A Foreign Film Experience
By "Really Good Writer Person"
Chocolat
Directed by Claire Denis
As I discovered watching the film Chocolat, watching a foreign film is, in some ways, a strikingly different experience than viewing a film in English. Yet, the fact that people all over the world engage in the art of film making unifies us all. Not only are films from other countries and cultures made differently, there is always the fact that the viewer reads the script rather than listening to it, which many lazy people find irrationally disturbing. Foreign films are interesting in that they display a different culture. They also allow the viewer to examine a different style of film making. From reading subtitles to observing a different style of film making, foreign films are worth watching.
The biggest complaint of many Americans, especially children, about watching a foreign film is reading subtitles instead of listening to actors recite their lines. In some ways, subtitles make movies harder to understand. If the viewer misses a line, it can throw them off for the entire movie. If the viewer is going to retain any of the story lines, their focus on the film cannot drift in and out. Even focusing on the film and subtitles, many people find understanding a film more difficult when it is in another language. Watching a foreign film is not something that a person can do while doing other things. With our busy life styles, many Americans simply do not have time for sitting down for two hours and doing one thing only. Watching a film with subtitles demands a great deal more focus and determination than many people are willing to give.
Like all things in life, foreign movies with subtitles have a bright side. Sometimes actors are hard to understand, especially if they are speaking in a different language. Subtitles allow you to understand what someone from a completely different background and language is saying. This is an amazing opportunity. Watching a foreign film, I’ve found, can be meditative. Sitting down and engaging in only one activity, something that many people, myself included, rarely do, is an incredibly calming and eye opening experience. I found that the focus that I displayed while watching Chocolat, a French film, grounded me. My mind works at a different level when I think about only one thing. With American movies, I find that my mind is left free to wander. Watching Chocolat, I was forced to focus, or be left behind by the story. Watching movies in subtitles is a unique and interesting experience, and I find that I enjoy it.
The French film, Chocolat, was a window into a world that I can hardly imagine. Chocolat takes place in the French settlements in Africa. The scenery is beautiful, something I have never seen before. I learned the story of a family’s struggle to make it through. I saw how racism is a world wide problem. Chocolat was a film about friendship. It shows how unexpected, close friendships are common all over the world. Foreign films help me make connection between places all around the world. This film, like all movies, foreign or American, is a chance to glance into another world. The viewer can learn a lot about another part of the world. Every movie has a story, and each story is worth hearing, or, in the case of foreign films, reading.
As I have shown you, foreign films, like all movies, have their strong points and week points. Like all movies, it comes down to quality—the quality of the story line, of the editing, of the director and their style. If the film takes the viewer in, then they will be happy to read the subtitles. If the movie film relates to its viewers, that will have the same effect. Chocolat took me in, and in doing so, showed me the human quality of every aspect of every life.
Every foreign film is a wonderful chance to learn about a different place or time. Taking the time to watch a foreign film is worthwhile; as much as Americans need to take a breath, we need to learn about other cultures even more. Sitting down, relaxing, and watching a movie that teaches and entertains is exactly the thing that each and every human being on this planet should have the opportunity to experience. Foreign films are a window into a different world, and reading subtitles never hurt anyone. In conclusion, foreign films are extraordinary pieces of art. They are incredibly different than American films, but we all need a little variety in our lives.
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