In the past, if you wanted to watch a foreign film you would have to go to an art house cinema or peruse a relatively small section in the local video store. Today, however, with the advent of the internet and online streaming services, access to foreign films is easier than ever, and Americans should absolutely be taking advantage of this opportunity. Unfortunately, there still seems to be many misconceptions about foreign cinema. People think of it as pretentious or hard to understand; those notions couldn’t be further from the truth.
Foreign films can be an extremely important tool for understanding other cultures and societies throughout history. For example, one of the most famous foreign films ever released in the United States, Ishiro Honda’s 1954 classic “Gojira” (“Godzilla”), is a window into the terror and uncertainty that faced Japan as a result of the atomic bombs and their aftermath.
Similarly, the 1987 Syrian comedy “al-Hudud” (“The Borders”) by Duraid Lahham is a witty dissection of contemporary Arab politics and society, and can help U.S. audiences to further understand the Middle East today. Likewise, the 2003 Bhutanese film “Travellers and Magicians” offers viewers a window into a society that can be very closed off from the outside world.
Foreign films also touch upon universal themes that speak to any audience. Ingmar Bergman’s 1957 film “The Seventh Seal,” starring Max von Sydow, is hailed for its portrayal of literally confronting death. Likewise, many can empathize with the societal isolation experienced by the titular characters in Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.” These films, and many others like them, can contain universal messages that are delivered in ways that American audiences haven’t before seen.
Additionally, these films are now easier to access than at any point previously through online streaming services, such as Netflix. Binghamton University students specifically have access via the library search engine to kanopystreaming.com, which offers over 1,100 foreign films in over 80 languages.
One decision to make is whether you should watch the films with subtitles or dubbing. Dubbing can make films more accessible. According to a 2014 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll, 80 percent of Americans prefer not to watch subtitled films. Indeed, there are numerous films such as Sergio Leone’s 1964 classic “A Fistful of Dollars” that have been expertly dubbed in English.
Anyone choosing to forgo subtitles should beware of careless dubbing which can cause dialogue to get lost in translation. Undoubtedly, this is an issue that subtitled films face as well, but the big difference between them is that in the subtitled films, the original performance can still convey the intended meaning behind dialogue better than any translation.
Foreign cinema is more accessible than ever, and it can be both incredibly entertaining and educational. Next time you’re looking for a film to watch, don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and pick a foreign one.
Benjamin Goldberg is a junior double-majoring in Africana studies and history.