Do you ever feel like your girlfriend or boyfriend is talking in a different language? Like when the two of you disagree on something, and the point he or she is trying to make is simply not coherent? It is not so much a language barrier that gives rise to situations like these but the individual differences that each of us harbors, that goes into making our unique personalities. Let’s, for a moment, believe that the person you are going out with did speak a different language. While we’re at it, let’s also presume that he came from a different culture and you couldn’t understand the things he said or the things he did. How would that play out?
It is Valentine’s Day and if you don’t have anything special planned with either your significant other or even just for yourself, then try to rent one of these foreign films so you can get the answer to the question previously posed. On the surface, you will find that all of these films take great detours from your preconceived notions on how relationships are built, but once you take the time to really think about it, you might start feeling differently. Guess it is true what they say, love has no language!
“Amélie”
Watch instantly on Netflix. Before she played the direct descendant of Jesus in “The Da Vinci Code,” Audrey Tautou was Amélie–the pixie-haired do-gooder from the French hill, Montmarte. “Amélie” is a heartwarming French film that chronicles the complex undertakings of its namesake, who happens to be on a quest to put a smile on other people’s faces. It is a great film to watch on Valentine’s Day, because embedded in the very center of this creative feature is a budding love story that is both elusive and so sweet that it is surely going to make you reminisce about how your own relationship began. If you do not have a huge smile plastered on your face when the credits start rolling, it is my unfortunate duty to let you know that you are a cold, cold person.
“The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”
Rent it. If you and your loved one happen to be a fan of the effervescent class of Japanese anime, look no further because “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” is going to be your best bet for a lovely night. As you may or may not have guessed from the title, this feature-length anime relies heavily on the concept of time-travelling to tell its story, but it does not dwell on the mechanics of it for too long. Instead, the film focuses on the possibilities that complement the privilege that we all, more often than not, wish for–the privilege of going back in time and doing things differently. The tone and plot progression is highly engaging, but what will strike the chord that most live-action romantic comedies fail to even brush past is the poignant ending of this otherwise frivolous anime.
“My Sassy Girl”
Rent it. Here is a movie that is internationally notorious for making people cry. It follows the story of a 20-something college student who comes across a drunken girl one night and how things escalate once she starts bullying him. You read it right, I said bullying. “My Sassy Girl” not only employs the two leads in gender-bending roles, but the said leads have so much comic chemistry together that you will be laughing at things you do not even understand. It is extremely ridiculous, yet genuinely earnest, and for that reason it is hard not to appreciate it. Of course, the fact that this South Korean film was based on a true story will only make you love it that much more.
“Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na”
Rent it. Any list of foreign films would not be complete without a stamp of Bollywood on it. If, because of some interesting turn of events, you are spending your Valentine’s this year with your best friend, “Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na” is just the movie you guys need to snuggle up to. “Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na” capitalizes on the same myth that popular culture has taken the liberty of extensively publicizing – a guy and a girl cannot just be friends, and adds its own Indian charm and quirk to it. Plus it has a lot of singing and dancing, good ol’ Bollywood style!
