8 Great Discussion Starting Films-Pt. 2: International Films
In yesterday’s post, we began our list of eight films that can facilitate great discussion. Today we will complete this list featuring four international films. Let me give a brief predecessor for these next four films…If you’re looking for movies with fast paced scripts and conclusive film endings…these four films may not be for you. However, the pace of these films are executed with exceptional intentionality and taste. You’ll find many great moments with these films in the small details and space between dialogue. Each movie can facilitate tremendous conversations. I highly recommend all four, so here they are!
1. The Son (Belgium)
A film about a man who teaches carpentry to teenage boys in a community center/rehabilitation program. Without giving too many details, he encounters a boy who is connected to his past in some way and this new student/teacher relationship could drastically change both of their lives. (Netflix members can stream the movie HERE. This movie is hard to find to rent, but you can easily purchase it for about $5 HERE.)
Why is this film worth your time?
This film has tension that slowly builds from the first minute of the film until the final scene. In the midst of this thriller-esque movie, the story digs into some incredibly deep aspects of human nature.
“To call The Son a masterpiece would be to insult its modesty. Like the homely, useful boxes Olivier teaches his prodigals to build, it is sturdy, durable and, in its downcast, unobtrusive way, miraculous.” A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“It is as assured and flawless a telling of sadness and joy as I have ever seen.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Discussion topics include:
1. The tension that exists between the desire to forgive and the longing for revenge
2. The communal power of education
2. Summer Hours (France)
A film about a three siblings and the grieving process that takes place after their mother dies.
Why is this film worth your time?
This simple story allows us to visit the subject of bereavement without having to feel overwhelmed by their grief. A major aspect of this story deals with the choices the families have to make with their mother’s estate, and this part of the film is definitely engaging as we reflect the importance of another person’s “things”.
“Summer Hours is a lovely rumination on the meaning of things, but one that remains rooted in its human subjects rather than the inanimate objects that are more easily graspable.” Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
“Brims with life and loveliness even as it meditates on the loss of childhood.” Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Discussion topics include:
1. The family/collaborative process of grieving the loss of a parent
2. The importance of “things/heirlooms”.
3. The Pool (India) 
This film (actually directed by American documentary filmmaker, Chris Smith) tells a story about a Indian teenager whose job as a maintenance worker is frequently distracted by his interest with the private swimming pool next door.
Why is this film worth your time?
This movie allows us to be a fly on the wall with a particular culture that most of us have never visited. This teenage boy trapped in poverty, forms a relationship with his wealthy neighbors, and we get to see how these relationships impact his self-concept and perspective of the world around him.
“Uplifting without a drop of sap, the tale of a boy’s obsession with a glittering swimming pool and how it changes four lives offers numerous pleasures and one of the most satisfying and resonant conclusions to be seen in recent cinema.” Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
Discussion topics include:
1. A great conversation can be found in the general observations of this world very unfamiliar to us
2. How does American class-separation compare/contrast with the class-separation we witness in this film?
4. Nobody Knows (Japan)
A film (based on a true story) of four children living alone in an apartment for months without any adults being aware of their lack of parental care.
Why is this film worth your time?
This is an incredible story told with subtlety and eloquent detail. The acting ability of the children (in particular the oldest boy) is something that has to be witnessed (not an ounce of over-acting, and by the way, the oldest son won best Actor for this film at Cannes in 2004) The story breaks your heart without feeling emotionally manipulated. You care for these children, and you wonder why the majority of their surrounding community ignores their solitude.
“…Hirokazu [the director] finds a gentle…mesmerizing way to convey the connection among the children, and to admire the society they build” Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
“In a sense, “Nobody Knows”is a troubling counterview to Peter Pan. It tells us the child’s world of make-believe simply cannot exist without adults.” Desson Thomson, The Washington Post
Discussion topics include:
1. The value of family and the importance of parenthood.
2. How does this film influence the way you view children you know or encounter in public?
Those are the EIGHT FILMS. Each movie has its own weight and deserves a good week to reflect and discuss. I hope these films encourage great conversations. Happy viewing!!
By the way, NETFLIX MEMBERS CAN STREAM ALL OF THEM!
