BigaTEN: My Best Foreign Language Films

Ito na ang listahan ng mga paborito kong foreign-language movies.

10. Nae meorisokui jiwoogae (A MOMENT TO REMEMBER) 2004 - South Korea

PLOT: Beautiful Su-jun (Son Ye-jin), cossested by her devoted father, meets Chol-su (Jung Woo-sung) a carpenter in her father's employment. They meet, fall in love and marry, but their picture perfect life become less perfect when they discover that Su-jin has Alzheimer's disease.

Sabi ng Bampira: Maraming beses ko na to napanood. Maraming beses din ako umiyak. Grabe yung love nila sa isa't isa. Hindi ko makalimutan ang eksena noong time na hindi na niya maalala ang asawa niya. Ang sakit ng eksena na yun. Ang ganda-ganda talaga ni Ye-jin Son (yung bida din sa The Classic at endless love na pinalabas sa GMA 7) Meron ako dvd nito..



9. SHUTTER (2004) Thailand

"Have you ever carefully looked at your pictures?"

PLOT: A young photographer Thun and his girlfriend Jane discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after fleeing the sceen of an accident. As they investigate the phenomenon, they find other photographs contain similar supernatural images, that Thun's best friends are being haunted as well, and Jane discovers that her boyfriend has not told her everything. It soon becomes clear that you can not escape your past.

Tun: [Tun is working in the dark room when someone walks beside him and stands there. He does not look up]
Tun: Jane? You're early.
Tun: [Telephone rings outside, Tun goes to answer it] Hello?
Jane: Tun. Its Jane. I'm going to be a little late today.

(dialogue courtesy of IMDB)

Sabi ng Bampira: Buti na lang madami kami nang mapanood ko to. Gusto ko yung sound effects dito. Magugulat ka din talaga. Hindi ko kinaya ang ending. Ang tragic lang. Sobrang love talaga ni natre si tun. Walang iwanan. Gusto ko rin yung eksena dito nung binalasa ni jane ang mga pictures tapos pinakita ang movement ng ghost. Ang pinakapangit lang dito ang representation ng ghost. Sobrang standard o generic sa asian horror cinema. (opinyon ko lang) Ayan tuloy lagi ko na tsinetsek mga pictures baka kasi may shadow..hehe





Tied With.. Gwoemul (THE HOST) 2006 - South Korea

"It is Lurking Behind You."

PLOT: After a careless Morgue empties hundreds of bottles of formaldehyde into the sewers near Seoul's Han River, it gives birth to a terrifying mutant with a taste for blood. The Mutant abducts the daughter of Gang-du. Thinking she is dead, the family mourns her loss; until they receive a late-night call from her cell phone. Knowing she is alive, they band together to find and rescue her from the mutant before it is too late.

Sabi ng Bampira: Matagal ko din inisip kong dapat ba silang pareho ng spot ng Shutter o dapat na mas mataas ang ranking niya. Pero dahil medyo pareho sila ng genre, naisip kong ilagay sila sa parehong ranking. Pareho ko din naman silang gusto at pareho ko sila gusto mapasama sa listahan. Ang kaibahan lang nito sa Shutter, ibang pananakot ang gusto ipakita. Parang sinasabi ng pelikula na tayo mismo ang gumagawa ng mga sarili nating mga monsters o multo na kinatatakutan. Nagalingan din ako sa cast. Ang swabe ng shifting ng emotion mula sa pagiging kwela, desperado at pagiging emosyonal.

Young Korean Doctor: That's formaline.
US Doctor in Morgue: Formaldehyde, to be precise. To be even more precise, dirty formaldehyde. Every bottle is coated with layers of dust. Pour 'em into the sink.
Young Korean Doctor: Excuse me?
US Doctor in Morgue: Just empty every bottle to the very last drop.
Young Korean Doctor: It's just - They are toxic chemicals, and the regulations state -
US Doctor in Morgue: Pour them right down the drain, Mr. Kim.
Young Korean Doctor: If I pour them in the drain, they'll run into the Han River.
US Doctor in Morgue: That's right. Let's just dump them in the Han River.
Young Korean Doctor: But, you know, this is not just any toxic chemicals -
US Doctor in Morgue: The Han River is very broad, Mr. Kim. Let's try to be broad-minded about this. Anyway, that's an order. So, start pouring.

(dialogue courtesy of imdb)







8. Yi ge dou bu neng shao (NOT ONE LESS) 1999 - China

PLOT: In a remote mountain village, the teacher must leave for a month, and the mayor can find only a 13-year old girl, Wei Minzhi, to substitute. The teacher leaves one stick of chalk for each day and promises her an extra 10 yuan if there's not one less student when he returns. Within days, poverty forces the class troublemaker, Zhang Huike, to leave for the city to work. Minzhi, possessed of a stubborn streak, determines to bring him back. She enlists the 26 remaining pupils in earning money for her trip. She hitches to Jiangjiakou City and begins her search. The boy, meanwhile, is there, lost and begging for food. Minzhi's stubbornness may be Huike and the village school's salvation.

Sabi ng Bampira: Dito ata inspired ang movie na Munting Tinig ni Gil Portes. Grabe ang movie na to. Kakaiyak. A must see sa lahat ng mga estudyante. Isang inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga matatapang at masisipag na guro na sobrang nagpapakahirap magawa lang ang pinakadakilang propesyon sa buong mundo. Eye opener din ito sa lahat kung gaano ka-importante ang edukasyon at ang suporta ng gobyerno para sa ikakaunlad at ikakaganda ng sistema nito. Ang galing ng batang substitute- teacher dito.



7. Wo hu cang long (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) 2000- China

"I would rather be a ghost drifting by your side as a condemned soul than enter heaven without you... because of your love, I will never be a lonely spirit" ...Li Mu Bai

PLOT: The disappearance of a magical jade sword spurs a breathtaking quest for the missing treasure. Li is embittered by the loss of his jade sword, and his unrequited pursuit of Yu is further complicated by the mysterious intrusion of an assassin. The identity of the assassin is gradually unveiled as another poignant tale of love begins to ravel with that of Li and Yu against the backdrop of Western China's magnificent landscape.

Sabi ng Bampira: Ito ang pinaka-unang foreign language film na napanood ko sa UP film center. Dito ko unang napansin si zhang ziyi (ganda niya dito). Gusto ko yung love scene niya sa disyerto. Astig din ang cinematography ng pelikulang ito. Parang painting lang. Gusto ko din ang mga martial art scenes. Corny joke tuloy namin sa title ay: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Flying Squirrel. Action movie to pero may puso. Siguro dahil lovestory ang sub-plot niya. Marami ang nagsabi na overrated daw to. Pero para sa akin..Magical!





6. El Orfanato ( THE ORPHANAGE) 2007 - Spain

"No secret stays locked away forever"

Plot:The former orphan Laura raises her adopted son Simon with her husband Carlos in an old house and former orphanage where she was raised. Simon is HIV positive and tells Laura that he has five invisible friends, and she believes they are fruit of his imagination. Laura decides to reopen an orphanage for handicapped children in the location and during the opening party, Simon calls her to show the little cabin of his friend Tomas. The busy Laura does not gives much attention to her son; then she sees a mysterious masked boy and Simon vanishes. Laura feels the presence of other persons in the house and months later, the desperate Laura invites a team of parapsychologists to try to unravel the mystery

Sabi ng Bampira: Sa dvd ko lang to napanood at nirent ko lang malapit sa amin. Hindi ako natakot pero ginulat ako ng pelikula. Ginulat ako kung paano ikinuwento ang dark secret ng orphanage, kung paano natapos ang kwento at kung paano sinagot ang tanong sa movie: Nasaan si Simon? Para sa akin epektibo ang paggamit ng larong treasure hunt para alamin ang mga nakatagong lihim-ang sakit, pagkatao at pagkamatay ni Simon. Galing ng gumaganap na Laura at ang cute ng batang si Simon. Nakakaiyak ang eksena nang mahanap na niya si Simon at ma-realize niya kung paano nangyari ang lahat. Astig para sa akin ang pag cut ng eksena nina Laura at ng ilaw sa ending. ( sumigaw talaga ako sa eksena na hinawakan ng batang ghost sa likod si Laura. nagulat ako!)







5. Cidade de Deus (CITY OF GOD) 2002 - Brazil

"Fight and you'll never survive..... Run and you'll never escape."

PLOT: City of God is based on a true story that takes place in the 60's where in the slums of Rio De Janeiro two boys growing up in the neighborhood take on different paths in life. The story is told through eyes of Buscape, a poor young fisherman's son who dreams of becoming a photographer one day. His story narrates the violence and corruption surrounding the city and the rise and fall of one of the city's most notorious boss'. Li'l Ze. As war wages on the streets Buscape's only way out of this violent life is to expose its brutality the world through his pictures. Along the way the lives of other are put into perspective as their stories intersect with the events that take place.

Sandro Cenoura: Have you lost your mind? You are just a kid!
Steak and Fries: A kid? I smoke, I snort. I've killed and robbed. I'm a man.

Sabi ng Bampira: Powerful ang storytelling. Para kang nanood ng live coverage ng isang gang war. Hindi ko pa rin mapigilang magulat sa realidad na pinakita ng pelikula lalo na at mga kabataan ang kasangkot. Nakakitaan ko din ng magaling na foreshadowing techique ang pelikula. Lalo na kung paano sinimulan ito. (kung saan hinahabol ng mga batang armado ang kawawang manok) Swan na swak tuloy ang isa sa mga taglines ng movie: If you run they'll catch you.If you stay they'll eat you. Tama nga siguro sabihin na brutally beautiful ang pelikulang ito.





4. Rak haeng Siam (LOVE OF SIAM) 2007 - Thailand

"If we can love someone so much, how will we be able to handle it when we are separated?...Is it possible to love someone and never be afraid of losing them? Is it possible that we can live our entire life without loving anyone at all?" ...... Mew

PLOT: Two young boys are best friends living quiet family lives in Bangkok. Their lives are disrupted when one boy's older sister goes missing on a jungle trip. The shattered family moves away, separating the boys. Years later, now in their late teens, the boys meet again. One of them is now the leader of an aspiring boy band whose managing assistant bears a striking resemblance to the lost sister. The boys must deal with their family and social lives and their feelings for each other.

Sabi ng Bampira: Napanood ko to sa Cinemanila. Noong una kong makita ang poster sa gateway (badtrip nga at pinalitan pa ng organizer) hindi ko akalain na gay-themed ito. Pero panalo ang movie. Hindi siya ang generic na gay film. LoS is all about love-iba't ibang mukha at anyo ng pag-ibig. Sobrang gusto ko ang ost nito. Naghanap pa talaga ako ng album ng August Band, online. Nakarelate din ako sa karakter ni Mew. Parang gusto ko siyang i-hug sa last scene ng movie habang umiiyak siya at nag-ta-thank you sa gift ni tong na nabuo pagkatapos ng ilang taon. Napaka-symbolic ng scene na yun; parang yun din ang pagkabuo ng pagkatao nina mew at tong. Ang dami din memorable scenes dito. Ilan sa hindi ko makakalimutan: 1) Yung treasure hunt game nina mew at tong. 2) Yung eksena ni tong at ng mommy niya sa christmas tree. 3) Yung natulog si tong kina mew at tabi silang natulog. at ang d best sa lahat, ang linya ni tong ng ibinigay niya ang huling part (nose) ng gift niya kay mew.: "I can't be with you as your boyfriend... but that doesn't mean I don't love you."







3. Chun gwong cha sit (HAPPY TOGETHER) 1997 - Hong kong

Ho Po-wing: Do you regret being with me?
Lai Yiu-fai: Damn right I do! I had no regrets until I met you. Now my regrets could kill me.

Plot:Yiu-Fai and Po-Wing arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong and take to the road for a holiday. Something is wrong and their relationship goes adrift. A disillusioned Yiu-Fai starts working at a tango bar to save up for his trip home. When a beaten and bruised Po-Wing reappears, Yiu-Fai is empathetic but is unable to enter a more intimate relationship. After all, Po-Wing is not ready to settle down. Yiu-Fai now works in a Chinese restaurant and meets the youthful Chang from Taiwan. Yiu-Fai's life takes on a new spin, while Po-Wing's life shatters continually in contrast.

Sabi ng Bampira: Ang bigat ng pelikulang to. Sobrang kaka-depressed. Pero totoo ang mga sinasabi sa pelikula. Napaka universal ng theme na pinakita sa movie. Isa siyang emotional journey. Ito lang ang napanood ko sa mga pelikula ni Wong kar-Wai (kakainis..hay!) At para sa akin, ito ang pinakamatalinong gay-movie na napanood ko. Astig yung paggamit ng kulay para iset ang mood ng pelikula.

2. Central do Brasil (Central Station) 1998 - Brazil

"He was looking for the father he never knew. She was looking for a second chance."

PLOT: Dora, a dour old woman, works at a Rio de Janeiro central station, writing letters for customers and mailing them. She hates customers and calls them 'trash'. Josue is a 9-year-old boy who never met his father. His mother is sending letters to his father through Dora. When she dies in a car accident, Dora takes Josue and takes a trip with him to find his father.

Sabi ng Bampira:Ito ay simpleng pelikula na may pinakamalaking puso. Siguro nakarelate ako dahil sa backstory ni Dora. Gusto ko yung movie direction at performance nina Josue at Dora. Meron ako kopya nito at kahit ilang beses ko ulitin ang final scene sa bus, hindi ko pa rin mapigilan maiyak. Isa ito sa mga memorable scenes sa maraming pelikula na napanood ko. Share ko lang ang letter ni Dora. (Pinagtiyagaan ko isulat habang pinapanood ang final scene sa youtube.)

Josue

I didn't send a letter to anybody for many years. Now, I'm sending this letter to you. You're right, your father will be back. He is everything you think he is. I remember me and my father in his train. He allowed me, a little girl, to play the horn during the travel. When you cross the roads in your big truck, I hope you remember, I was the first person to permit you to put your hands in a wheel. It is better you stay with your brothers. You deserve more than I have to give. When you want to remember me, take a look in our little portrait. I say that because I'm afraid that you will forget me. I miss my father, I miss everything.

Dora







Sa susunod na lang ang #1 sa listahan ko.. (Hulaan Mo!)

Salamat sa mga sumusunod:

Imdb para sa movie details, taglines at plot

moviepicturedb.com, moviescreenshots.blogspot.com, imageshack.us, sansaeverything.wordpress, ew.com, myspace.com, moviecritic.com, apu.ac.jp, beyondhollywood.com, zorcerezz of pinoyexchange.com, bombsite.com, asianews.net, farm3.static.flicker.com at filpresci.com para sa mga makukulay na imahen.