Film + TV Recommendations in Foreign Languages

Posted on by

Archana (Y10) recommends some of her favourite shows and films in MFLs.

Nothing on Netflix grabbing your eye?  Longing for a holiday in the South of France? Or simply don’t have the energy for anything else at the end of a busy term? Then we have just the solution. Watching a film or a tv show in a foreign language has a multitude of benefits. It provides great entertainment and increases your comprehension and listening skills in the language you are learning.  Here is a collated list of TV Series and Films in foreign languages + some of our top tips for watching a foreign TV series or film.  

SERIES 

  1. LUPIN (2021-) – French Mystery Thriller starring the amazing Omar Sy who plays thief Assane Diop, who sets out to avenge his father’s injustices.    

Rating: 15 

Location: Netflix 

  1. BORGEN (2010-22)– Danish Political Series following a prime minister’s rise to power, and the struggles that ensue. 

Rating: 15 

Location: Netflix 

  1. CLASS ACT (2023) – French fictionalized Biopic on controversial businessman Bernard Tapie.  

Rating: 15 

Location: Netflix 

  1. OKKUPERT (2015-2020) – Norwegian Political Drama following a newly elected environmentally -friendly government, who stop oil and gas production in the North Sea. 

Rating: 13+ 

Location: Prime Video 

  1. CABLE GIRLS (2017-2020) – Spanish Historical Drama set in the 1920s, following 4 women fighting for gender equality as the employees of Spain’s first national telephone company.  

Rating: 15 

Location: Netflix 

  1. REPLYING 1988 (2015-2016) – Korean Comedy Show set in the 1980s following a group of teenagers 

Rating:14 

Location: Netflix 

  1. RHYTHM+FLOW FRANCE (2022-) – French Rap Survival Show with top French hip-hop musicians as judges and a collection of ‘jeunes’ who battle it out to win 100,000 Euros 

Rating:15 

Location: Netflix 

FILMS 

  1. THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY (2019) – Portuguese Political Documentary exploring the Brazilian political crisis in the 2010s 

Rating: 12 

Location: Netflix 

  1. INTOUCHABLE (2011) – French Comedic Film following a billionaire’s paragliding accident, and the young man who he hires to be his carer.  

Rating: 15 

Location: Amazon Prime 

  1. PARASITE (2019) – A South Korean Coming of Age Tragicomedy exploring the class divides within Seoul.  

Rating:15 

Location: Disney+ and Netflix 

  1. DIARIOS DE MOTOCIELTA (2004) – Spanish Coming of Age Film, following Che Guevara on his road trip along South America. 

Rating: 15 

Location: Prime Video + Channel 4 

  1. LA VITA É BELLA (1997) – Italian Film exploring  Nazi-German Occupation of Italy during WW2 and the impacts on a family  

Rating : PG 

Location : Prime Video  

TOP TIPS 

  • If you are a beginner in the language, we suggest watching in the target language with English subtitles.  
  • If you are at an intermediate level, we recommend watching the show in the foreign language with subtitles also in the foreign language 
  • If, however, you are up for a challenge, watching the show in a foreign language with no subtitles will allow you to improve your listening skills.