Six Classics of Foreign Cinema

Classic films offer a glimpse into the past you can’t get in a museum. If you want to explore a different time period, try one of these foreign cinema treasures.

L’Age d’Or, France/Spain, 1930

With a screenplay by Salvador Dalī, this Luis Buñuel French comedy about the modern world’s hypocrisies was one of the first sound films produced in France and a key work in Europe’s surrealist movement.

The Red Shoes, England, 1948

This classic British film follows the story of an unknown dancer who gets a lead role in the ballet. The cast includes a number of renowned dancers at the time and the film’s creative cinematography and use of Technicolor make it a favorite of Martin Scorsese.

Pather Panchali, India, 1955

A classic of Bengali cinema, Pather Panchali is the first installment of Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy, following the life of a child growing up in a poor village. The film is an early pioneer of India’s “Parallel Cinema,” which emphasized realism and sociopolitical themes.

The Battle of Algiers, Italy, 1966

Considered one of the greatest war movies at the time, The Battle of Algiers depicts events during the Algerian War of Independence against France. This work of Italian neorealism has been celebrated by revolutionary movements and studied by state militaries for its realistic portrayal of guerrilla warfare.

Vámanos con Pancho Villa, Mexico, 1936

Hailing from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, Let’s Go with Panchol Villa was actually a failure upon its release. The epic production bankrupted the producer and was criticized for focusing on the cruelty of Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution. It was years later when the film was praised for its thematic and technical accomplishments.

Seven Samurai, Japan, 1954

Taking place during the 16^th-century Period of the Warring States, Akira Kurosawa’s archetypal film tells the story of seven ronin (masterless samurai) who defend a village against thieving bandits.