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7 international films I’ve watched in 2022
I have previously written about international films — including those nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film before 2020), my favourite Oscar category — as well as about films I’ve seen at various festivals. As another year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the films I’ve watched over the past twelve months. Of these, seven were international. Before I discuss them further, I should clarify that I’m borrowing the terminology used by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (best known for its annual Academy Awards, a.k.a. “The Oscars”): international refers to films made primarily in a language…
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From ‘No Time to Die’ to 5 films about grief
It has been two months since No Time to Die, the twenty-fifth instalment in the James Bond series, was released. The film features several stunning locations, including some of my personal favourites — Italy (Matera), the Caribbean (Jamaica), Norway, the Faroe Islands, and London. As much as I enjoyed following the fictional British MI6 agent on his globe-trotting adventures (SPOILER ALERT), I was taken aback by the ending, in which Bond dies. A few weeks later, I attended the Leeds International Film Festival, held from 3 to 18 November. Interestingly, five of the six films I watched — chosen either by myself or my friend Jini — explored themes of…
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My favourite Eurovision songs
I first watched the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993, and I have watched it almost every year since then. Sadly, last year it was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, even though the pandemic is far from over, the contest has not been cancelled this year and the final is due to take place tonight. Today, I’d like to take this opportunity to look back to the last two decades and share my favourite Eurovision songs from 40(ish) participating countries (as well as some interesting facts and trivia). I have to admit that choosing my favourite song from each participating country proved quite a challenge; some countries have participated with…
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10 Finnish & Icelandic TV series to watch
According to the ninth World Happiness Report, published in March 2021, Finland is once again on the top of the happiness rankings (for a fourth year running). It is closely followed by another Nordic country, Iceland. To gain a deeper understanding of the Finnish and Icelandic psyche respectively, I have been reading books and watching films and TV series from both these countries. Today, I discuss some of the Finnish and Icelandic TV series I’ve recently watched. 5 Finnish TV series to watch All The Sins ‘All The Sins’ (‘Kaikki synnit’) is a crime series set in a rural community in Northern Finland. There are two seasons, with six 45-minute-long…
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Best International Feature Film goes to…
The Oscars are due in just two days, on 26 April. Last year, a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe and the Americas, the South Korean film ‘Parasite’, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, but also the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. This was a historical moment: ‘Parasite’ was the first South Korean film to have been nominated in these categories, as well as the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. This year, there will be a total of 23 Academy Awards. Of those, the one I’m most excited about…
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6 French and Italian crime series to watch
Bonjour! Or, should I say Buongiorno? A couple of months ago, I published two posts about Greek covers of French and Italian songs respectively. Then, earlier this month, I published two posts about some of my favourite French and Italian films. Today, I discuss some of the French and Italian crime series I’ve recently watched. 3 French crime series to watch The Mantis (La Mante) ‘The Mantis’ is a French crime series available on Netflix. There are a total of six 50-to-60-minute-long episodes, where a convicted serial killer, known as the Mantis, helps the Police track down the perpetrator of copy-cat murders. The Other Mother (Maman a tort) Based on…
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25 French films worth watching
Oscars are due in just over two weeks, on 26 April. This year, there will be a total of 23 Academy Awards. Of those, the one I’m most excited about is the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (previously known as Best Foreign Language Film). So far, the most awarded foreign country is Italy (with 14 Oscars won), while France is the second most awarded one (12 Oscars), as well as the foreign country with the most nominations (37). Today, I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss some of my favourite French films. Portrait de la jeune fille en feu ‘Portrait de la jeune fille en feu’ (‘Portrait…
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12 (+1) Italian films to watch
The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony, honouring the best films of 2020, is due to take place on 25 April. I recently watched the film ‘The Life Ahead’ (‘La vita davanti a sé’) by Edoardo Ponti and starring Sophia Loren. Set in Bari, it is based in the novel ‘The Life Before Us’, which is set in Paris instead. Although the film has not been nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, the song ‘Io sì (Seen)’ written by Diane Warren and performed by Laura Pausini has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Inspired by ‘The Life Ahead’, I have been reflecting on some…
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10 Greek covers of Italian songs
It’s been 40 years since my home-country Greece became the 10th member state of the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor to the European Union (EU). The EEC was created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957; the six founding member-states were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The first enlargement was in 1973, with the accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (which sadly left the EU on 31 January 2020). Greece joined on 1 January 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal five years later. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hellenic entry into the European family, I curated a playlist, which…
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Voilà: 9 Greek covers of French songs
Earlier this week, it was announced that the 65th Eurovision Song Contest would not take place ‘as normal’ this year. The organisers are currently considering 3 alternative scenarios. Either way, the event will definitely take place on 18, 20 and 22 May. A total of 41 countries will participate in the contest, five of which have already chosen the song that will represent them this year. Among these countries is France. Last week, Barbara Pravi was (rightly) chosen out of 12 participants and will now go on to represent France with her beautiful song ‘Voilà’. Since then, I have been listening to French artists, as well as to Greek covers…