Great Intercultural Movies --available on Netflix streaming
Please let me know if you visit Netflix and one of the below films is no longer available (so that I may remove it from the list). See the bottom of the page for great films that aren't available on Netflix Streaming.
Absurdistan
On the verge of their first intimate encounter together, two teenage sweethearts find their plans thrown into peril. In their village, all the women are preparing to go on a sex strike against the men, who've been too lazy to fix broken water pipes. Starring Max Mauff and Kristyna Malérová, this romantic comedy was inspired by actual events in which women of a Turkish village withheld physical favors from their menfolk.
Genre: Foreign Comedies, Germany, Russian LanguageThis movie is: Mind-bending, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Comedies, Germany, Russian LanguageThis movie is: Mind-bending, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Alamar
Before his young son, Natan (Natan Machado Palombini), returns to Rome with his mother, Jorge (Jorge Machado) takes the boy on an extended journey to a tiny fishing village, where Natan learns to fish and snorkel amid the natural splendor of the Mexican Caribbean. Filmmaker Pedro González-Rubio's delicate family drama also stars Nestor Marin as veteran angler Matraca, as well as a colorful cast of crocodiles, tropical birds and iguanas.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Children & Family, MexicoThis movie is: Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Children & Family, MexicoThis movie is: Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Arn: The Knight Templar
Based on Jan Guillou's Crusades trilogy about Swedish Knight Templar Arn Magnusson (Joakim Nätterqvist), this adventure saga follows the son of nobility from his monastic education to his return to the family to help fight for the crown of Sweden. That mission is interrupted, however, when Arn impregnates his lover and is sent to the Holy Land, where as penance he must become a warrior for Christ in the battles of the Crusades.
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, Scandinavia, Swedish LanguageThis movie is: Dark
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, Scandinavia, Swedish LanguageThis movie is: Dark
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Arranged
When Rochel (Zoe Lister Jones) and Nasira (Francis Benhamou) -- an Orthodox Jew and a Muslim, respectively -- meet as new teachers at a Brooklyn school, co-workers and students expect friction. But the women discover they have a shared expectation of entering into arranged marriages. As they experience tension between their traditional cultures and life in contemporary America, Rochel and Nasira form a special bond.
Genre: Faith & Spirituality Feature Films, Inspirational Stories, Indie Dramas
This movie is: Inspiring
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Faith & Spirituality Feature Films, Inspirational Stories, Indie Dramas
This movie is: Inspiring
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
A State of Mind
Two young North Korean gymnasts prepare for an unprecedented competition in this documentary that offers a rare look into the communist society and the daily lives of North Korean families. For more than eight months, film crews follow 13-year-old Pak Hyon Sun and 11-year-old Kim Song Yun and their families as the girls train for the Mass Games, a spectacular nationalist celebration involving thousands of performers.
Genre: Sports Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Political Documentaries
This movie is: Cerebral
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Sports Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Political Documentaries
This movie is: Cerebral
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Chocolate
Acclaimed Thai action director Prachya Pinkaew helms this martial arts drama, which follows Zen (JeeJa Yanin), a young autistic woman who discovers that she has the uncanny ability to absorb precision fighting skills just by watching martial arts movies. When her cancer-ridden mother's creditors come calling, Zen attempts to settle the debts by standing up to a hardnosed gang of criminals who have wrongfully swindled money from her family.
Genre: Martial Arts, Thailand, Foreign Action & Adventure
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Martial Arts, Thailand, Foreign Action & Adventure
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
District B13
Produced and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Luc Besson, this stylized action thriller is set in Paris 2010, where the government has fenced off the city's ghettos, the most dangerous of which is District B13. Teaming up to infiltrate the lawless sector, an elite-unit cop and a reformed vigilante put their lives on the line in a gutsy attempt to retrieve a stolen nuke and thwart a terrorist attack by the city's most powerful gang.
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, France, French Language
This movie is: Violent, Exciting
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, France, French Language
This movie is: Violent, Exciting
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and rebellious computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) team up to investigate the unsolved disappearance of wealthy Henrik Vanger's (Sven-Bertil Taube) teen niece (Ewa Fröling), only to uncover dark secrets about Vanger's powerful family. Niels Arden Oplev directs this Swedish thriller based on the first novel from Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy.
Genre: Foreign Thrillers, Scandinavia, Swedish Language
This movie is: Violent, Mind-bending, Suspenseful, Scary
This is the first film of a Trilogy.
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Thrillers, Scandinavia, Swedish Language
This movie is: Violent, Mind-bending, Suspenseful, Scary
This is the first film of a Trilogy.
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
The Great Match
In this unconventional comedy, writer-director Gerardo Olivares tracks theindividual journeys of three far-flung groups of soccer fans: a tribe of Amazonianindios, a family of Mongolian nomads and a caravan of Tuareg people in theSahara Desert. Overcome with a desire to watch the 2002 World Cup between Brazil and Germany play out on television, these unlikely soccer buffs make a 500-kilometer trek to find a town with a working TV set.
Genre: Foreign Comedies, Spain, Foreign Regions
This movie is: Goofy, Quirky
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Comedies, Spain, Foreign Regions
This movie is: Goofy, Quirky
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Fear and Trembling
In search of a new beginning, Amélie (Sylvie Testud) moves from Belgium back to her early-childhood home of Japan, where she starts working full time for a large corporation. But life as a foreigner proves difficult to navigate -- and Eastern office etiquette is nothing like what she's used to. French director Alain Corneau helms this Tokyo-based dramedy adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, France, French Language
This movie is: Quirky
Chapters this film relates to:4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, France, French Language
This movie is: Quirky
Chapters this film relates to:4, 5, 6, 8, 9
The Kite Runner
Years after fleeing the Taliban and immigrating to the United States, a privileged Afghan man (Khalid Abdalla) returns to his war-ravaged homeland to try to repay his debt to a loyal childhood friend whose trust he once betrayed. Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster's Ball) directs this touchingly honest story of family, friendship and bravery, based on the best-selling debut novel by Khaled Hosseini.
Genres:Dramas, Dramas based on a book, Social Issue Dramas,Dramas based on contemporary literature
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring, Heartfelt
Availability:Streaming
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The discussion questions are thought-provoking.
Genres:Dramas, Dramas based on a book, Social Issue Dramas,Dramas based on contemporary literature
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring, Heartfelt
Availability:Streaming
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The discussion questions are thought-provoking.
Ladron Que Roba a Ladron
A pair of reformed crooks team up to pull one more heist. Their target? Master con artist Moctezuma Valdez (Saúl Lisazo), a popular television infomercial pitchman who's gotten rich by swindling countless unsuspecting immigrants. The former thieves attempt to recruit some of their criminal cohorts to help pull off the plan, but when they refuse, the two turn to day laborers to participate in the elaborate robbery scheme.
Genres: Foreign, Foreign Action & Adventure, Spanish Language,Foreign Languages
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Let the Right One In
Twelve-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), the constant target of bullies, spends his time plotting revenge and collecting news items about the grisly murders plaguing his town. But things change when he meets a new girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson), a misfit vampire who steals his heart. As a serial killer continues to prey on teen boys in their small Swedish village, Eli helps Oskar find the courage to stand up to his tormenters.
Genre: Foreign Horror, Scandinavia, Swedish Language
This movie is: Violent, Scary
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Horror, Scandinavia, Swedish Language
This movie is: Violent, Scary
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Marwencol
After a terrible beating left Mark Hogancamp brain damaged, he began creating models of a fictional town, Marwencol, to process the trauma. Jeff Malmberg's documentary explains how Hogancamp uses the elaborate dioramas as stand-ins for real life. When Hogancamp's work attracts the attention of a prestigious New York art gallery, however, he's forced to leave the safety of his make-believe world and reconnect with the real one.
Cast: Mark Hogancamp
Director: Jeff Malmberg
Genre: Documentary
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Cast: Mark Hogancamp
Director: Jeff Malmberg
Genre: Documentary
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
My Name is Khan
Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira (Kajol), in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he is on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves. Traveling across America, Rizwan faces prejudice because of his religion and unusual behavior, but he also inspires the people he meets with his unique outlook on life.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Bollywood, India
This movie is: Emotional, Inspiring, Sentimental
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Bollywood, India
This movie is: Emotional, Inspiring, Sentimental
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Night Watch
This first installment of the trilogy based on the best-selling science fiction novels by Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko plays upon the tension between light and dark, pitting the superhuman Night Watch patrollers (known as the "Others") against the shadowed forces of the night. But the biggest fear of all stems from the lines of an ancient prophecy, which warns of a renegade Other whose betrayal could bring chaos to the land.
Genre: Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Foreign Action & Adventure, Russia
This movie is: Violent, Mind-bending
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Foreign Action & Adventure, Russia
This movie is: Violent, Mind-bending
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Osama
This stunning film, the first to be made in a post-Taliban Afghanistan and inspired by a newspaper account read by director Siddiq Barmak, recounts the efforts of a family of women to survive under an oppressive regime. To eke out a meager living, they dress up their 12-year-old girl, Osama, as a boy so she can work. A talented cast of non-actors -- including Marina Golbahari and Zubaida Sahar -- adds integrity to the heartbreaking story.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Must-See, Foreign Art House
This movie is: Cerebral, Dark
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Must-See, Foreign Art House
This movie is: Cerebral, Dark
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Outsourced
When his department is outsourced to India, customer call center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra), and amusing culture clashes ensue as Anderson tries to explain American business practices to the befuddled new employees. In the process, he learns important lessons about globalization -- and life. Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith also star in director John Jeffcoat's cross-cultural comedy.
Genre: Indie Comedies, Indie Romance
This movie is: Sentimental, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Indie Comedies, Indie Romance
This movie is: Sentimental, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Planet B-Boy
This Tribeca Film Festival selection affords viewers exclusive access to the underground world of break dancing, charting the highs and lows of five B-boy teams practicing for the all-important "Battle of the Year." Combining stunning dance footage from Japan, Germany, South Korea, France and the United States, documentarian Benson Lee sets out to show that break dancing didn't fade into history -- it merely evolved into a remarkable art form.
Genre: Social & Cultural Documentaries, Hip-Hop & Contemporary Dance,Urban & Dance
This movie is: Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Social & Cultural Documentaries, Hip-Hop & Contemporary Dance,Urban & Dance
This movie is: Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Please Vote For Me
Though China's government is Communist, the third grade election for the prestigious position of Class Monitor at the Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan is being decided by a democratic vote. In this enlightening documentary, filmmaker Weijun Chen captures all the action as the three candidates -- two boys and a girl -- go all out to win: performing in a talent show, debating each other and delivering speeches to their classmates.
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, China, Mandarin Language
This movie is: Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, China, Mandarin Language
This movie is: Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
The Queen and I
Nahid Persson Sarvestani's thought-provoking documentary about her friendship with Queen Farah, the wife of the Shah of Iran, demonstrates how even those at most odds -- politically, idealistically -- can find middle ground and understanding. The royal answers questions about her husband's repressive principles, and the conversation becomes political and highly personal. Included with the film is a short called Liberation.
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, Iran, Scandinavia
This movie is: Cerebral, Heartfelt
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, Iran, Scandinavia
This movie is: Cerebral, Heartfelt
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
An unlikely romance between a 40-year-old man, Suri Sahni (Shahrukh Khan), and a small-town Punjab teenage girl, Taani (Anushka Sharma), presents some difficult challenges in this touching Bollywood musical. But all is not as it seems with the couple's unorthodox relationship. The film, which marks the much-awaited return of popular writer-director Aditya Chopra (Mohabbatein), co-stars Vinay Pathak.
Genre: Foreign Musicals, India, Foreign RomanceThis movie is: Emotional, Sentimental, Romantic, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Musicals, India, Foreign RomanceThis movie is: Emotional, Sentimental, Romantic, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
The Rage in Placid Lake
Just out of prep school -- where he was the target of tyrannical bullies -- misfit teen Placid Lake (Ben Lee) yearns to be a regular Joe. When a mishap landsPlacid in a body cast for months, he formulates a plan to reinvent himself by donning a suit and taking a job as a drone at an insurance agency. But he soon discovers that conformity isn't what it's cracked up to be in this offbeat Aussie comedy from rookie director Tony McNamara.
Genre: Indie Comedies, Australia/ New Zealand, Teen Comedies
This movie is: Quirky
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Indie Comedies, Australia/ New Zealand, Teen Comedies
This movie is: Quirky
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
The Road Home
Veteran director Yimou Zhang helms this enduring love story starring Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as Zhao Di, a young country girl who falls head over heels for the village's new schoolteacher, Luo Changyu (Hao Zheng), in 1950s China. The couple's demure courtship is cut short when the new communist government summons Luo to the city for questioning during theCultural Revolution, leaving Zhao to wait longingly for his return.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Must-See, Mandarin Language
This movie is: Emotional, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Must-See, Mandarin Language
This movie is: Emotional, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
Versatile Bollywood talent Ranbir Kapoor stars in this romantic comedy as Rocket Singh, a salesman hustling his trade in a flush economy. In fact, Singh is performing so well at work that he decides to start a company -- within the same company. In his effort to keep his venture under wraps, Singh soon adds con artist to his list of credentials. Shazahn Padamsee makes her big screen debut opposite Singh.
Genre: Foreign Comedies, India, Hindi Language
This movie is: Witty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Comedies, India, Hindi Language
This movie is: Witty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Sabah: A Love Story
Dutiful 40-something daughter Sabah (Arsinée Khanjian) shocks her conservative Arab family by falling for Stephen (Shawn Doyle), a non-Muslim, in this romantic comedy set in Toronto. The relationship sparks a culture clash, ensnaring Sabah between Stephen and her tight-knit family. Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, director Ruba Nabba's film reveals what happens when Old World tradition collides with modern love. Setta Keshishian co-stars.Cast: Arsinée Khanjian, Shawn Doyle
Director: Ruba Nadda
Genre: Comedy
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Director: Ruba Nadda
Genre: Comedy
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Seducing Doctor Lewis
This comedy follows a small fishing town in Quebec that's facing tough times as the economy continues to take a hit. The townspeople are thrilled when a major company chooses their locale to build a factory; trouble is, the factory will be built only if the town can convince a full-time doctor to move there. So, a local man (Raymond Bouchard) organizes a no-holds-barred crusade to bring in a big citydoctor (David Boutin).
Genre: Indie Comedies, Indie Dramas
This movie is: Goofy, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Indie Comedies, Indie Dramas
This movie is: Goofy, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Shades of Ray
While waiting for his girlfriend to respond to his marriage proposal, half-white, half-Pakistani actor Ray (Zachary Levi) attempts to reunite his newly separated parents, falls for a girl who shares his same mixed heritage and begins exploring his own identity. Written and directed by Jaffar Mahmood, this romantic comedy about the intersection of race and relationships also stars Sarah Shahi, Bonnie Somerville and Kathy Baker.
Cast: Zachary Levi, Fran Kranz
Director: Jaffar Mahmood
Genre: Comedy
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Cast: Zachary Levi, Fran Kranz
Director: Jaffar Mahmood
Genre: Comedy
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Stone of Destiny
Based on true events of 1950, this comic adventure follows Scottish nationalist Ian Hamilton (Charlie Cox) and three other young men as they make a daring raid on Westminster Abbey in an attempt to return the historic Stone of Scone to Scotland. Hamilton and his cohorts must outwit British authorities in their mission to right a centuries-old wrong and revive Scottish national pride. Kate Mara, Billy Boyd and Robert Carlyle co-star.
Genre: Action Comedies, Indie Comedies, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is: Heartfelt, Suspenseful
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Action Comedies, Indie Comedies, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is: Heartfelt, Suspenseful
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Unmistaken Child
Filmmaker Nati Baratz follows the spellbinding journey of Tibetan Buddhist monk Tenzin Zopa as he travels far and wide to identify the child who is the reincarnation of his deceased master, Lama Konchog. Acting on instructions from the Dalai Lama, the shy Zopa relies on astrology, dreams and other signs to locate the child, knowing that if he succeeds, he must also convince the boy's parents to release their child into his care.
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, Faith & Spirituality Documentaries, Spiritual Mysteries
This movie is: Heartfelt, Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Documentaries, Faith & Spirituality Documentaries, Spiritual Mysteries
This movie is: Heartfelt, Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Un Titan En El Ring
Juana Garderas, Telmo Herrera, Toty Rodriguez and Norbert Stimpfig star in this shocking drama set in a small village in the mountainous region of the Andes, where the children are drawn to a new priest and the prime entertainment is a series of masked wrestling matches held at a local coliseum. When a greedy promoter corrupts the competition, the entire town is suddenly up in arms.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Latin America, Spanish Language
This movie is: Dark, Gritty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Latin America, Spanish Language
This movie is: Dark, Gritty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Veer-Zaara
Squadron leader Veer Pratap Singh (Shahrukh Khan) is a rescue pilot with the Indian Air Force. One day, on duty, he comes across Zaara (Preity Zinta), a stranded girl from Pakistan. Veer saves her life -- and his life is never the same again. But he goes on to languish in a Pakistan jail cell for 22 years, not speaking to anyone all the while, but he will be joined with Zaara once again in Yash Chopra's epic love tale, which spans two decades.
Genre: Foreign Romance, India, Hindi LanguageThis movie is: Inspiring, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Romance, India, Hindi LanguageThis movie is: Inspiring, Romantic
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
War Dance
Set in civil war-ravaged Northern Uganda, this Best Documentary Oscar nominee follows the lives of three youngsters who attend school in a refugee camp and find hope through a rich tradition of song and dance. Coming from a world in which children are abducted from their families and forced to fight in the rebel army, these kids give it their all when they travel to the capital city to take part in the prestigious Kampala Music Festival.
Director:Sean Fine, Andrea Nix
Genres:Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Music & Concert Documentaries, Music & Concert Movies
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring
Availability:Streaming
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The discussion questions are thought-provoking.
Director:Sean Fine, Andrea Nix
Genres:Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Music & Concert Documentaries, Music & Concert Movies
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring
Availability:Streaming
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The discussion questions are thought-provoking.
Wasabi
When Hubert (Jean Reno) receives a phone call from Japan informing him that the love of his life, who disappeared nearly 20 years ago, has died, he soon discovers that he's been saddled with a handful of problems -- and Yumi, a daughter (Ryoko Hirosue) he never knew he had! Learning that his former flame had stolen money from the Yakuza, a fortune their daughter will soon inherit, the French cop must solve the mysterious death and protect Yumi.
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, France, French Language
This movie is: Goofy, Gritty, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Action & Adventure, France, French Language
This movie is: Goofy, Gritty, Feel-good
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Waste Land
Renowned artist Vik Muniz embarks on one of the most inspired collaborations of his career, joining creative forces with Brazilian catadores -- garbage pickers who mine treasure from the trash heaps of Rio de Janeiro's Jardim Gramacho landfill. In this Oscar-nominated documentary, the catadores prove to be unique and surprising individuals in their own right, waxing philosophic as they impart a valuable lesson about what society discards.
Cast:Vik Muniz
Director:Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim
Genres:Documentaries, Special Interest, Biographical Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Latin American Movies, Art and Design, Brazilian Movies
This movie is:Dark, Inspiring, Gritty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Cast:Vik Muniz
Director:Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim
Genres:Documentaries, Special Interest, Biographical Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, Latin American Movies, Art and Design, Brazilian Movies
This movie is:Dark, Inspiring, Gritty
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Welcome
When authorities forbid young Kurdish refugee Bilal (Firat Ayverdi) from crossing the English Channel to reunite with his girlfriend in England, the 17-year-old resolves to swim to his love -- and finds an unlikely ally in the form of swim instructor Simon (Vincent Lindon). Facing an inevitable divorce from his wife (Audrey Dana), the middle-aged teacher takes the resolute youth under his wing in this stirring, beautifully acted French drama.
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Romance, France
This movie is: Romantic, Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Genre: Foreign Dramas, Foreign Romance, France
This movie is: Romantic, Understated
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Whale Rider
A Maori tribe must contend with the distinctly nontraditional concept of having a female leader when the intended heir to the throne dies during childbirth, leaving his twin sister, Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes), to prove herself. Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis and Grant Roa also star in this inspiring coming-of-age tale, which earned the then-13-year-old Castle-Hughes an Oscar nomination.
Genre: Indie Dramas, Coming of Age, Family DramasThis movie is: Heartfelt
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Genre: Indie Dramas, Coming of Age, Family DramasThis movie is: Heartfelt
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Great Intercultural films that are not available on Netflix streaming
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
An ardent fan of British soccer sensation David Beckham, Jess (Parminder K. Nagra) wants nothing more than to be on the field. But a proper Indian girl shouldn't be spending her time playing soccer -- or at least that's what her family thinks. Jess has the talent to play on a local all-girl team, but her parents want her to be like her older sister, who cooks chapati like a pro and wants a traditional Indian wedding. Keira Knightley co-stars.Cast: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Genre: Comedy
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Genre: Comedy
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Cast:Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, Desmond Dube, David O'Hara, Cara Seymour,Fana Mokoena, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Tony Kgoroge, Mosa Kaiser, Mathabo Pieterson, Ofentse ModiselleDirector:Terry GeorgeGenres:Dramas, Dramas based on real life, Military Dramas,Political Dramas, Social Issue Dramas, British MoviesThis movie is:Violent, Emotional, Dark, Inspiring
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The curriculum provides a timeline, background information and thought-provoking questions.
Cast:Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, Desmond Dube, David O'Hara, Cara Seymour,Fana Mokoena, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Tony Kgoroge, Mosa Kaiser, Mathabo Pieterson, Ofentse ModiselleDirector:Terry GeorgeGenres:Dramas, Dramas based on real life, Military Dramas,Political Dramas, Social Issue Dramas, British MoviesThis movie is:Violent, Emotional, Dark, Inspiring
To aid your development of ideas you might check out this Amnesty International Companion Curriculum. The curriculum provides a timeline, background information and thought-provoking questions.
Hula Girls (2006)
When a Japanese mining company announces the closure of a coal mine in Iwaki, a group of brave young women defies their community by signing up to become hula dancers at the company's new Hawaiian tourist center in this heartwarming dramedy. Amid union workers' protests and against the wishes of their families, the women passionately practice and perform their newly learned art in hopes that it will lead to a brighter future.Cast: Yasuko Matsuyuki, Etsushi Toyokawa
Director: Sang-il Lee
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Director: Sang-il Lee
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Kinky Boots (2005)
After inheriting a shoe factory, Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) aims to take the fashion world by storm with help from a flashy cabaret dancer named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who helps him design a racy line of men's boots, in this whimsical comedy from British director Julian Jarrold. But on the eve of the Milan Shoe Fair -- just as Charlie's about to introduce the world to his signature shoes -- everything falls apart.Cast: Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Director: Julian Jarrold
Genre: Comedy
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Director: Julian Jarrold
Genre: Comedy
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Mostly Martha (2002)
German director Sandra Nettelbeck whips up this tragicomic tale about an uptight professional chef named Martha (Martina Gedeck), who finds her world turned upside down when she takes in her newly orphaned niece, Lina, and tries her hand at parenting. Martha's obsession with precision gourmet cooking extends to discussing recipes with her bewildered therapist (August Zirner) and verbally attacking anyone who attempts to send her food back.Cast: Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto
Director: Sandra Nettelbeck
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Director: Sandra Nettelbeck
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Shall We Dance? (1996)
During his daily commute, likable but dejected Tokyo office worker Shohei (Koji Yakusho) sees a stunning woman in a dance studio. Taken with her, he enrolls in ballroom dance lessons at the studio, even though he risks losing face. Dancing is something his society considers an improper activity for a man. Shohei quickly realizes, however, that he has a gift for dance and loves participating in it, much to the alarm of his wife and daughter.Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tamiyo Kusakari
Director: Masayuki Suo
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Director: Masayuki Suo
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Chapters this film relates to: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9