Foreign Films By: Tommy Patterson

Spirited Away Plot O In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents. (Movie:)

Life is Beautiful Plot O In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank. (IMDb.)

Importance of Foreign Films O They give the audience a realistic look into other cultures in which we don’t see every day. O Can be used as a tool to diversify ourselves more and to create a visual of what life is like outside of America. O “Foreign films can provide insight for people from other countries into a country’s history, heritage, and elements of culture that make the country unique.”(Hansen 3)

Importance behind Spirited Away & Life is Beautiful O Both films Spirited Away and Life is Beautiful make the audience think outside of the box to understand the bigger picture or the message that is trying to be sent. O Life is Beautiful carries historical significance by blending the Holocaust in with plot. Along with keeping the dialog predominately in Italian and some German with English subtitles brought authenticity to the film as well. O In Spirited Away, Miyazaki brought authenticity to the film by keeping the background and setting very Japanese based along with the Anime styled visual to carry the theme of the film. O Referring to Spirited Away again the main character Haku visits a world of spirits wherein the Japanese culture spirits play a big role.

Comparing American Films to Foreign Films O Many foreign films are becoming more westernized for a more global appeal. O Foreign films tend to make the viewer actively engage in the plot and constantly make you think. O Many American films are made as an escape to the stresses of the day basically meaning they are usually created purely for entertainment. O American films tend to have larger budgets opposing foreign films therefore they are able to expose their product without much risk which is why many foreign films do not get the spotlight they deserve.(American Film vs. Foreign Film.)

Conclusion O Typically the films we tend to enjoy and see more are the ones we can relate to or even compare with our daily lives with. In America, Hollywood producers create films about another country but a lot of the time these films unintentionally contain biasness creating possible stereotypes and generalizations. It is important for the audiences to view these films critically because some messages in the film may be misrepresented or misunderstood about the particular culture and the viewer needs to be aware of this possibility. With the film industry having such an impacting role in society across the world it is important that the message is authentic.

Works Cited O "Spirited Away." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 10 Dec O "Life Is Beautiful." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 10 Dec O "The Importance of Foreign Films in Intercultural Communication." Travis Hansen. 14 Dec Web. 10 Dec O "Spirited Away." Movie:. Web. 10 Dec O "American Film vs. Foreign Film." American Film vs. Foreign Film. Web. 10 Dec