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

Prince of Nothingwood (Afghanistan) – Meet Afganistan’s Biggest Film Star

Prince of Nothingwood Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

“This isn’t Hollywood, this isn’t Bollywood, this is Nothingwood, because there’s no money”. – Salim Shaheen

Salim Shaheen is Afghanistan’s biggest film star. He’s Afghanistan’s working class hero (like Cantiflas or Charlie Chaplin) and action film star (like Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger). It’s time for you to get to know him!

Why Watch Prince of Nothingwood?

To meet Afghanistan’s biggest film star
For a positive alternative to the negative war dominated footage of Afghanistan you’ll usually see
See the remains of the famous Buddhas of Bamyan
Hear about the time when there was a bomb on set…

The Breakdown

Salim Shaheen’s story mirrors the story of Afghani cinema. There should be no role for him or for film within the strict Afghani customs. Back when he was a kid, he was beaten by his mother and brothers when they caught him singing and dancing on film. He was also beaten when he was caught sneaking off to the cinema to see some of the Bollywood hits. He was beaten up whenever he got near to film! Simply put, dancing, singing, and acting were all taboo; it just doesn’t fit in strict Afghani tradition.

However, even though Salim Shaheen’s films are a triumph for creativity, you’ll notice there aren’t any women on camera. The director, Sonia Kronlund, is the only woman you’ll see in the whole film. That’s because she’s treated like a man because she isn’t from there. In contrast, Sonia’s female translator is always hidden off camera. According to Sonia, she refused to say anything on camera. As there are no actresses, some of the men have to dress up as women. Despite the apparently strict society, this is considered acceptable, perhaps because homosexuality is inconceivable.

If you’ve been wanting to go to Afghanistan but are worried about the security, this is the perfect film to see. You’ll meet the people, travel across the country (to Bamyan), hear the music, and see the food.

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Conclusion

All in all The Prince of Nothingwood is a rare opportunity to see life in Afghanistan, and an equally rare opportunity to see a positive story from Afghanistan. Salim Shaheen’s story is a triumph for creativity in a society where access to cinematic resources is pretty much non-existent.

The Journey (Iraq) – Get to Know a Suicide Bomber

The Journey Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

How much do you know about the Iraq War? Chances are, you’re picture of the war is made up of news footage and films like American Sniper. You’ll rarely see the Iraqi perspective of the war, which is inexcusable as this war happened in Iraq. So do yourself a favour and check out The Journey and learn about the effects of the Iraq war.

Why Watch The Journey?

See how the war has affected Iraq and the people living there
To see the Iraq war from the Iraqi perspective as opposed to the western perspective shown in The Hurt Locker and American Sniper
You’ll also get to know and understand a suicide bomber
It’s a perfect companion to Ahlaam

The Breakdown

The Journey starts with our protagonist, a woman walking along train tracks to a train station. As she gets closer she pulls off her hijab and throws it away and joins a group of schoolchildren to disguise herself as a teacher. In this disguise, she gets past the security checks and through to the station.

In the station, she stands silently people watching. You quickly see two kids cleaning shoes, a man loudly talking the phone, and hear the sound of a busker nearby. As life goes on, the camera cuts to a close up of her hand wavering over a detonator. She’s wearing a bomb vest!

The story was spawned from a news article that Mohamed Al-Daradji saw about a female suicide bomber in Iraq. Just before she was about to detonate her bomb vest, she went to the police station. But later on, she still blew herself up. What’s interesting is that she went to the police; possibly a moment of regret or doubt. Her uncertainty inspired Mohamed Al-Daradji to focus on a suicide bomber, to explore what could be going through their minds.

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The Conclusion

The Journey is a must watch for everyone who remembers the Iraq War. It explores the side of the conflict that is rarely seen: the Iraqi perspective. It shows normal Iraqis carrying out the lives infected by the trauma of war. You’ll also meet a suicide bomber and become her friend.

Makala – Live the Life of a Charcoal Miner in Rural DR Congo

Makala Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

This documentary film is on another level. You’ll rarely get this close to a life completely different to the one you’re used to. Not just because you probably have no idea about the lives of charcoal miners in DR Congo, but because you rarely get films that are this intimate. There are so many close ups and shots where Kabwita’s emotion is so clearly visible that you’ll feel like you’re there right beside him. The only problem is that you’ll feel even worse for not being able to help him up those hills.

Why Watch Makala?

Find out how to make a living in rural Democratic Republic of Congo
The incredible cinematography! (detail below)
Learn how to make charcoal
It’s an excellent documentary – it won Critic’s Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2017

The Breakdown

Makala starts with Kabwita (our protagonist). The camera follows him through the bush. He’s carrying two axes on his shoulders. He’s looking for a good tree. After a minute or so, the perfect tree appears near the top of the shrub covered hill. After a quick prayer, Kabwita starts cutting down the tree.

Makala covers the whole process of making a living from charcoal. You’ll see Kabwita make the product (charcoal), transport it, and sell it. This is how he manages to live.

What’s amazing about the film is how intimate it is. The director, Emmanuel Gras, found Kabwita whilst working on his previous documentary (also set in DRC). Kabwita agreed to the film in return for help building the home he mentions in the film. This is how the director manages to get so many close-up shots of Kabwita documenting his trials and tribulations.

Because of the connection the close-ups establish between us (the audience) and Kabwita, there are many times when we want to reach out and help him. We can feel his struggle pushing the charcoal logs up hills and also his frustration when a lorry crashes into his livelihood. Of course, the director could help, but to do so would be to take away from our experience. It’s the director’s responsibility to direct the life of the charcoal maker. It’s our responsibility (the viewers) to be enlightened and be inspired to make a change.

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Conclusion

Makala is a beautiful film. The cinematography at times is almost unbelievably real. A lot of the shots are so intimate and close that you’d be forgiven for forgetting that this is a documentary. We are so used to seeing unrealistic intimate shots in Hollywood films (close-ups of people kissing that you’d never see in real life) but this kind of intimacy is unusual in Documentary film. In Makala you get to experience the life of the charcoal maker, not just witness it.

Beyond the Clouds (India) – Why You Watch Films on the Big Screen

Beyond the Clouds Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Are you looking for a big film for a bit of entertainment? With music, melodrama, and some epic shots? Look no further than Majid Majidi’s Beyond the Clouds. This Iranian director is one of the best at making great family films (check out Children of Heaven). Plus, if you liked Slumdog Millionaire (another great Mumbai film made by a foreigner) you’ll love this. It’s pure entertainment.

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Why Watch Beyond the Clouds?

To be entertained! There’s big sweeping shots and beautiful colours! You’ll notice the echoes of Slumdog Millionaire
For the music composed by A R Rahman (it’s not a musical, but you’ll notice the Bollywood touch)
To learn to appreciate the NHS (and all other countries with public healthcare)
See the melting pot of Indian diversity – in this film you’ll hear Hindi, Tamil, and bits of English

The Breakdown

Beyond the Clouds opens with a wide shot of a highway bridge in Mumbai. The camera tracks downwards to show us life under the highway. As Majid Majidi (the director) states, he wanted to get under the skin of the city, and right from the start he focuses on life that has escaped modernisation.

There’s a lot going on in each shot. We meet our protagonist walk-dancing along an empty path with his friend. They both hop on the back of a motorbike and zoom off down an empty straight road like cowboys riding towards the sunset. The sweeping camera movements and dance steps make it feel like you’re watching a big film. This is pure entertainment.

You’ll also be led by Majidi’s use of colours and darkness. When Amir visits his sister, she recounts all her traumas from the shadowed darkness of her bedroom. She has been ignored, emphasised by the darkness she is left in. Likewise the white sheets left to dry outside the busy clothes washers are a perfect symbol of innocence. Innocence that is fated to be stained…

Conclusion

This is why you go to watch films on the big screen. It has the wide sweeping shots, vivid colours, music, and plenty of melodrama. Yes, there’s a little cheesiness, but not enough to put you off. If you want to be entertained for a few hours, you can’t much go wrong watching Beyond the Clouds.

Loveless (Russia) – An Epic Drama for the Digital Age

Loveless Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

If you’ve seen Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan you need to see Loveless. If you haven’t seen Leviathan, what are you waiting for? Loveless is another dark drama from Zvyagintsev of epic proportions. It’s comparable to one of Shakespeare’s dark plays updated for the digital age. Plus, it’s not just a reflection of Russian society, but a reflection of all our lives.

Why Watch Loveless?

You can’t find better drama than this
It’s a story you usually don’t see on screen – what happens after the happy marriage – and yes, it’s dark
It’s the follow up to Zvyagintsev’s award winning Leviathan and it’s already won the Cannes Jury prize, you don’t have to rely on our opinion!
The setting! The snow and empty spaces make it even more chilling!

The Breakdown

Loveless starts with snow. It makes the town it falls on seem more serene; the calm before the storm. It’s the end of school for the day and the camera follows 12 year old Alexey as he walks home on his own. He finds a strip of police ‘do not cross’ tape and waves drags it along with him through the snow before throwing it into a leafless tree. Unlike his parents, he’s just a regular kid.

The opening 5 minutes of the film are focused on Alexey, but then the film is hi-jacked by his parents. When Alexey returns home, we find his parents arguing (they’re getting divorced). From their argument, we follow them through a day of each of their lives at work and their affairs for the next 30 minutes of the film. Alexey’s parents are doubly selfish. They steal the film’s narrative from him and also indulge in their own self-interests whilst they have the limelight. They force Alexey out of the film.

You may also notice the abundance of empty spaces and silence in the movie. The director may linger on a shot after the character has left or remain fixed on a character for slightly longer than normal. Zvyagintsev left these visual and audible pauses for us to give us time to think. This allows us to become ‘co-authors’ as we have time to add in our own interpretations. You’ll see that whilst Loveless is a Russian film, the message is relevant to all of us – making it possible to interpret.

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Conclusion

Loveless was one of the stand out films for me at the London Film Festival 2017. Just like Leviathan (which you should watch if you haven’t already) it’s storytelling is at the top level. On top of that, the visuals are a perfect compliment – they make the dark bits of the story darker, and offer us breaks to become co-authors.

Watch it when you can!