events of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, specifically the Battle of the Valley of Tears, where a small group of Israeli soldiers fought against overwhelming odds against Syrian forces in the Golan Heights. The series explores the human cost of war through the eyes of soldiers, their families, and those who stayed behind on the home front. Through its portrayal of the sacrifices and bravery of the soldiers, “Valley of Tears” highlights the profound impact that war has on individuals and communities, and the toll it takes on those who serve their country.
19. Piranhas
Country: Italy
Summary: It tells the story of a young gang of teenage boys who are drawn into the criminal underworld of the city and become part of the local Camorra, a powerful and violent Neapolitan mafia. The film follows the journey of the teenage leader, Nicola, as he rises through the ranks of the Camorra, and the choices he must make as he becomes more involved in the world of organized crime.
20. Force Majeure:
Country: Sweden
Summary: A Swedish family travels to the French Alps to enjoy a few days of skiing. The sun is shining and the slopes are spectacular but, during lunch at a mountainside restaurant, an avalanche turns everything upside down. With diners fleeing in all directions, mother Ebba calls for her husband Tomas as she tries to protect their children. Tomas, meanwhile, is running for his life… The anticipated disaster failed to occur, and yet the family’s world has been shaken to its core, a question mark hanging over their father in particular.
21. Miracle in Cell №7
Country: Turkey
Summary: Get your tissues out! A story of love between a mentally-ill father who was wrongly accused of murder and his lovely six-year-old daughter. Based on the 2013 Korean movie Miracle in Cell №7 (2013).
22. Parasite
Country: South Korea
Summary: Parasite is a 2019 South Korean film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The movie is a dark comedy-drama that tells the story of a struggling working-class family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family and infiltrate their home. The film takes a satirical look at the vast economic divide between the rich and poor in South Korean society and the lengths people will go to in order to improve their financial situation.
Parasite was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and four Oscars, including Best Picture, at the 92nd Academy Awards.
23. Atlantics
Country: Senegal/France
Summary: The movie is a ghost story set in Dakar, Senegal, and tells the tale of a young woman named Ada who is in love with a construction worker named Souleiman, who has disappeared at sea along with other workers while trying to reach Spain in search of a better life. The film explores themes of love, loss, and migration, as Ada tries to find out what happened to her missing lover and deal with the supernatural forces that are haunting her community. “Atlantics” blends elements of magic realism, social realism, and romance, to create a haunting and atmospheric film that is both visually stunning and emotionally powerful.
24: Shoplifters
Country: Japan
Summary: A Japanese couple stuck with part-time jobs and hence inadequate incomes avail themselves of the fruits of shoplifting to make ends meet. The unusual routine is about to change from carefree and matter-of-fact to something more dramatic, however, as the couple opens their doors to a beleaguered young girl.
25. City Of God
Country: Brazil
Summary: A classic! The movie is set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro and is based on the true story of life in the Cidade de Deus neighborhood during the 1960s and 1970s.
City of God portrays the brutal world of organized crime, drug trafficking, and poverty in Rio’s favelas, and how it affects the lives of those who live there. The film is known for its fast-paced, non-linear storytelling, its use of vivid and graphic violence, and its ability to capture the energy and urgency of life in one of the world’s most notorious and dangerous neighborhoods.
City of God is widely regarded as one of the best Brazilian films of all time.
26. Pain & Glory
Country: Spain
Summary: “Pain and Glory” is a 2019 Spanish film directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The movie stars Antonio Banderas as Salvador Mallo, a film director in the twilight of his career who is facing a series of physical and emotional challenges. The film traces Mallo’s life through a series of flashbacks, as he reflects on his past relationships, his artistic triumphs and failures, and the physical and emotional pain that has marked his life.
27. Okja
Country: South Korea
Summary: The movie is a science fiction drama that follows the story of Mija, a young girl who lives in the mountains of South Korea with her best friend Okja, a genetically engineered “super-pig.” When Okja is taken away by a multinational corporation, Mija sets out on a mission to rescue her, traveling to Seoul and then to New York, where she finds herself caught up in a global debate about animal rights and the future of food. “Okja” blends elements of action, adventure, and satire, to create a film that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
28. The Intouchables
Country: France
Summary: The movie is a comedy-drama based on the true story of a wealthy quadriplegic man named Philippe who hires a young man named Driss from the projects as his caretaker. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and life experiences, the two form an unlikely bond and embark on a journey that transforms both of their lives.
29. Volver
Country: Spain
Summary: “Volver” is a 2006 Spanish-language film directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film tells the story of a woman named Raimunda, who must navigate her way through the aftermath of her husband’s death, while dealing with family secrets and the return of her ghostly mother.
30. Once Were Warriors
Country: New Zealand
Summary: “Once Were Warriors” is a 1994 New Zealand film directed by Lee Tamahori. The film is a powerful and intense portrayal of life in a Maori family, and the impact of domestic violence, poverty and addiction on the family dynamic. It stars Rena Owen as Beth Heke, a strong-willed and deeply troubled woman trying to hold her family together, and Temuera Morrison as her abusive husband Jake. The film highlights the devastating effects of intergenerational trauma and the struggle for Maori cultural identity.
31. Pad Man
Country: India
Summary: The film is based on the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural Indian man who invented a machine to produce low-cost sanitary pads, in an effort to help the women in his village who lacked access to menstrual hygiene products. The film highlights the importance of menstrual hygiene and challenges taboos surrounding menstruation in India.
32. The Motorcycle Diaries
Country: Argentina
Summary: The film is based on the journals of the young Ernesto “Che” Guevara, and chronicles his journey through South America with his friend Alberto Granado. The journey, which takes place on a motorcycle, is a transformative experience for both men and serves as a turning point in Guevara’s life. The film provides a unique glimpse into Guevara’s early political beliefs and shows how his travels influenced his later life as a revolutionary leader.
33. The Hand Of God
Country: Italy
Summary: The story of a boy, Fabietto Schisa, in the tumultuous Naples of the 1980s. The Hand of God is a story full of unexpected joys, such as the arrival of football legend Diego Maradona, and an equally unexpected tragedy. Fate plays its part, joy, and tragedy intertwine, and Fabietto’s future is set in motion.
34. Slumdog Millionaire
Country: India/UK
Summary: “Slumdog Millionaire” is a 2008 British-Indian film directed by Danny Boyle. The film tells the story of a young man named Jamal Malik, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”
Despite his lack of formal education, Jamal is able to answer every question correctly, leading the police to suspect that he has cheated. The film then flashes back to Jamal’s life in the slums, showing how each of the questions relates to a specific event in his life and how he gained the knowledge to answer them.
35. Another Round
Country: Denmark/Sweden
Summary: The film follows the story of four high school teachers who decide to test a theory that maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their bloodstreams will improve their lives and work. What starts as an experiment quickly spirals out of control, leading the men down a dangerous path of excess and self-destruction.
36. Arctic
Country: Iceland
Summary: A man stranded in the Arctic after a plane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or embark on a deadly trek through the unknown. I saw this while flying to Japan a couple of years ago as I looked down over the arctic, it made the whole experience just a bit better and much more realistic.
37. Made In Heaven
Country: India
Summary: The show is set in Delhi and focuses on two wedding planners, Tara and Karan, and their luxurious wedding planning company. The series explores themes of tradition, culture, and class, as well as the modern-day conflicts that arise within Indian society.
38. Malena
Country: Italy
Summary: The film is set in Sicily during World War II and follows the story of a young boy named Renato who becomes infatuated with a beautiful and enigmatic woman named Malèna. The film explores themes of love, desire, and the effects of war on a community.
39: The White Tiger
Country: India
Summary: The film is based on the novel “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga and tells the story of a poor Indian driver named Balram Halwai, who becomes a successful entrepreneur after exploiting the corrupt system of India. It explores themes of poverty, corruption, and class struggle in contemporary India.
40: Y Tu Mama Tambien
Country: Mexico
Summary: The film follows the story of two teenage friends, Julio and Tenoch, who embark on a road trip across Mexico with an older woman named Luisa. The film explores themes of sexuality, coming of age, and social and political issues in Mexico.
41. Everybody Knows
Country: Spain
Summary: Todos lo Saben (Everybody Knows) is a 2018 Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Asghar Farhadi and starring Penélope Cruz, and Javier Bardem. The film follows Laura, who returns to her hometown in Spain for her sister’s wedding, only to be thrown into a mystery when her daughter is kidnapped and a series of secrets are revealed.
42. Cinema Paradiso
Country: Italy
Summary: Cinema Paradiso is a 1988 Italian drama film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The film tells the story of a filmmaker named Salvatore, who returns to his hometown in Sicily after the death of an old friend, Alfredo. Through flashbacks, Salvatore reflects on his childhood growing up in the local movie theater, which was run by Alfredo, and the ways in which the movies and Alfredo’s guidance affected his life and career.
43. Call My Agent
Country: France
Summary: The show is set in a Parisian talent agency and follows the lives of talent agents as they navigate the ups and downs of representing their high-profile clients. Each episode focuses on a different client and offers a humorous look at the behind-the-scenes world of the entertainment industry.
44. Late Marriage
Country: Israel
Summary: The film follows the story of a young Georgian-Israeli man named Zaza who is under pressure from his family to get married and settle down. When he falls in love with a woman that his family doesn’t approve of, his family reacts with outrage and threatens to disown him.
45. Amelie
Country: France
Summary: “Amélie” is a 2001 French romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The film follows the story of a young woman named Amélie who, after a sheltered childhood, sets out on a journey of self-discovery and sets out to make the lives of those around her better. Through her imaginative and often whimsical adventures, Amélie explores themes of love, loneliness, and the beauty of everyday life.
46. An Easy Girl
Country: France
Summary: “Une fille facile” (English title: “An Easy Girl”) is a 2019 French film directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. The film follows the story of a 16-year-old girl named Naomi who, during a summer in the French Riviera, is introduced to the world of hedonism and luxury by her cousin, a more experienced and confident young woman. As Naomi navigates this new world, she begins to question her own values and desires.
47. Leon
Country: France
Summary: The film stars Jean Reno as the main character, a hitman who forms a close bond with a young girl (Natalie Portman) whose family is murdered by corrupt DEA agents. Together, they seek revenge against those responsible for the deaths.
48. Nothing to Hide
Country: France
Summary: During dinner, a few couples play a game of sharing texts, calls, e-mails, etc… By placing all 7 cell phones on the table. What ensues is both expected and unexpected.
49. Wasp Network
Country: Brazil, Spain, France
Summary: The film is based on the real-life events of the Wasp Network, a group of Cuban spies who infiltrated anti-Castro terrorist organizations in the 1990s. The film follows the story of several members of the network as they navigate the dangerous and morally complex world of espionage, while dealing with the personal and political consequences of their actions.
50. Asfur
Country: Israel
Summary: Four guys living on a farm in the center of Jerusalem, a very expensive piece of land which is worth millions of dollars, find themselves with a debt of 55k to the city hall. They have a month to get the money or the place they call home will be in foreclosure and sold to the highest bidder. This show is absolutely hilarious however can be difficult to understand if you do not know all the cultural references involved.
51. Tehran
Country: Israel
Summary: The show is a spy thriller that follows the story of Tamar Rabinyan, a young female computer hacker from Israel who is sent on a secret mission to Iran. As she navigates the treacherous world of espionage and politics in Tehran, Tamar must confront the complex and dangerous reality of life in Iran while balancing her loyalty to her country and her own personal beliefs.
52. Amour
Country: France
Summary: Georges and Anne are an octogenarian couple. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, also a musician, lives in Britain with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple’s bond of love is severely tested.
53. Elle
Country: France
Summary: The film follows the story of Michèle, a successful businesswoman who is raped in her own home. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game-a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.
54. Unorthodox
Country: Germany
Summary: The story of a young ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who flees her arranged marriage and religious community to start a new life abroad. The series follows a young woman brought up in an ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg district who strikes out for Berlin, leaving behind an arranged marriage and tight-knit faith community in part to pursue her goal of discovering her path.
55. The Square
Country: Sweden
Summary: The film is a satirical drama that takes place in the contemporary art world and follows the story of a museum curator named Christian, who is tasked with promoting an exhibition called “The Square.” As Christian tries to navigate the various challenges and controversies that arise during the promotion of the exhibition, he must also confront his own personal and professional shortcomings and insecurities.
56. The Banshees of Inisherin
Country: Ireland
Summary: I’ve purposefully tried to not put English-speaking movies or shows on this list. However, I had to put a couple in, this being one. On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic is devastated when his buddy Colm suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister and a troubled young islander, Pádraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary.
57. The Salt Of The Earth
Country: Brazil
Summary: This film chronicles the life and work of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. The film explores Salgado’s journey as a photographer, documenting the lives of people in various parts of the world, including war zones, natural disasters, and areas of poverty and famine. The film highlights Salgado’s commitment to capturing the human experience, and his belief in the power of images to bring about change.
58. Maroon
Country: India
Summary: I saw this movie in the cinema when it first came out and the response at the end was a “standing ovation”
This was Manav Kaul’s break-out film which later catapulted him into a star in India.
Maroon is a story of a man, a creative writing professor at a university in Dehradun, betrayed by his loving wife, a music teacher in a school, who struggles to live in humiliation. In his attempt to cope, he becomes delusional and his interaction with the outside world gradually enters a different plane of reality and he becomes psychologically impaired.
59. Lion
Country: India
Summary: The film stars Dev Patel as Saroo, a young man who, as a five-year-old boy in India, became separated from his family and ended up being adopted by an Australian couple. Decades later, Saroo uses Google Earth to try and find his birth family, setting out on a journey to India to retrace his steps and find his way back to his roots.
60. The Price of Family
Country: Italy
Summary: This newly released feel-good comedy tells the story of a couple who decide to fake having inherited a fortune from an old woman in order to get the attention of their rather disengaged children.
61. Minari
Country: Korean/American
Summary: The film follows a Korean-American family who moves from California to Arkansas in the 1980s to start a farm. The film explores the family’s struggles to adapt to their new surroundings, as they confront the challenges of running a farm, preserving their cultural identity, and maintaining their relationships with each other. At the center of the film is the relationship between the father, a determined but flawed dreamer, and his son, a sensitive and imaginative child who finds solace in the beauty of the Arkansas countryside.
62. The Next Skin
Country: France/Spain
Summary: A teenager who went missing and was presumed dead returns home after eight years. Gradually, doubts begin to arise about his true identity.
