Subtitles are, unfortunately, a deal breaker for far too many filmgoers. Call them unadventurous, unable to adapt, or just plain lazy, but its the truth. And while its true that some foreign films can be laborious if you dont have a working knowledge of what theyre trying to do, the culture they were created in, or a particular affinity for the filmmaker or actors, there are more than enough others that are as good, if not better, than many English language films. Great cinema is great cinema, no matter what the language. However, if youre not sold on foreign language films, here are five superb contemporary foreign filmmakers that will hopefully change your mind. While there are plenty of other foreign masters who primarily work in the English language these days (Herzog, von Trier, etc.), the names on this list almost always do their work in a foreign tongue. But that matters little because of how well they speak the universal language of cinema. Here are five foreign language filmmaking masters, along with a recommended starting point for viewers interested in exploring their work...
5. Susanne Bier
Denmarks Susanne Bier may not be as well known as some of her countrys fellow filmmakers, but her consistency puts her above Thomas Vinterberg, and the fact that she doesnt go out of her way to piss off the entire world makes her a little easier to take than Lars von Trier. But while she may be overshadowed by her compatriots, make no mistake that Bier is a master at her craft. Susanne Bier has sprinkled in a few English language films throughout her career, but her best work has always been in her native tongue. Her films typically walk the very thin line between drama and melodrama, but even when she does delve into the latter, its in a controlled, honest manner, nothing soapy or cheap. In films like After the Wedding and In a Better World, she has shown that she's not afraid of going for big emotional moments, and even though they dont always hit, more often than not shes on target. Start with: Brothers. Dont let the American remake discourage you, the original is well worth watching.