Things You'll Need:
- Internet
- DVD Player or VCR
- Patience
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Step 1
Fellini is perhaps the most famous of all foreign directors. Many would say his films are the best of all foreign films.Look to the best. There may be a huge argument here. I think the three best foreign film directors are Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini and François Truffaut. I am not a major fan of Fellini, but it is hard to miss him when you look at a “Best Films of the Century” list, only to see his name appear in the top ten consistently. I believe Akira Kurosawa is the best of the modern film directors. “Seven Samurai” is really a phenomenal film, retelling what the moving image can do with characters. If there were a Shakespeare of the foreign film, it would be Kurosawa (incidentally Kurosawa’s main influence was Shakespeare). François Truffaut’s “Shoot the Piano Player” is another classic. Each director can tell the small story, a term used for not telling huge epics but dramatic tales of men and women in the world. Each director can enlighten an audience on different aspects of humanity. There are hundreds of other films by top directors. Let’s see how to pick them.
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Step 2
George Romero is a notorious European director, whose horror films have been watched by millions.What do you want in a film? Obviously, some of these films will be boring to some. If you are in the mood for some action or just lots of blood, a “Seven Samurai” may not work for you, even if, as the title suggests, there are samurai battles. There are plenty of foreign directors who can fill your needs for action or horror. One of the best foreign film directors in terms of action is John Woo, who made a few Hong Kong action classics starring Chow Yun-Fat, including “A Better Tomorrow,” “The Killer,” and “Hard Boiled.” If you are more apt to watch a “Hellraiser” or “Friday the 13th,” you are in luck, because there is a man by the name of George Romero who reworked the old zombie story (and a bunch of other horror stories) with several classics.
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Step 3
The Internet may help you find dates or check your bank account, but it can also help you pick out top films. For the most part, Amazon.com is a very good resource for reviews. There are plenty of top ten lists which offer some of the better foreign films by many top directors. Anything that says “Amazon Essential Video” is usually a good pick. Also, do a search for “Top 100 Foreign Films” and you will get a variety of lists for all sorts of film fans. You will see dozens of directors not even brought up here, ones who should be noticed.
