With the recent spread of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus, the world has practically come to a screeching halt. Unfortunately, for me, my upcoming travel schedule is frozen until further notice. Better safe than sorry, though. This downtime, however, allows me to catch up on some writing, and I have no excuse not to re-organize my closets. Also, I’ll have plenty of time now to watch a few good movies (can you say Netflix and chill?).
One thing that inspires me to travel is watching foreign films. I love learning about other customs and cultures, the scenery, and often find myself googling the towns or villages where the movies take place. Whether there is a positive or negative outcome, fact, fiction, or a strong protagonist, as long as there’s a good story behind it, I’m still inspired to visit. (Isn’t that how you booked your last vacation??)
For your international pleasure, here are a few suggestions.
Disclaimer: I am not a film critic. These are personal suggestions.
Everybody Knows
(Spain) – A woman and her teenage daughter who returns to her hometown outside of Madrid to attend her sister’s wedding. When a kidnapping occurs on the night of the wedding, a series of events lead to the unraveling of big secrets.
A Sun
(Taiwan) – A father, who is fully invested in his older son feels disgraced by his problematic younger son after he ends up in prison for a crime he committed with his friend.
Lionheart
(Nigeria) – A woman steps up to run her father’s company in a male-dominated world.
Roma
(Mexico) – Set in the 1970’s the film tells the story about a domestic worker’s life working for a middle-class family.
My Happy Family
(Georgia) – With three generations living under one roof, a 52 year-old woman decides to leave her family to live on her own.
The African Doctor
(France) – After completing medical school, a doctor of Congolese descent takes a job in a small village in northern France where his family struggles to adapt as locals.
A Fortunate Man
Denmark – A man from Western Denmark, is accepted to study at a university in Copenhagen, where he is introduced to a world different from the devout Christian family from which he came.