Why few care for European Cinema

[Infoproliferati]

I saw The American last week and 5 seconds in, ok may be 1 min in I knew the director was European. Anyone who has seen a few Hollywood flicks will know right away the film ain't from Hollywood: the steadiness of the camera work, the gentle pacing and unwillingness to rush the story, gun violence that is not designed to be memorable, uninhibited nudity, characters that aren't over the top, suspense without the need for background music or notes. Not that there aren't Hollywood films that employ such filmmaking techniques, it's just that they are very few.

I liked the American but it is hard to say why I liked it. And that's the problem. European films always seem to unfold organically without a need to construct a plot. Traditional storytelling with no bells and whistles. No frozen shots, no unusual lighting, no face close ups. No unnecessary dramatization. What then is left to talk about? The story. I didn't like the film because of the storyline though. The film was made for the type of audience that doesn't care for fancy filmmaking tricks to tell the story. A bold way to make films nowadays. I guess that's why I like it.

I've seen quite a few European films. While I like a some of them (go rent "The Lives of Others" now) I have a hard time encouraging friends to see them.

How much longer will European films thrive by taking the traditional road of filmmaking? Asian, Indian, South American and even African films are trying to reinvent themselves with Hollywood style filmmaking. While that's not necessarily a good thing, it's not necessarily a bad thing either. There is a mass appeal for films that explore non-traditional ways of telling stories. It seems the European directors (I don't mean the ones that live in Hollywood) just don't want to experiment or couldn't be bothered.

Is there a market for European films abroad? It doesn't seem there is much of a market for them in the U.S.

[Acro]

I love the Spanish, Italian and French cinema. Some very good Greek movies in the past 10 years; the existence of very few distribution channels seems to be the problem. I don't think Bollywood can or should become a second Hollywood, although Slumdog Millionaire was exceptional.

[Infoproliferati]

OMG there is such a thing as Spanish cinema

Ok just joking. Can you make any recommendations for Spanish and Greek cinema? I've been watching way too many German and French films.

[Acro]

I will have to do some digging!

Spanish-speaking films are easier to gather, here are some of my favorites:

Y tu mamá también (Mexico)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/

Tacones Lejanos
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103030/

Abre los ojos
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125659/

Los cronocrimenes
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/

El laberito del fauno
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/

Mar adentro
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369702/

Hable con ella
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287467/

Atame!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101026/

[Infoproliferati]

I've seen Y tu mama tambien. I guess I'll have to check the others out. Thanks

[DexSmart]

Indeed the Usa Cinema is the best, but we cannot ignore the European Cinema, where we have some good artists!

[Infoproliferati]

Oh yes. Europe has and has had great filmmakers. Somehow it seems that European cinema adheres to a certain traditional code of filmmaking as I mentioned. As a result it is not as experimental as Hollywood. Experimental filmmaking will be key in the move making business as it becomes evermore so difficult in developing fresh or original ideas for films.