It goes without saying that cinema has played a crucial role in shaping the society and evoking conversations around important subjects. From silent films a black-and-white wonders to talkies and dazzling blockbusters in color, the magic of movies has held us by the hand and led us to new worlds and time periods. It has made us laugh and cry. But regardless of the impact, for a really long time, the director’s chair remained elusive for women.
Hollywood continues to subvert the norms of a male-dominated industry and has produced great films directed by talented women. But there are manylesser known but equally powerful foreign language filmsthat allow the audience a glimpse into the social and political achievements made by women across the globe. With complex characters often played by female actors, these films defy stereotypes, challenge traditions, and push the boundaries of what is acceptable by society as well as what can be achieved in film.
The struggle of equality is still ongoing both on and off-screen. But with the help of these flourishing cinematic voices, we get to soak in fresh perspectives and the incredibly diverse range of what women are capable of accomplishing if given the opportunity. So, check out this list of the best foreign language films directed by women.
20Our Love Story (2016)
Our Love Storyis awarm, fuzzy Korean romantic dramadirected by HyunJu Lee. It captures the innocence and joy of first love between two women from very different worlds. Yoon Joo is a fine arts student working day and night on her exhibition. One day, she accidentally encounters Ji Soo at a junk shop and is smitten by her. She runs into Ji Soo again at a convenience store and despite only ever feeling attracted towards men before, Yoon Joo realizes that there is something undeniably electric between them. From there begins a story of love that transcends social norms and inner conflicts. Ryu Abel and Lee Sang Hee feature candid and heartfelt performances as the young leads. Even though the plot is simple, the sweet and understated romance makes this a feel-good film.
19Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Austrian directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s chilling psychological thriller is one that will give you nightmares after just a single watch. It centers on 9-year-old twin boys, Elias and Lucas, who have recently moved into a new home with their mother. The boys do everything together – from adding stuff to their collections to feeding stray cats.
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One day, they’re waiting for their mother to return home after having cosmetic facial surgery. But they suspect that the heavily bandaged woman claiming to be their mother is actually an impostor. Filled with dark humor and a tense atmosphere,Goodnight Mommybuilds a paranoia in the mind of the viewer. Which is filling because then it slaps you with a shocking plot twist.
18Whale Rider (2002)
Witi Ihimaera’s 1987 novel gets an impeccable film treatment by the hands of Niki Caro. Inspirational in every way, this film sheds light upon an ancient custom in New Zealand where only males have the authority to rise to chiefdom. But when the chief who would have grown up to become the next chief dies at birth and his twin sister survives, tension among the tribe grows. At 12, after having trained under her uncle, the Maori girl named Pai enlists. The only problem? She would have to win the trust of her super traditional grandfather. Set against the rugged natural beauty of Whangara,Whale Ridergives us a close-up of Pai, her desires, and her community. Another fact worth mentioning is the great performance delivered by Keisha Castle-Hughes, whobecame the youngest Best Actress nominee ever.
17The Truth Beneath (2016)
Another gripping thriller that comes from South Korea,The Truth Beneathis directed by Lee Kyoung-mi and it stars the beloved Son Ye-jin with Kim Joo-hyuk. The premise, as straightforward as it seems, holds much more than what appears on the surface. Fifteen days prior to the national elections, a politician and his wife discover that their daughter has gone missing. They are dragged into an inescapable scandal, which they try to navigate with compassion and grit. Shot in a moody tone with little dialogue, Kyoung-mi creates a world where it is impossible to discern truth from fiction. From the investigation to the emotional turmoil, both the actors give a nuanced performance, butSon-Ye-Jin steals the spotlight as a mother and wifemaking sense of the puzzle and more pieces fall into place.
16Sweet Bean (2015)
Adapted from a book titledSweet Bean Paste: The International Bestseller,this heartwarming tale of finding joy in life and celebrating a traditional Japanese sweet is truly a delightful one. Directed by Naomi Kawase, it tells the story of a baker, whose business escalates after he hires a 76-year-old elderly widow. Apparently her specialty is in making delicious dorayaki pancakes –Japanese pastries glued together with sweet bean paste. With vividly colorful cinematography and cheerful performances from both leads, Kawase showcases how life doesn’t have to become dull when you’re old. There is pleasure and rhythm in everyday things waiting to be touched, felt, and cherished.Sweet Beanalso focuses on themes of solitude, purpose, and finding an agreeable moment between two generations.
15Toni Erdmann (2016)
Maren Ade’s unconventional comedy is unique, audacious, and utterly breathtaking to say the least. It follows an estranged father’s jaw-dropping antics of trying to reconnect with his workaholic daughter years after being absent from her life. Knowing she wouldn’t pay attention to anything remotely away from work, he dons an outrageous wig and false teeth and infiltrates her little world by posing as a “life coach” for her company’s CEO. What follows are seriously funny pranks and surreal philosophies on life.Toni Erdmanncreates a subtle balance between belly laughs and tender moments of warmth and wisdom. But at its core, there isan absurd relationship between the father and daughter, which leads to an emotionally cathartic climax.
14Missing Young Woman (2001)
The only documentary on this list, but one that deserves attention and praise,Missing Young Womanrecounts an incident that took place in the Mexican border town, Lourdes Portillo. 250 young women of the town were raped and murdered, most of whom were factory workers, with the whereabouts of more than a hundred more missing.
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The investigation revolves with Portillo interviewing the relatives of the victims as well as the authorities, who at the time, took little action to resolve the case. She imbues the film with an immediacy that mirror’s society’s failure to support victims of sexual violence. The movie is not about punishing the culprit, but rather understanding a society where heinous acts like this and dismissal around it is prevalent.
13A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015)
Under the sympathetic gaze of Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, this heartbreaking and eye-opening documentary short refuses to let viewers look away from the harsh realities of society. It focuses on the story of Saba, a young woman who survived being shot in the face by her family because she fell in love with someone outside of her caste. Believed to have dishonored her family, Saba’s death sentence is as grim as it is unjust. The film explores themes of honor killing and violence against women. Apparently, a large part of the world is still pressed under a patriarchal system where male perpetrators easily escape the loose grips of justice. With interviews from activists, lawyers, and the police,A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgivenessbecomes an urgent call to human rights.
12Number 37 (2018)
Written and directed by Nosipho Dumisa,Number 37is animmersive and riveting South African thriller. In the movie, Randal Hendricks, recently rendered immobile, returns home to his girlfriend, Pam Ismael, in a wheelchair. Pam understands that Randal would go mad stuck in their little apartment while she’s off to work, so she gives him a pair of binoculars to keep himself occupied. Caught up in his own issues and drowning in a massive debt from a loan shark, Randal is bumbling to himself when one day, he witnesses a mob killing, right across from his apartment. He decides to use the incident to blackmail and advance himself. But it only sends him and his girlfriend into a treacherous web of crime and deceit.
11Mustang (2015)
In herfeature directorial debut, Turkish-French director Deniz Gamze Ergüven tells an exquisite coming-of-age story about five sisters fighting creatively against strict conservatism and the patriarchy that oppresses them in a small village in northern Turkey. The film begins with Lale and her four sisters coming home from school, seen innocently interacting with the boys. Stuck under the wrongful eyes of the villagers, the girls refuse to apologize for their behavior. When their father witnesses this, the girls are confined to the home, leading them to rebel against the control of their guardians. Ergüven herself understands the pain of the sisters and she tosses the same empathy and compassion to the film. Moreover,Mustangmoves at an energetic, smooth, and fast pace, with a minimal aesthetic and great performances from totally untrained young actors.
