European Film

Best European Films

From Alfred Hitchcock to Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman to Jean-Luc Godard, Europe has birthed many of film’s greatest innovators. And that’s just to name a few. The more you dig into the world of European film, the more and more gems you find. Scroll down to find the best European films currently reviewed on FilmRoot, or pick a country if you know what you’re after:

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

The Structure of Crystal (Poland) – Contemplate Life with Two Old Friends

The Structure of Crystal Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Be a fly on the wall as two old friends meet up after years have passed. The serene setting and conversation about the meaning of life will keep you feeling warm and calm like a mug of hot tea. Watch it here (Amazon via Mubi channel) and read more about it below.

Why watch The Structure of Crystal?

Experience life and it’s simple pleasures
Contemplate the meaning of life
Hear a beautiful soundtrack
If you’re a fan of early Ingmar Bergman (see Wild Strawberries for a perfect comparison – read more here)

The Breakdown

All we can see are two people standing on the distant horizon. They’re silhouetted against the pale sky and snow covered landscape. Their isolation is broken by a horse pulled sleigh which slowly makes it way past them. You can tell it’s going to be a slow and serene film; if that’s what you’re looking for you’re in for a treat.

The film takes place in rural Poland. The two people in the opening scene are Jan and his wife, both of them waiting for Jan’s old friend Marek to arrive. They studied Physics together at university but their paths have diverged since. Jan got married and moved to the remote countryside whilst Marek carried on studying physics and now travels the world with his degree.

The director perfectly captures the awkwardness of two old friends seeing each over for the first time in years. There’s lots of hugs and small talk, but neither of them really say anything to each other apart from how happy they each are to see each other. The feeling is perfectly captured when they all sit quietly at the dinner table not saying anything. The only thing you can hear is the clashing cutlery and the ticking clocks, emphasising that Marek’s stay is limited.

“I thought I had so much to tell you but now you’re hear I don’t know what to say”

Jan can’t break the small talk or silence, but Marek assures him their old friendship will resume. They eventually get round to talking about their past and their future. Both of them try to encourage the other to adopt their lifestyle.

Ticking Clocks and Ingmar Bergman

If you’re a fan of Ingmar Bergman, you might find some similarities between this film and Bergman’s Wild Strawberries (if you haven’t seen Wild Strawberries you need to watch it here on Amazon).

Both film’s have a similar contemplative feel and serene style. Furthermore, they both explore our search for meaning in life, which in both films becomes especially significant as the professor in Wild Strawberries feels himself getting closer to death, and in this film as the ticking clocks mark the short time Jan and Marek get with each other to catch up. Ultimately, they each reflect on their own choices and find peace with the path’s they have chosen.

Image result for structure of crystal film

Conclusion

I love contemplative and serene films, but I never feel like I can do them justice in writing. Like the early Ingmar Bergman films, The Structure of Crystal is all about the tone of the film. It’s a tone which somehow makes you calm and receptive but not sleepy. It’s just like listening to someone read you an interesting book when you’re tucked up in bed.

Watch The Structure of Crystal here (Amazon). And for more similar films, check out Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries and Seventh Seal.

Girlhood – A New-Wave of French Film?

Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

More in line with the likes of Adulthood than Boyhood, Girlhood is an artistic dive into the black working class blocks of Paris. Marieme is our heroine/anti-heroine, a black female who is forced to make a life for herself after she is denied high-school education. Can she weave her way through all the obstacles thrown her way? Or is she confined by her identity and social standing?

Why Watch Girlhood?

To see Paris as you probably haven’t seen it before – where concrete towers replace the Eiffel tower.
You’re a fan of coming-of-age films
Witness the potential of GIRL POWER
Check out some beautifully coloured cinematography

The Breakdown

An heavy techno beat breathes life into the darkness of the opening credits. Floodlights break up the darkness as a group of American football players run out of a dimly lit tunnel onto the pitch. One of the girls scores a touchdown and everyone starts celebrating and singing, before the lights shut off and darkness is back. The opening briefly shows us the power of girl groups and also marks the first screen-wipe of darkness.

Pay attention when the director black-washes the screen as each time marks a key point in Marieme’s adolescence. Each time is like the ending and beginning of a new chapter. Each time also follows either a happy or sad moment that defines Marieme. I’d also recommend paying attention to the soundtrack, as the director chooses particular moments for when the songs are played. For example, Marieme and her friends sing along to Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ at a time when their happiness and freedom is high. At this moment, the song emphasises their happiness and camaraderie.

Whilst the screen-wipes and songs signify key moments of the film, I am not sure what the role of the colours are. Nevertheless, the colours are beautiful. From the pale blue and pink hues of Marieme’s bedroom walls, lit up by a dim lamp to the slightly washed out colours of daylight in the concrete jungle. The vivid dark blue and black hues of the hotel-room party strongly reminded me of the beautiful cinematography of Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. See the beautiful colours for yourself and leave a comment if you think you know what they signify.

Conclusion

Girlhood is an important film. The director’s goal was to capture the stories of black teenagers, characters that are mostly underdeveloped in French films. In addition to race, this film is important because it also challenges conceptions of gender and class. All three; gender, class, and race (in that order?) come together to put obstacles in Marieme’s way. Can she escape?

Now For Something Completely Different (U.K.)

For a great introduction to British humour, you can buy this film for only £2 (click on pic above)

Now for Something Completely Different Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Are you feeling very silly? Are you up for a silly laugh? Well you have come to the right place. This is Monty Python. These are the people that inspired all the candid camera pranks and comedy sketch shows of today! One of the sketches in this film is bound to crack a smile across your face. Also, the short sketch format means you can dip in and out in your lunch break, before bed, or in the morning while you’re eating breakfast!

Why Watch this Now For Something Completely Different?

You haven’t seen anything by the famous Monty Python comedy troupe
To see how ‘silly’ British humour really is!
So you don’t miss the classic ‘Twit of the Year’ race
Hear the funniest joke in the world!

The Breakdown

Now for Something Completely Different starts with a short sketch set in a field. The narrator is showing us how not to be seen. Instead of trying to explain the first sketch, here it is…

As you can see, Monty Python’s humour is pretty different to anything you’d find in America or elsewhere, which may make it pretty hard to translate. Please let me know if you are a massive Monty Python fan from outside the U.K and how it translates!

What else makes a Monty Python film? It’s silliness! The sketches get even more silly as the film progresses until one of the narrators interrupts dressed in an army suit: “Stop it now, this has just got silly! It started out as a nice story about grannies attacking young men, but now it’s just got silly.” Ah the scene is Monty Python in a nutshell.

Conclusion

Anyway enough blabbering on. If you’re up for a laugh and you haven’t got much time, check out some Monty Python sketches on YouTube. If you’re up for a feature length Monthy Python film I’d recommend checking out The Life of Brian or Monty Python and the Holy Grail! Go indulge yourself in the silliness!

Looking for more classic comedy with moments of silliness? Check out the Oscar nominated German film Toni Erdmann!

Little Dieter Needs to Fly – Another Epic Survival Story

Little Dieter Needs to Fly Film Difficulty Ranking: 1

This documentary from German master Werner Herzog explores the balance between life and death in the epic survival story of Little Dieter.

From: Germany, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Watch on YouTube, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Tubi
Next: Rescue Dawn, The Great Escape, The Marriage of Maria Braun

Thelma (Norway) – A Supernatural Coming-of-Age Story

Thelma Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you’re looking for a Norwegian update on Stephen King’s Carrie, you’ve come to the right place. In Thelma, just like in Carrie, there’s Christianity, madness, and strict parents. However, Thelma also boasts a lesbian awakening and enough subtlety to keep you questioning long after the ending.

From: Norway, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Amazon Buy
Next: Carrie, Gone Girl, Call Me By Your Name