How to Buy a Subtitled Foreign Film

A subtitled foreign film adds an aura of romance and serious cinema to a film watching experience. Reading the sometimes strange translations and trying to glean meaning from foreign idioms takes a bit of concentration but makes the film interesting. Follow these steps to buy quality subtitled foreign films.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Start with foreign films you know or like. Buying a foreign film can be risky business since you sometimes just don't know what you're going to get. So, start with more popular foreign films that reached larger American audiences or with films by directors you know you like.
2. Buy films by year and country of origin. Older films from countries like France, Japan, Italy and Greece are likely to have been dubbed, as was customary a few decades ago. So, buy newer films or editions of films to get good quality subtitled foreign films.
3. Shop for foreign films on American-produced DVD's. DVD's offer a number of different subtitle options and an easy interface with which to use them. Almost all quality DVD's will offer subtitles, even if there is a dubbed option as well.
4. Buy certain brands. Reputable film collection brands such as Criterion Collection offer well translated subtitled foreign films, in addition to their domestic stock. Look to brands like Criterion for subtitled foreign flicks.
5. Think about buying prints. If you have a real passion for subtitled foreign films, think about buying original prints of such films. While expensive, prints will give you an authenticity that will move even the most hardened film buff to paying you a compliment.