Top 10 Foreign Romance Films

Top 10 Foreign Romance Films

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They say that love knows no borders. Join MsMojo as we count down our picks for Top 10 Foreign Romance Films. For this list, we’re counting down the most powerful and memorable love dramas of international cinema, so there won’t be any American or Canadian films on this list.

#10: “Il Postino: The Postman” (1994) Italy

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Set off the coast of Naples on the small island of Procida, this heart-warming film features the guidance of perhaps the ultimate wingman, Pablo Neruda. It’s your classic story of “shy man falls for local bombshell,” only in this case of romanticized fiction, a famous Chilean poet “assists” the titular postman in reeling in the catch, portrayed by the beautiful Maria Grazia Cucinotta. “Il Postino” became an Italian sensation, and considering that Massimo Troisi passed away just 12 hours after the final shot, the film warms the heart on many levels.

Directed by Aditya Chopra and starring a 21-year-old Kajol opposite Shah Rukh Khan, this film centers on the heartache and distress that may come from an arranged marriage. Tradition and morality guide the romantic narrative, as both leads find each other while traveling Europe. While trying to get the approval of their relationship from their parents, the two lovers discover that a few simple twists of fate could permanently end their wistful romance. Thanks to the breathtaking visuals and chemistry of the performers, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” is truly a must-see.

#8: “Once” (2007) Ireland

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If the idea of a love story about two musicians in Dublin doesn’t hook you, well, what if we told you that its main characters play together in real life as the band “The Swell Season?” Here are the basics: neither of the lead characters have actual names, but the Guy in question finds himself fixing the broken hoover of the Girl. Unfortunately, when the man offers to further fix her hoover, so to speak, it doesn’t go over too well, and like many epic romances, there’s a tiny bit of information that he has yet to learn. Even so, both play lovely music together, despite the fact that Father Time may not approve of a lasting partnership.

Spoiler alert: this Michael Haneke film will make you cry, and if it somehow doesn’t, well, you’re probably heartless. Taking home the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2013, this film stars the legendary duo Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva, and highlights how the trials and tribulations can bring out the greatest love of all. As two retired music teachers in their twilight years, or so it would seem, Georges and Anne must find strength when the latter suffers not one, but two strokes. And while this may sound depressing to some, it’s the small moments of “Amour” that hit the hardest, as life itself is no fairy tale but still beautiful all the same.

#6: “Blue Is the Warmest Color” (2013) France

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Winner of Palme d’Or prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, here’s a timely film by Abdellatif Kechiche that doesn’t hold back when documenting the intimate nature of new love. At its heart, “Blue Is the Warmest Colour” is undoubtedly a love story between two women, but at three hours in length, the narrative takes its time in conveying the confusion and excitement of adolescence, and how all bets are off when romance and raw passion takes over. Initially, many watched the film based on buzz alone, however it’s the performances from Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos that reinforce just how powerful cinema can be, making this one a modern classic.

#5: “L’Avventura” (1960) Italy

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To the untrained eye, this black and white flick may seem a little “artsy,” but when you factor in that it’s directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, one of the most prestigious filmmakers of all time, you’ll want to discover the meaning behind each symbolic shot– at least if you’re a hopeless romantic. At the core, you’ve got the luscious Monica Vitti as a woman dealing with the disappearance of her friend, all the while coming to grips with her feelings for her missing friend’s boyfriend, played by Gabriele Ferzetti. “L’Avventura” requires some patience, but as each act unfolds, Antonioni poses questions that challenge our preconceived notions of ideal love.

Directed by French New Wave master Francois Truffaut, this film painfully and unforgettably reminds us that three can most definitely be a crowd. Filled with comedic gags and moments of true romance, the adaptation of a Henri-Pierre Roché’s novel explores the trouble with wartime love…especially when two men fancy a single lady; a legitimate femme fatale in Jeanne Moreau. This romantic drama wears numerous hats, and like so many films of the Nouvelle Vague movement, it doesn’t necessarily provide easy answers in the end.

#3: “Like Water for Chocolate” (1992) Mexico

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In Laura Esquivel's original novel, each chapter represents a month of the year, and this movie has a similar natural progression. Directed and produced by Alfonso Arau, this film addresses family tradition but with the same touch of magical realism. A story of forbidden love and culinary treats, “Like Water for Chocolate” follows a young Mexican woman named Tita, who as the youngest daughter must care for her mother until her final breath instead of getting married. But along comes Pedro, a boy who needs him some Tita, and let’s just say a fire is lit. As human emotion becomes more than a just a feeling; it’s become a literal spark.

#2: “A Very Long Engagement” (2004) France

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Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring the supremely beautiful Audrey Tautou– the same team behind the beloved French romance “Amélie"– this adaptation of the novel of the same name investigates the psychological terrors of war and a woman’s search for truth. Masterfully directed and fueled by a plethora of critically acclaimed performances, including one by Marion Cotillard, this romantic war film pulls at the heartstrings with its gut-wrenching tale of what might’ve been. It’s truly a tale of epic love across the board, and certainly one of the decade’s finest films. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. • “Wings of Desire” (1987) France & Germany • “My Sassy Girl” (2001) South Korea • “Breathless” (1960) France • “Alles is Liefde” (2007) Netherlands • “Devdas” (2002) India

#1: “In the Mood for Love” (2000) Hong Kong

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When Hong Kong’s Wong Kar-wai released “Chungking Express” in 1994, it became an instant classic of international romance films. Six years later, he upped the ante with a film that captured a feeling that both fuels and destroys relationships on a daily basis. With loneliness as a central theme, two star-crossed lovers find each other, but in a traditional society that doesn’t always approve of platonic male-female relationships. As a result, Su and Chow reach the rocky crossroads of romance as the essence of the film’s title take hold. Directed by one of cinema’s best visual storytellers, “In the Mood for Love” represents true desire, passion, and romance to the fullest. So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite foreign romance film? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.