Best Romantic Foreign Films
We probably have all heard of Akira Kurosawa, a great Japanese director known for his greatest films Rashoman, The Seventh Samurai, and The Hidden Fortress that inspired George Lucas to create the Star Wars series. We also have admired great master filmmaker Satyajit Ray, whose Apu Trilogy depicts the pangs and sufferings of life in rural India. Also, how can we forget a great Swedish director Ingmar Bergman whose masterpieces, The Seventh Seal, Persona, and Wild Strawberries are considered to be the greatest cinematic miracles to be observed by the camera. And how can we not think of Yasujuro Ozu whose great works such as: Tokyo Story, An Autumn Afternoon and Floating weeds, whom we love so dearly. There are so many great foreign films that we feel like listing here, as we love these movies. These movies have transcended all the cross cultural boundaries and have managed to stay in the close corner of our hearts. When we think of these great filmmakers and their works, we realize how movie has no barriers, and it speaks only one true language of universal emotions all across the world.
Since this site is all devoted to bringing you the best cinema with an underlying theme of love and romance; on the list below, we have gathered you some of the true gems of an international cinema — the great and best romantic foreign movies that have struck the chords of our hearts and rewarded us with great entertainment and dreams of joys and happiness. The foreign films listed below are some of the greatest love stories ever made for the silver screen. We intentionally have not adhered to any strict criteria while picking these movies. The only two components that we have stick to are: the films are non-English language; and love, passion and romance are one of the integral themes of the movies. Again, we are not film critics, we are movie lovers just like you; so these choices are simply subjective and based on our favorites romantic foreign movies.
Cinema Paradiso
Starring Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin,
Directed By Giuseppe Tornatore
Year 1988
Overview: One of the most heartfelt movies made in a long time! “Cinema Paradiso” is a classic romance movie about love: the pain and joy of first love, the enduring quality of true love, and the unending love of the movies. This movie is taken to another level because of the soul-touching music of Ennio Morricone. One of our top picks and a must watch!
Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain)
Starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz,
Directed By Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Year 2001
Overview: A beautiful and enchanting movie about a sweet natured girl who tries to secretly bring happiness and love to all those around her. However, as she is giving happiness, she herself shies away from love. But in the end, will love be able to finds its way into her life as well?
Starring Philippe Noiret, Massimo Troisi, Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Directed By Michael Radford
Year 1994
Overview: The story of Mario, an awkward fisherman, who decides to take a job delivering mail to a famous poet, Pablo Neruda, who has just moved to their small island. Every day, as Mario delivers the mail, the two begin a friendship and Pablo learns of Mario’s secret love, Beatrice. Will the magic of Pablo’s poetry and friendship help Mario approach the beautiful Beatrice?
Life is Beautiful (La Vita è Bella)
Starring Roberto Benigni
Directed By Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi
Year 1997
Overview: The title of this movie summarizes completely the main character’s view of the world. Guido, a bookkeeper in Italy, has such innocence and joyfulness in his perception of the world you just can’t help falling in love. Along his journey he marries his fairytale princess (a schoolteacher) and has a beautiful son. However, will his imaginative mind help him through one of the darkest times in the 20th century?
The World of Apu (Apur Sansar)
Starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore
Directed By Satyajit Ray
Year 1959
Overview: One of the most beautiful and heartfelt films ever made! This is the story of a young student Apu, who attends a wedding with one of his friends. When the bridegroom arrives, he is insane, and Apu’s friend asks him to marry the girl, Aparna. He agrees, and little does he know that she will be the love of his life. A story of the most sincere and beautiful kind of love. No movie has ever depicted love and romance in such innocence and sheer purity. This is certainly Satayjit Ray’s greatest example of master craftsmanship.
The Road Home (Wo De Fu Qin Mu Qin)
Starring Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng
Directed By Zhang Yimou
Year 1999
Overview: When a son returns home to his village for his father’s funeral, his mother insists that the traditional burial rituals be carried out, this means carrying his father’s coffin on a long journey from the village to the city. Along the way however, he learns of the beautiful love story between his mother and father. A captivating film about romantic love and familial love.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo Hu Cang Long)
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi
Directed By Ang Lee
Year 2000
Overview: While on the surface, this is a fable set in China about a renowned master whose mythical sword is stolen, and the long journey it takes to retrieve it. At its heart, this is a movie about different kinds of love. There is the friendship between two masters, Li and Yu, who have really been in love their whole lives. And then there is the story of passionate first love, between Jen and Lo. Beyond the wonderful script and music, the direction and fight choreography is overwhelmingly beautiful. And yeah, how can we forget that wonderful cello score by Yo Yo Ma?
In the Mood for Love (Fa Yeung Nin Wa)
Starring Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung
Directed By Wong Kar Wai
Year 2000
Overview: Two neighbors realize that they have something in common; their spouses are cheating on them. Chow Mo-Wan, a journalist and So Lai-Zhen, a secretary form a friendship out of loneliness and this commonality. As the two grow close, they swear not to commit the same crime committed by their spouses, but can they? This is one of the finest films of Wong Kar Wai besides 2046 and Chungking Express.
The Princess and the Warrior (Der Krieger und die Kaiserin)
Starring Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, Joachim Król
Directed By Tom Twyker
Year 2000
Overview: Directed by Tom Twyker, whose movie “Run Lola Run” is considered to be the modern indie classic, this is a story of love and coincidences. Sissi is a nurse, whose life is completely focused on her work, when one day she is rescued by Bondo, a small time criminal. After the accident, Sissi searched out Bondo, believing he is the man of her dreams. But what then happens when Sissi does find Bondo?
The Princess and the Warrior Movie Trailer
Like Water for Chocolate (Como Aqua Para Chocolate)
Starring Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, Regina Torné
Directed By Alfonso Arau
Year 1992
Overview: “Like Water for Chocolate” is not only a romance film, but also a film about Mexican culture. Pedro and Tita are in love and want to marry. However, Tita’s mother forbids it, because Tita being the youngest daughter in Mexican culture must remain unmarried and care for her mother. Therefore, Pedro and Tita, who are determined to be together, seek another way, but what are the consequences?