3. "Foreign Movies Are Weird"
Watching some French movies today is a bit like peering into the future of mainstream American cinema. You see, the French just go marching into topics which to some people may appear a bit extreme, both in terms of their social commentary or depiction of personal relationships. Pedro Almodovar isn't known for being a reactionary either. Take 'La Cage Aux Folles' for example. Released in 1978, it was a French comedy with some serious drama about a father and son who, through a series of events which broke their relationship apart, learn to accept, respect and love each other again. Pretty normal stuff. Except that the father was gay and his male lover dressed as a woman in the film to convince the sons girlfriend and family that they were normal. Hollywood suits took over 15 years before they thought mainstream American audiences could deal with such
avant garde stuff, and in 1996 the movie was translated into a Robin Williams film called Birdcage. Birdcage was alright, but to be quite honest it was a tame remake of the original film. If that doesn't convince you then think of the The Hunger Games. The Japanese movie Battle Royale predated its central concept of teenagers battling each other to the death on the silver screen some time ago and took some stick for doing so. All I am saying is just dont be a prude when you go to watch international cinema. Sit down and just go with the flow. What may seem weird or risky may well be mainstream in the multiplexes 5 years from now. Besides, remember, the ones making these movies might be going to Hell. You were only watching.