Film lovers encouraged to try more European cinema
02 January 2006
A campaign to encourage film lovers to watch more European films begins today with the release of a list of 20 of the best must-see European DVD films to enjoy on the big screen from the comfort of your own home
Have you ever been intrigued by European films but felt slightly baffled and intimidated by where to start? Don’t worry; you are not alone. In 2004, European movies accounted for just 26% of all cinema admissions in Europe, compared to a massive 71% of admissions for films generated by the US film industry [1]. However with a downturn in popularity of Hollywood-produced blockbusters and a drop in box office blockbuster revenues in 2005 [2] , indications are that film lovers are turning to alternative sources of film entertainment and are watching more movies from home.
If you want to enjoy European movies but don’t know where to start, then why not take advantage of the top 20 European DVD film titles compiled by the European Film Academy (EFA) and Epson.
The list includes some of the biggest director names in the history of European cinema, such as Almodovar and Fellini with their award-winning films Todo Sobre Mi Madre and La Strada respectively and provides film enthusiasts with a first taste of what European cinema has to offer.
1. Au Bout De Souffle (Breathless) Jean-Luc Godard, French Original,1960
2. Amelie Jean-Pierre Jeunet, French Original, 2001
3. La Strada, Federico Fellini, Italian Original, 1954
4. La Stanza Del Figlio (The Son's Room), Nanni Moretti, Italian Original, 2001
5. Together, Lukas Moodysson, Swedish Original, 2000
6. Wild Strawberries, Ingmar Bergman, Swedish Original, 2000
7. The Gaze Of Ulysees, Theo Angelopoulos, English Original, 1995
8. La Promesse, Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, French Original, 2000
9. No Man's Land, Danis Tanovic, Bosnian Original, 2001
10. Der Himmel Über Berlin (Wings Of Desire), Wim Wenders, German Original, 1987
11. Three Colours: Blue, Krzysztof Kieslowski, French Original, 1993
12. Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother), Pedro Almodóvar, Spanish Original, 1999
13. My Life Without Me, Isabel Coixet, Spanish Original, 2003
14. Open Hearts, Susanne Bier, English Original, 2002
15. Ae Fonde Kiss, Ken Loach, English/Punjabi Original
16. Good Bye, Lenin!, Wolfgang Becker, German Original, 2003
17. Hamam, Ferzan Ozpetek, Turkish Original, 1997
18. The Full Monty, Peter Cattaneo, English Original, 1997
19. The Man Without A Past, Aki Kaurismäki, Finnish original, 2002
20. Solaris, Andrei Tarkovsky, Russian original, 1972 2004
The list includes something for everybody – from the hilariously comedic film, The Full Monty to the deeply moving drama My Life without Me - plus sci-fi thriller, Solaris. Many of the films also profile major historical events such as the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (No Man’s Land) and the downfall of the Berlin Wall (Goodbye Lenin).
Nik Powell, Acting Chairman of the EFA says, “European films provide the perfect way to explore different cultures and unveil the myth that European cinema is somehow difficult to appreciate and hard to understand. The important thing to remember is that many of the films depict stories and themes that are universal – even though those stories may be deployed within diverse cultural contexts. The majority of European-cinema release films are available in multi-language and DVD formats, making it easy for people to enjoy the rich cultural tapestry of the European film industry. ”
Sophie Layer from Epson Europe says, “People love Hollywood blockbusters but often also want to explore European cinema and don’t know where to start. The big screen home cinema experience, which more and more of us are bringing into our homes, provides the perfect opportunity to acquaint ourselves with these movies. Our development of the 20 ‘must-see’ DVD’s in association with the EFA shows the wide range of films that are available, that can also be enjoyed at their best on the big screen at home.”
Epson has teamed up with Cineuropa.org to give you the chance to win the Epson EMP-TWD1 home entertainment projector. To enter, visit www.cineuropa.org.
About the EFA
Founded in 1989, the European Film Academy (EFA) currently unites 1,600 European film professionals with the common aim of promoting European film culture. Throughout the year, the EFA initiates and participates in a series of activities dealing with film politics as well as economic, artistic, and training aspects. The programme includes conferences, seminars and workshops, and a common goal is to build a bridge between creativity and the industry. These activities culminate in the annual presentation of the European Film Awards.
[1] Figures from the European Audiovisual Observatory
[2] AP-AOL News Poll, June 2005
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