If the idea of reading subtitles turns you away from a movie, you’re missing out— international films can open your eyes to a whole new world of storytelling. 

With streaming platforms and the internet, it is now easier than ever to explore movies made outside of the USA. With so much great content being produced outside of the USA your next favorite movie might just come from a different continent. Outside of Hollywood, there are other massive film powerhouses such as India’s Bollywood, known for their Hindi-language films, and China’s film industry. Not only does international cinema provide you with different scenery, but you’re also getting snippets of what life is like in other parts of the world. 

Everything that you deem “normal” here is not someone else’s “normal.” Cultures have always connected people through our clothing, languages, eating habits, art and anything else that ties us to a certain group of people. Learning about different cultures helps you grow into a more understanding and respectful person. There’s a reason why our degrees all require courses that cover ethnic studies and cultural diversity; because learning about others expands the way we view the world.   

There are many great narrative films that you can discover with streaming platforms that were produced outside of the USA. People from all over the world interpret their worlds differently, so you’re seeing how others can create wonderful and exciting stories about their views of their country, its culture and society. 

Personally, I’ve enjoyed Korean films and TV shows. Netflix has a wide variety of content as the company continues to invest billions of dollars into South Korea’s entertainment industry. I was introduced to Korean films after watching many Korean TV shows. I started getting recommendations for their films as well. I loved viewing all the beautiful parts of the country, whether it was the city or their countryside, while also being introduced to their food dishes and so much more. I loved the camera work, the acting and the sound effects they tend to use depending on the genre. Some of the recent films I’ve watched were “The Great Flood,” “20th Century Girl” and “Love Untangled.”

Spanish language films are also ones I enjoy watching. Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro’s 2006 film “Pan’s Labyrinth” about a young girl who’s fascinated with mythical stories in post-civil war Spain is one that I can watch repeatedly and still enjoy every time. 

A Spanish film that left a lasting impression on me was “The Platform” which explores people’s selfishness and class struggles. A Mexican award winning film at the 2019 Oscars Award Ceremony was “Roma,” a beautiful story depicting an indigenous woman working for an upper middle class family as she works through personal and political struggles in 1970s Mexico City. This film showed me a perspective of  Mexico’s history and gave me a snippet of the struggles indigenous women went through. 

Thanks to streaming platforms, I’ve discovered and enjoyed films from countless countries, each offering its own unique perspective and storytelling style. Films also provide social commentary, so when you watch a film from somewhere outside of the USA, look deeper into what the creators are trying to illustrate to the audience and you’ll learn more about that country and its people. 

International films not only provide the opportunity to learn more about people, culture and society, but they are also just simply entertaining. So if you’re someone who hates subtitles, I urge you to get past that, because you are simply missing out on too many amazing international films.