Escape to another world with these 10 International Cinema Gems

For many of us, it’s been a while since we got to travel to a new country and explore its culture and sights. But there’s one way an escape is always guaranteed, and that’s by watching a movie. The best part – it’s super affordable, and you don’t have to leave your couch!

An easy way to get that fix of learning about a way of life that is unlike yours, in a country and language that isn’t yours, is by watching an international film. There are so many amazing films that come out every year around the world, that mostly fly under the radar because they’re not big Hollywood titles. We’re here to help you discover some wonderful films that are available for you on the Cineplex Store, where a whole new world of cinema is waiting for you.

Here are 10 hidden international gems that’ll have you transported outside of Canada for a magical and riveting stay.

Titane (France)

The winner of the Palme D’or at the Cannes film festival this year, and the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award winner at the Toronto International Film Festival, Titane is one of the wildest movies ever we’ve ever seen. Director Julia Ducournau has made a name for herself in the horror genre, first with her gory cannibal tale Raw, and now with this spectacle of car crashes and familial love. When Alexia gets into a car accident as a child, it changes her life in ways she never could’ve expected. Titane is a twisted tale of rebellion and acceptance, that’ll both shock you, and pull on your heartstrings.


    

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Together (UK)

From the director of critically acclaimed films like The Hours, The Reader and Billy Elliot comes this pandemic set marriage drama. Together stars James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan as a couple who begin to re-evaluate their relationship during lockdown. It’s a very real subject that might hit a bit close to home for some, but if you love your dramas gritty, relatable and reflective, then this is a great watch, with extraordinary performances.

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I'm Your Man (Germany)

We already knew Dan Stevens was essentially perfect, but here he really proves it, playing a robot designed to be the perfect man for a skeptical scientist in I’m Your Man. No matter what your views are on romance, this sci-fi romantic dramedy will likely be relatable and profound. There’s no such thing as the “perfect” person, and this film explores that idea with equal doses of laughter, tears and hard truths. 

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Half Songs (India)

This touching romantic musical follows Shweta, a journalist who is writing a story about a record shop that is closing. While she meets the old man and his nephew Vivek who ran the shop, she discovers a book of lyrics hidden away, that belong to Vivek. As Vivek and Shweta get to know each other, she encourages him to pursue his musical ambitions, and a lovely romance begins to blossom. Half Songs is an uplifting tale that will warm your heart on a cold winter’s day.

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The Year of the Everlasting Storm (Iran/China/USA/Thailand/Chile)

This short story anthology gives us a perspective on the pandemic from 7 legendary directors from around the world. David Lowery, Jafar Panahi, Laura Poitras, Apichatpong Weersasethakul, Malik Vitthal, Dominga Sotomayor and Anthony Chen all deliver poetic segments that offer a little bit of beauty to this crisis that we are all enduring, and these 7 short films truly get to the humanity of it all. 

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In Her Place (South Korea/Canada)

From Canadian-South Korean director Albert Shin comes this quiet, stirring drama told from three women’s perspectives. Set in an isolated farm in South Korea, a mother and daughter’s simple life becomes disrupted when the daughter becomes pregnant. A wealthy woman stumbles into their lives as she wants to adopt the baby, secretly, as adoption is stigmatized in Korea. This film is a dark but beautiful examination of how women from three different generations grapple with cultural pressures and motherhood.

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Metamorphosis (Phillipines)

This Filipino coming of age drama focuses on a topic that is rarely discussed. Adam was born as an Intersex person, meaning he is both male and female. Being raised as a boy his whole life, now in his teen years he is beginning to explore his gender and identity. A complex portrait of what it means to be human, Metamorphosis is a timely LGBTQ+ story that is a must-watch. 

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The Truffle Hunters (Italy)

This Italian documentary is destined to make you both very happy, and very hungry. The film is set in the Northwest of Italy, in the Piedmont region, and it follows a group of old men who are hunting for a rare, expensive, and delicious white Alba truffle. Get lost in the calming scenery and Italian lifestyle with this uplifting look into the simpler joys of life. This film will truly transport you to small town Italy and might motivate you to cook yourself an amazing Italian dish. 

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Riders of Justice (Denmark)

Mads Mikkelsen stars in this action thriller, about a tragic train accident that kills his wife, which he later learns wasn’t an accident at all. Approached by other passengers on the train who have suspicions on who did this, this ragtag team comes together to seek justice. If you like revenge action thrillers like Taken or John Wick, Riders of Justice is the perfect film for you.

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Dara of Jasenovac (Serbia)

Dara of Jasenovac offers a story and perspective on World War II that we have rarely seen portrayed before.  Set in the Nazi-occupied Croatian Ustasha regime in former Yugoslavia, here we follow a child named Dara who is sent to a concentration camp, but through her resilient spirit she fights hard to escape. Based on true events, this is the first film to show this concentration camp.