Mon. Jan 6th, 2025 12:33:07 AM

The International Films You Need to Watch Right Now<!-- wp:html --><p>Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images, A24 and NEON.</p> <p>As Bong Joon-ho said a few years back when accepting his Golden Globe for <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/bong-joon-hos-parasite-ferocious-comic-thriller-is-one-of-the-best-films-of-the-year"><em>Parasite</em></a>, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” In the years since <em>Parasite </em>won not only the International Feature Oscar but <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/parasites-historic-oscar-wins-matter-more-than-you-think-even-if-you-hate-the-oscars">Best Picture</a>, more international films have <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-2024-golden-globes-nominations-have-made-history">continued to break through</a> to the <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/what-is-all-quiet-on-the-western-front-oscars-surprise-best-picture-nomination">ceremony’s biggest categories</a>.</p> <p>But the International Feature category remains an imperfect vessel for showcasing non-American films to American audiences. Of the 88 films (half of which I’ve seen) submitted from around the globe, the Academy shortlisted just 15 (seen them all!), which are now eligible for a nomination. Because of the Academy’s rule that only one film per country may be submitted to compete in the category, some of the year’s very best international films won’t actually compete for that Oscar.</p> <p>So what were the year’s best international films? Here’s my list, a mix of the best of what the Academy shortlisted and might nominate—as well as the best of what they didn’t…</p> <p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-international-film-oscars-race-zone-of-interest-and-la-chimera">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p><!-- /wp:html -->

Photo Illustration by Erin O’Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images, A24 and NEON.

As Bong Joon-ho said a few years back when accepting his Golden Globe for Parasite, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” In the years since Parasite won not only the International Feature Oscar but Best Picture, more international films have continued to break through to the ceremony’s biggest categories.

But the International Feature category remains an imperfect vessel for showcasing non-American films to American audiences. Of the 88 films (half of which I’ve seen) submitted from around the globe, the Academy shortlisted just 15 (seen them all!), which are now eligible for a nomination. Because of the Academy’s rule that only one film per country may be submitted to compete in the category, some of the year’s very best international films won’t actually compete for that Oscar.

So what were the year’s best international films? Here’s my list, a mix of the best of what the Academy shortlisted and might nominate—as well as the best of what they didn’t…

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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