If you’ve been on Twitter lately, you’ve probably heard of the controversy surrounding the Oscar nominations. While this situation seems apparent every year, it’s only increased with the spur of #OscarsSoWhite and a notorious return to “white male nostalgia.” And, quite frankly, that’s not necessarily a lie — only two performances in the 20 nominations were people of color. Cynthia Erivo from Harriet was the only non-white performer recognized for Best Actress, while crowd favorites such as Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers and Lupita Nyongo in Us were disregarded. What’s more than this white patriarchy is the lack of foreign films being recognized, and not just in the Oscars, but in many other places as well.
For years Americans have cultivated a sort of disinterest for reading — well, reading subtitles. Growing up, the most common response I heard towards disdain of subtitles is how they detract viewers from actually watching the movie, or that they do not have enough time to read the subtitles and pay attention to the movie. While I do understand the inconvenience of multitasking, it seems more like an excuse than a legitimate reason for not watching international films. Jeremy Cassar, a journalist from SBS, summarizes this beautifully in his article “why people hate subtitles” when he writes:
“The more you watch subtitled films, the more your brain becomes accustomed to them and the more they become part of the visuals: an integrated peripheral gaze […] Also, don’t forget that film is a visual medium, and unless you’re watching the foreign version of a Kevin Smith film or an Aaron Sorkin TV show, there will be many moments of purely visual action, which means subtitles aren’t running every second of the film.” (src)
Perhaps I’m being too harsh. Maybe I’m too used to the idea of not understanding another language but still enjoying it. After all, it’s something I’ve been accustomed to as a kid.
Bollywood was a major part of my culture growing up and whenever my family put one up on the screen, I needed subtitles. While my mother-tongue was never Hindi, I brought myself to watch Hindi movies every week as a child to catch up on the lives of several actors and actresses. I relied on subtitles every time to ensure my understanding, because without them, I was utterly helpless. I guess this is why I never felt weary about media in foreign languages. I can’t understand what they’re saying, but that’s the whole point of subtitles. Nonetheless, if I can paraphrase this whole paragraph in one sentence, it would be best said by Parasite director, Bong Joon Ho, in his Golden Globes acceptance speech:
Speaking of Parasite, if I had to recommend one movie from last year, it would be that one, hands down. It’s hard to accurately describe the movie without spoilers, so it’s best left in simple terms: a low-income boy undertakes a job at an upper-class family’s house which leads to a series of unexpected events. There’s a certain reality rounded within the movie that results in a bittersweet ending that you can’t help but ponder over. The main setting, a beautiful pristine estate is described as, “the kind of clean, bright space that once expressed faith and optimism about the world but now whispers big-ticket taste and privilege”. The characters are both reasonable yet in over their head. But, like every other underdog movie, you can’t help but root for them.
Another film worth mentioning from the past year is Gully Boy, which was India’s official entry for best foreign film in the Oscars. Gully Boy follows the road to stardom of a college student from the Dharavi slums who has a passion for rap—think 8 Mile meets Slumdog Millionaire. Besides having extremely catchy songs and A-list celebrities, the film strives to break free from the stigmas surrounding expectations and class in modern-day India. Murad, the protagonist, is aware of his flaws but is determined to make it big for himself and his mother; he wants his fame to be the thing that frees them from their lower class constraints. The movie is appropriate for all ages but appeals heavily to the youth.
If I still had Netflix, I know I’d spend countless hours flipping through their endless foreign movie options. One look at the synopsis is enough to have me hooked, and rarely am I ever disappointed. Being able to enjoy a unique form of media is an art in it of itself, and so I encourage everyone to step outside their boundaries and watch at least one film in a language they don’t know. I guarantee that once you get past those 1-inch barriers, you’ll encounter a whole new world.