132 Essential International Films
132 titles
- 101
Human CapitalMovie · 2013 · 111m · DramaTwo families' lives become deeply intertwined when a cyclist is struck by a jeep the night before Christmas Eve.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.4 - 102
IdaMovie · 2013 · 82m · Drama, HistoryIn 1960s Poland, a young woman named Anna is about to become a nun when she uncovers a hidden family history from the time of the German occupation.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 103
Or (My Treasure)Movie · 2004 · 95mOr, 17 or 18, juggles school, a restaurant job, and recycling to support herself and her mother, Ruthie, in Tel Aviv. Or struggles to keep Ruthie from returning to streetwalking, despite Ruthie’s affectionate calls of "my treasure." Recently out of the hospital and frail, Ruthie is now working as a house cleaner, but the lure of easy money on the streets is strong. Or’s feelings are complicated further when the mother of the boy Or loves visits to warn her away. With love slipping away and Ruthie seemingly unable to change, Or faces difficult decisions.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 104
Dancing ArabsMovie · 2014 · 104m · DramaIn the 1980s, a young Arab man navigates a complex identity as he's sent to a highly regarded Jewish boarding school in Israel, finding himself caught between two distinct worlds.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.4 - 105
The First Day of the Rest of Your LifeMovie · 2008 · 114m · DramaThis is a sweeping story following a family over five important days.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 106
Pan's LabyrinthMovie · 2006 · 118m · Fantasy, Drama, WarFollowing the Spanish Civil War, ten-year-old Ofelia and her pregnant mother go to live with her abusive stepfather. She discovers a strange labyrinth and encounters a faun who tells her she might be a princess from a hidden kingdom. To find her real father, Ofelia must complete a series of bizarre and dangerous challenges that make it hard to tell what's real and what's not.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.8 - 107
The OrphanageMovie · 2007 · 105m · Horror, Drama, ThrillerA woman returns with her family to the orphanage where she grew up, planning to reopen it. Soon after, her son begins talking to a new, unseen friend.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 108
Shooting DogsMovie · 2006 · 115m · Drama, HistoryA priest and a teacher, two Americans, are caught in the heart of the Rwandan genocide, forced to confront a difficult choice. Should they risk their lives to shelter refugees, or flee the country to safety? This story is based on actual events.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 109
The Best of YouthMovie · 2003 · 367m · Drama, History, RomanceIn the summer of 1966, two brothers from a middle-class Roman family meet, setting them on separate paths that become intertwined with key moments in Italian history during the decades that follow.IMDb 8.4TMDB 8.1 - 110
Perfect StrangersMovie · 2016 · 97m · Comedy, DramaOver dinner, a group of friends make a pact: they'll share any message or call they receive that night, with unexpected results.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.9 - 111
Little White LiesMovie · 2010 · 154m · Comedy, DramaA group of friends embarks on their yearly beach trip, but a past trauma casts a long shadow. The vacation forces them to confront difficult truths about their relationships, beliefs, and the guilt they carry. Ultimately, they must face each other and the small lies they've been keeping.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1 - 112
LivingMovie · 2012 · 119m · DramaBound by misfortune, several characters face profound crises. In a remote Russian region, Galya, a middle-aged woman struggling with alcohol, desperately wants to reunite with her twin daughters, whom she has lost. Meanwhile, newlyweds Grishka and Anton's relationship is immediately challenged by a harsh ordeal. Artyom yearns to find his missing father, but his mother forbids it. Each character battles adversity, searching for the strength to overcome their difficult circumstances.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.6 - 113
MustangMovie · 2015 · 97m · DramaIn a Turkish village, five orphaned sisters live under strict control as their family arranges their marriages.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.7 - 114
Maria Full of GraceMovie · 2004 · 101m · Drama, Thriller, CrimeIn Colombia, a teenage girl who is pregnant makes the difficult decision to become a drug mule, hoping to earn money for her family's essential needs.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 115
Lily SometimesMovie · 2010 · 103m · DramaFollowing her mother's passing, a woman goes back to her childhood home to look after her sister.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.6 - 116
The ReturnMovie · 2003 · 111m · Drama, MysteryIn modern-day Russia, two brothers reconnect with their father, whom they've only seen in a faded photograph, after he unexpectedly returns home. Their mother agrees to a trip with him, but the journey soon becomes a challenging test of their relationship, their trust in each other, and their sense of manhood. As they travel further into the wilderness, the already strained bonds between father and sons are severely tested.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.3 - 117
CachéMovie · 2005 · 118m · Mystery, Drama, ThrillerGeorge, a television host who discusses literature, begins receiving secretly filmed videos of his family, accompanied by unsettling drawings. He doesn't know who is sending them. The videos gradually become more personal, suggesting the sender has a history with George.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.0 - 118
DelicacyMovie · 2011 · 108m · Drama, Comedy, RomanceThree years after her husband's death, a French woman finds herself drawn to a Swedish coworker who begins to court her.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.4 - 119
AloysMovie · 2016 · 90m · Drama, FantasyA solitary private investigator is approached by an enigmatic woman who introduces him to a strange practice called "telephone walking." Drawn to her voice, Aloys finds himself immersed in an imagined world, offering him an escape from his loneliness.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.4 - 120
HipstersMovie · 2008 · 130m · Drama, RomanceSet in 1950s Moscow, this popular Russian musical follows a group of friends who express defiance against Soviet control through their love of jazz. When Communist Party member Mels falls for Polly, a spirited jazz enthusiast, he faces the potential loss of his party affiliation by becoming involved with her unconventional circle.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.5 - 121
Just Between UsMovie · 2010 · 87mNikola lives life to the fullest, even managing to gain sympathy for his questionable choices. His brother overlooks Nikola’s womanizing, though burdened by his own failed marriage and lack of peace of mind. The film questions whether infidelity can ever be justified, especially when it appears planned rather than impulsive.IMDb 6.6TMDB 4.6 - 122
IrreversibleMovie · 2002 · 93m · Drama, Thriller, CrimeAfter a woman is brutally raped, her lover and her ex-boyfriend decide to take matters into their own hands. Driven by the belief that some wrongs can't be forgiven, fueled by primal rage, and frustrated by the failures of the justice system, they seek vengeance.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 123
Student ServicesMovie · 2010 · 101m · DramaLaura, a nineteen-year-old college freshman, struggles with the pressures of her first year. Financial difficulties become a major distraction from her studies. Desperate for money, she responds to an online ad seeking intimate companionship, which ultimately leads her into a dangerous situation.IMDb 6.0TMDB 5.3 - 124
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 DaysMovie · 2007 · 114m · DramaTwo college roommates have 24 hours to decide as they make final preparations for an illegal abortion.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.5 - 125
MommyMovie · 2014 · 138m · DramaA woman recently widowed finds an unexpected source of support in her unusual neighbor. She's grappling with the challenges of raising her teenage child, who is often difficult and occasionally aggressive.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.2 - 126
LeviathanMovie · 2014 · 141m · Drama, CrimeIn a Russian coastal town, Kolya must fight against the corrupt mayor when he learns his house is slated for demolition. He enlists the help of a lawyer friend, but the friend's involvement unexpectedly brings more trouble to Kolya and his family.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 127
Hawaii, OsloMovie · 2004 · 125m · Drama, RomanceIn Oslo, on the hottest day of the year, the lives of several people intersect unexpectedly. The film follows Frode and Milla as they await the birth of their child, who has been diagnosed with a short life expectancy. We also meet Bobbie-Pop, a washed-up singer attempting suicide; Leon, an institutionalized kleptomaniac seeking his bride of ten years, Åsa; and Leon's brother, Trygve, who plans to escape from prison during a visit for Leon’s birthday. Central to the story is Vidar, Leon’s insightful friend at the institution, who possesses a unique perspective and may hold the key to saving them all – perhaps even himself.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 128
The Edge of HeavenMovie · 2007 · 122m · DramaSix German-Turkish immigrants' lives intersect unexpectedly. An elderly man and a sex worker form an alliance. A young academic confronts his history. Two young women develop a romantic relationship. And a mother struggles to rebuild her life after it has been broken.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.2 - 129
Wild TalesMovie · 2014 · 122m · Drama, Thriller, ComedyThe pressures of everyday life can push people to the breaking point. This story follows several individuals who reach their limit: a waitress dealing with a demanding loan shark, a road rage incident between two drivers, a disastrous wedding reception, and a wealthy man attempting to resolve his family's problems with money.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.9 - 130
The BodyMovie · 2012 · 107m · Thriller, MysteryA woman vanishes from a morgue under inexplicable circumstances. Police Inspector Jaime Peña investigates the baffling disappearance with the assistance of Álex Ulloa, the woman's husband.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 131
My Beautiful CountryMovie · 2012 · 88mAmidst the conflict in Kosovo, a poignant love story unfolds. Danica, a young Serbian widow, finds herself drawn to Ramiz, an Albanian soldier wounded in battle. Seeking shelter, he takes refuge in her home on the Serbian side of the River Ibar, where an unexpected connection blossoms between them.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.0 - 132
Sometimes in AprilMovie · 2005 · 140m · Drama, History, WarDuring the 100 days of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, two brothers find themselves separated by marriage and circumstance. Their lives are irrevocably altered by the horrific events unfolding around them.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.1
