Bong Joon-ho, director of Parasite, once said in his acceptance speech at the Oscars that if you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many amazing films. If you’re bored with generic box-office films and want to explore more, this guide will walk you through the amazing international films which are also some of my favourite films.
P.S. to make it even more eventful, most of the main characters are women!
- The Handmaiden (2016) — South Korea
A one-way ticket on a thrilling ride that follows a handmaiden working for a mysterious heiress. Their lives get even more complicated and involve one another — they decide to form an alliance to escape their previous lives. Above all of that, the storytelling is really captivating with continuous plot twists.
- Confessions (2010) — Japan
What does a carton of milk do? This vengeful teacher tries to pay back her daughter’s death by injecting a mysterious fluid into a carton of milk she distributes to her class. This was an “extra” lesson that she gave to her student that caused her daughter’s death. The teacher’s plan was extremely elaborate and created such a sweet revenge that kept you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
- Bad Genius (2017) — Thailand
Acing a test has never been easier, as long as there is Lynn, a high school student who came up with a system to cheat during the International STIC exam. She planned out everything with perfection, and soon she branched out her operations until it attracted more clients. Sure enough, the bigger the business, the bigger the risk she has to take. The wild and mischievous scheme that she executed will make your heart race.
- Impetigore (2019) — Indonesia
Take a look at the mystical and eerie story following Maya, a woman who is trying to find out about her secretive past, but ends up bringing a curse to the entire village where the villagers have to sacrifice her in order to lift the curse. Trying to make things better, Maya fought to save her life as well as trying to save the village from the curse. This film was also heavy in terms of Indonesian folklore, which would help you explore more about new cultures.
- Holy Spider (2022) — Iran
An Iranian journalist is investigating the death of sex workers on the streets of Iran, especially in the city of Mashhad. The killer would tease the police into revealing a lead about the case and would also claim that the deeds that he had been doing were for “common needs.” This film will surely make your blood boil when you see how rotten the justice system is in some countries.
The list doesn’t end here but hopefully they serve as a starter pack to get you to delve into the new world cinema and explore more of what they have to offer!