WATCH THE WORLD

Our goal is to open up the world to everyone through film. Everyone should travel if they can (the world is amazing), but it costs time and money which we don't always have. That's where FilmRoot comes in. We bring the world of films to your couch, so you can travel wherever you want to without the flight fees.


Use our World Map to find the best films from each country, choose a continent below to explore the best films from each continent, or simply scroll down to see our latest posts featuring films from around the world. Or, if you're up for a challenge, work your way up to the top of our Film Difficulty Rankings to become a World Film expert.







Latest Posts


Talvar (Guilty)

Film Difficulty Ranking: 2


Not all Indian films are musicals! Talvar is an easy to watch and clever film from Meghna Gulzar which lacks the music and dancing of most Bollywood films. This one is mostly crime, with a touch of humour.

Why Watch Talvar?
  • What!? You haven’t seen any Indian films yet?
  • You like a good ‘whodunnit’ film.
  • Is this a contemporary take on Kurosawa’s Rashomon?
  • You can see a future in criminology.

The film starts in a special event, hosted by the Indian Central Department of Investigations (CDI). We are introduced to Ashwin, a lawyer who likes to play games on his mobile phone and carry out detective work at a local street food vendor. These things make him ‘normal’. He stops to look at one of the photos of the crime scene… and cut. [The discovery of the murder scene is re-enacted].

Here’s a few film tributes to look out for:

  1. The Paparazzi who swarm the crime scene is shot just like they are shot in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. The camera moves with them and gets very close to the victims or protagonists they are chasing as if we are one of the paparazzi.
  2. The vigil for the victim is cut in between reports from the news questioning who committed the crime. The way the news reports and snappy interviews with the public are cut around the candle-lit vigil reminded me of Gone Girl. Count Gulzar as a fan of David Fincher.
  3. Those multiple murder narratives are inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon. (A Japanese classic which you must watch if you haven’t already).

Otherwise listen out for the character’s seamless transitions from speaking Hindi to English in the same sentence. And watch out for the ‘water-container’ shot – a beauty!

In all, Talvar is worth a watch. An entertaining film with an clever message.

 

What We Do In The Shadows

Film Difficulty Ranking: 1

New Zealand created the perfect Vampire Mockumentary with What We Do In The Shadows. Who thought that Vampires could be so funny after Twilight!? Featuring the next director of Thor and half of Flight of the Concords get your fix of film from down under right here!

Why Watch What We Do In The Shadows?
  • You like a quirky comedy (ie. Napoleon Dynamite, Big Lebowski…)
  • You didn’t like Twilight as it had no realism or humour.
  • To learn about the Vampire Society in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • You’re a Vampire Hunter wishing to learn more about your targets.

Viago, age 379, wakes up from sleep at 6pm just after the sun has set. He gets out of his coffin and wakes up his room mates for a house meeting; Vladislav (aged 862), Deacon (aged 183), and Petyr (too old to remember). Deacon is hanging upside down in the closet, Vladislav is having a vampire orgy, and Petyr is too scary to invite to the house meeting.

Hand-held cameras give What We Do In The Shadows it’s authentic ‘documentary’ style. We feel like we are really being given a tour of a Vampire household in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition the costumes and production design work a treat to make everything believable. From the stone coffins to each of the Vampire’s unique styles the set and costumes allow us to believe this mockumentary.

As it can be hard to write about comedies without giving away some of the punchlines, I’m just going to say that this one is worth your time. I was sceptical as Vampires aren’t my faves, but luckily for me, the combination of posh Viago, rebellious Deacon, the reformed torturer Vladislav, and odd-ball Petyr is funny enough to remind you of the most hilarious moments you might of had in a flat share or halls.

Don’t skimp out on Kiwi films! (It’s on Netflix).

La Dolce Vita


Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

One of Fellinis classics, La Dolce Vita takes you on a tour of Rome’s superficial upper class world. This one is full of parties, affairs, and paparazzi.

Why watch La Dolce Vita?
  • Get a feel for that Italian culture without leaving your bed.
  • For a taste of Italy’s most famous director.
  • Get invited to a weird mix of parties with a crazy bunch of people.
  • Feel like someone famous as paparazzi follow you everywhere.

Two helicopters enter flying over Rome’s suburbs, one carrying a statue of Jesus. Children abandon football to chase after the two helicopters captured by sweeping camera movements. There’s even a nice shot of the helicopter carrying Jesus from the other helicopter. A pretty modern shot for the time. The helicopters approach a roof-party where a number of girls are sunbathing on the roof. One of the helicopter passengers leans out of the helicopter to ask for one of the girl’s number. He says he is taking Jesus to the Pope.

Paparrazi are everywhere. Watch out for the camera movement. It often moves with the paparazzi, putting you in their position. The camera moves quickly towards a famous subject just as the paparazzi swarm around them. We are always where there are famous or rich people and we are always invading people’s privacy. Where there is paparazzi there is something going on even if it is of their or Fellini’s own creation.

A superficial world is also presented cleverly by Fellini. I counted two times where non-diegetic music is then stopped by one of the characters on a nearby juke box or record player. What we think is real is actually fake. This superficiality of the parties Marcello attends also seem like big crazy attempts to entertain themselves. The superficiality reminded me of Antonioni’s L’Avventura released in the same year, like The Great Beauty (an homage to Fellini from 2013) and even, to an extent, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers (hah! Bet you didn’t expect that to be mentioned.).

Anyway, as a classic, I have to recommend watching this one, even if it is to please your inner film buff. As for Fellini, I did slightly prefer Nights of Cabiria. Enjoy.

Embrace of the Serpent – Lose Yourself in the Amazon

Embrace of the Serpent

Embrace of the Serpent Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Wow. Possibly the best film I have seen this year so far, Embrace of the Serpent is many things at once. It is a beautifully shot film set deep in the Amazon jungle that delves into many themes, including Life and Death, Culture, Civilization, Religion, and Exploration. This is a must see. 

From: Colombia, South America
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Hulu
Next: Aguirre, Apocalypse Now, Black God, White Devil
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A Touch of Sin – The Erosion of Chinese Society

A Touch of Sin

A Touch of Sin Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

A Touch of Sin is great. Anyone with a remote interest in contemporary China should watch this. It’s a politically charged painting of the erosion of Chinese society. Jia Zhangke weaves together four narratives from rural townships to life in the big cities. For a critique of society in contemporary China, this one is a must watch. 

From: China, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Have a Nice Day, Wild Tales, Amores Perros
Continue reading “A Touch of Sin – The Erosion of Chinese Society”