Where are you from? What are the cinemas like in your country? Can you tell us something interesting about the film-going experience where you are? Is film an important part of your culture? Are you able to see all the films you're interested in seeing?
Are good films made in your country? Are they a good representation of you and the people in your nation?
Please feel free to comment, whether you're a new follower, a passer by, whether you have a lot to say or very little; I think this is a great chance for us to see how we are similar and also how we are different; all around the world.
Wherever you are from, Spain, Russia, Germany, India, Taiwan, Romania, etc-- I'd love to know more about YOU, where you come from, and what films mean to you; and how they are or aren't a part of your culture.
Egypt here. Lol yeah movies are a big chunk of our culture, and they're a good representative of it. Could use a bit more effects tho.
ReplyDeleteHello Kid In The Front Row :)
ReplyDeleteIt's me again. lol I want to thank you first for addressing my question about criticism. Your response was wonderful.
Now, as a response to this blog: I'm originally from the Philippines, but now I live in Nevada. I have The Filipino Channel so I can keep up with all the movies/shows over there, and I gotta say: they LOVE romance movies!! They love it so much, it's almost rare to see an action movie over there.
There's always a movie along the format of, for example, guy meets girl, guy falls in love with the girl, but the girl likes the guy's friend and so the friends fight over the girl and drama here and drama there. It's not always like that, but it still is all too common.
As far as soap operas, I think they are way better than the movies. It's more creative (and, of course, it still has all those drama/romance in it). It represents more the normal, everyday lives of the Filipinos and what they go through, so I tend to watch soap operas more then the movies.
But I do the opposite here in America: I watch more movies than I do soap operas :)
New Zealand. Because we're such a midget country, each film, big or small, is special to us and we claim it. Most NZ films have 'Kiwi' humour so are very different to people from other countries!
ReplyDeleteI would think the cinema experience is close to other Western countries, but to have the best time you have to be in an old cinema, and roll Jaffa's down the wooden aisle in the middle of the movie.
Film is very important to New Zealanders. If a good one comes out here, we basically brand it on our forehead when we go overseas.
Great blog!
I have been to cinemas in South America, North America, Spain, Germany, and Luxemburg. There is nothing like watching movies in their original language, much of the culture is lost in every translation.
ReplyDeleteHi, I used to live in Australia and have recently moved to China for business.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I used to go to the cinema every so often when we were in Australia, but since we've had our first baby a few months ago, we can hardly find the time. Anyway, we did manage to go to a cinema in Guangzhou, China to see "Inception". I love Leo. I think the film was pretty alright, too, although I don't think it's one of the best Leo has starred in.
There're a few very good and talented Chinese directors, and they do make good movies. I find their films to be better representation of the people when they're low budgeted.
Australia here.
ReplyDeleteCinemas here are pretty standard, there are some nice big IMAX ones, and some pretty dodgy small ones. I'd say movies are very important to our culture, and I'd say all of the internationally popular movies are shown here in Australia. If not at the major cinemas, then the smaller independent ones. There have been some pretty amazing Australian movies made recently, Australians have a different kind of humor, but all in all, I'd say they represent Australians pretty well.
What a fantastic idea to offer to your followers! I was immediately intrigued by your idea and loved reading the comments you'd gotten so far.
ReplyDeleteI'm not from anywhere nearly as exciting as some of the others, but Seattle IS pretty cool. :-)
We are home to SIFF of course and going to the movies is an expensive habit for a movie nerd like myself. But it's worth it. :-)
I found your blog just by chance and was instantly interested. Love movies. Love writing. I look forward to reading more from you.
hi malaysia here..just a passer by..
ReplyDeletewow. for me film had played a great role in my life. when i was little i like to watch all the films which represent lots of moral value..u know,,like respect the elders,love family,responsibility..etc..thus i've learn to be a good person..even though not everyone will be like me..coz its depends on how people perceive those films..
most are representation of my own culture..but as it grows..well the film industry is trying to be more international..thus some of it are adaptation of culture from all over the world..mostly the most common practices(universal) coz people are more open minded..
i think yes..good films are made in my country. but sometime they are not up to what i expected.some really represent the people of my nation but some are 'just happen in movies' they are more direct in representing what's the story about & what they want to tell and always..what the moral values in it.
but sometime people prefer to watch films which are entertaining and is made for those who want a gateway from their real life..that is why most people like those particular film..but for film which had the real story ..people could only feel empathy.. i think film are good when they are both entertaining and informative..
Hey, a Swedish follower here! Personally I don't think Sweden does great films which are a good representation of the country and its people. However, film is big here and many world known stars come here to do films which is great.
ReplyDeletePersonally I love the Änglagård films which are made in my own back yard so to speak and the little local cinema will host the world première =)
The cinemas look pretty much as other cinemas but most are smaller than in for eg US & UK. We used to have individual cinemas but now there's next to only big complexes popping up replacing the old and charming ones.
Great blog btw! =)
England here. Yes, not very exotic I know, but still. In the big cities we have some huge cinemas, but living out in the middle of nowhere I have never been to one of those. There is one cinema in the nearest town with about eight screens and that's the one we usually go to, but there is also a very small cinema built in the middle of some woodland, it's very quaint.
ReplyDeleteFilm is a very important part of our culture. We are really proud of our old British classics and we are big fans of musicals and films based on British books like Harry Potter. In recent times however, the cinemas have been dominated by big hollywood blockbusters, and I have noticed that even films produced in England have taken on a more glamorous American style. I would say that they are representative of our culture in general.
Hi, another one from Sweden here. Some good or even great films are made here, but there are very little money in the industry. Änglagård, Jägarna, Göta Kanal and Jalla,Jalla are four examples of great Swedish films in my opinon.
ReplyDeleteI've not been at a cinema since 2004 when I watched the Return of the King. I missed the last Star Wars because I had a son a months old. I don't miss cinemas at all. We have a screen and great surround at home, no fuss with babysitters, going into town, paying an expensive ticket. We rent and buy blu-rays in great quantity.
I don't know if you can say that movies are an important part of our culture. We have two international film festivals and we have produced a number of great actors and directors where most of them left the country.
MIRETTE - Welcome! I don't think I've seen any Egyptian films, but I'd love too! There's a film I really like, called 'The Band's Visit' -- about an Egyptian marching band that visits Israel. It's very fictional, it's comedy, but it has a big heart and is very enjoyable. I hope you get to see it!
ReplyDeleteWATCHES LOVER - What makes you say you envy my life? An interesting statement, I would love to know more about why you feel that. Also, when you say 'some suggestion about my power balance' please let me know what you mean, because I'm not sure!
FILMMUSIC100 - One of the best actresses I've worked with is Filipino. It's interesting that you like the soap operas more. The romance element is interesting to me, because I think all cultures relate to that, it's universal, but SOME countries/parts of the world shy away from it, or perhaps see romance films as being lower art --- yet everyone seems to love them if they're honest! :)
NEON - Kiwi humour is interesting. I have some friends from New Zealand, and they'll be finding something hilarious and I had no idea a joke had even been made! " If a good one comes out here, we basically brand it on our forehead when we go overseas." that's so true!
CUCIPATA - I agree; I always try to visit the cinema when I go to other countries, what a wonderful experience!
LUCY - Congrats on your baby! What is his/her name? -- Can you recommend any low budget Chinese films? Not sure how accessible they'll be to find, but we can always try!
SHRUTHI - Your email was wonderful; I'd love for you to share it here publicly!
DLAYDII - 'Pretty dodgy small ones' - they're the best kind!
JEANIE BLACK PAGE - I love Seattle! If only because of FRASIER! I'd love to visit the film festival sometime soon.
ALLYN - You raise such an interesting point! A film may try to have a certain point of view, or moral; but of course, as viewers - we all BRING IN and TAKE AWAY different things.. I think every film viewing is a UNIQUE experience.
ANNA - I think Swedish films have a wonderful reputation, but I've always struggled to enjoy them! I did like "TOGETHER" though, have you seen that? Very nice film!
I don't know Änglagård; could you recommend some films?
TIZZY - Quaint cinemas are the best! But a dying breed! It's very sad and I hope we can somehow do more to hold on to the cinemas that remain. I often find that English film focuses a bit too heavily on 'gritty' rags-to-riches films.. I get bored of them!
DESIREE - I didn't realize you were from Sweden! I would love for you to recommend some films, maybe the best of those director's you've mentioned.
Thanks all!
Hello.... I'm from India...and movies are a very important part of our entertainment industry. We have movies made in every other language spoken in our country, and it would be hard to tell you the number -woods we have besides the famous Bollywood...and oh yeah, movie buffs we are... :)
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm from Switzerland and our movies are sorta' weird...
ReplyDeleteOur cinema's are very clean and our films aren't really part of our culture; we haven't made that many movies...
And, no our movies don't represent us well and they aren't very good.
Hi! I'm new here and I'd like to stay :)
ReplyDeleteHere in Israel we have lots of cinemas and we often watch american, some british and few israeli movies.
There are some great israeli movies, but when I go to the cinema, I prefer watching american movies, because israeli movies talk about our army or they're comedies, and I truly prefer action, horror or drama movies!
Lately I watched "Unthinkable", a suggestive movie. It introduced a very big question about limits of human beings. Loved it!
HI! I'm from Bosnia.
ReplyDeleteWell, Bosnians LOVE movies. We also make good movies. Themes vary, but we are best at making dramas and comedies. Our sense of humor is...well, British humor is closest to ours. That's why Monty Python is so popular here.
We watch mostly american movies. Most of Bosnians are into american action movies (older ones like Rambo, Terminator, Die hard...yeah we are a bit weird XD) or martial art movies. Bruce Lee is a kind of an icon here. Hehehehehe! Good comedies too.
Sarajevo and some bigger cities have multiplex cinemas. There are also couple of smaller cinemas in Sarajevo too. We have Sarajevo Film Festival...etc. etc. etc.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIstanbul calling!
Congratulations! Great blog...
I strongly recommend BAL and VAVIEN.
About BAL: The young boy Yusuf's best friend is his father, who supports his family's modest life with the honey he collects from tall trees in the forests of the remote Turkish countryside.
About VAVIEN: Celal's unhappy life with his life suddenly turns out to be a curious intrigue.
Em... perhaps try "If you are the one" by FENG Xiaogang. He's a very well-known director in China. There're many more, but I can't think of much yet.
ReplyDeleteHello again!
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear that you think Swedish film has a good rep.! I'll post a few links for you. And yes, I have seen Together and love it! =)
Änglagård: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105916/
The Wedding Photographer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1359421/ and by the same director, Slim Susie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323998/ and Tjenare Kungen: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423382/
And then we, of course, have the films by Imgemar Bergman.
Grabben i graven bredvid: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298351/
Let the right one in (haven't seen it yet though):http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/
Hey, what a fab blog!
ReplyDeleteI am originally from Hungary but I've been living in London for the past 5 years, there is such a big contrast between the two country's movie-going habits! I find that people on the 'continent' are much more into international films (this might be because English speakers are usually not interested in learning other languages - no offence).
Hungary has an incredibly rich film history, think about the amazing animations from the Pannon Filmstudió (The Time Masters, etc, one of the shorts made there won an Oscar), but also directors like Miklós Jancsó, Istvan Szabó or more recently Nimród Antal who made Kontroll (he was taken hostage by Hollywood studios recently, but hey, I am happy for him).
Love this culture-knowledge-likes-about-films-sharing-blog-idea.
Keep up the good work.
J
hey!kid in the front row :) ! Love your blog and your passion for cinema......I'm from the country where cinema is passion..the largest cinema watching and producing fraternity...yeah ur right...India!
ReplyDeleteHere we have different genres,cultures and diversity within our country itself. Mollywood is highly experimental and has diverse cinema whereas bollywood is all glitz and glamour!
We have almost 5 new actors popping up every week and almost 10 new movies every week in a single language! (BTW we have cinemas in almost 20 different languages)
Cinema is our breathe , passion and life!!
Yup, I'm from Sweden. Glad you didn't notice. Then my English can't be that bad.
ReplyDeleteÄnglagård http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105916/
So Swedish that you jump out of your skin. The director is Colin Nutley, an Englishman.
Jägarna http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116736/
One of those projects that took ages to get it going. It's not a feel-good-movie though.
Göta Kanal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082490/
A comedy. An old comedy for that matter. But I still find it funny.
Fucking Åmål http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150662/
Maybe most for teenagers, but who cares?
Jalla! Jalla! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0269389/
Josef Fares first feature. And his best, I think. Father and brother are actors in the movie.
I know you have a favor for dubbing, but if you can, please see them with original language with subtitles instead.
Have a happy day
/Désirée
well im from the usa, wi is the state. Here we have small but rarly busy cinamas. We have a few drive throughs but they are all closed due to it being winter and all, lol. Yes it is a very important part. Its a great place for a date, to get out opf the house, and have some cheap but long lasting fun. I like foren films, but i get to see most of what i like, just wish there whetre more anime out in teh theters, lol.
ReplyDeleteDesiree - why would you think I like dubbing? I never watch dubbed movies.
ReplyDeleteHey all, please read this: I mentioned all of you! http://www.kidinthefrontrow.com/2010/11/world-in-front-row.html
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry, I didn't ment you in person, but Americans in general - and most of Europeans too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't ment to offend. It's just that I've read so much about dubbing that it felt that Sweden is the only country in the World who favours subtitles.
ReplyDelete