Spring break rut cured with popcorn and cultural films

Laying in bed: unshowered, sweaty, eating cake pops, potato chips, and shuffling through Netflix. Over spring break, all the good TV series and movies were watched. Now, rather than continue to procrastinate with your eyes glued to a screen, there’s homework to do.

The big question is, “What to watch?”

The answer: “I’ve already watched everything good!”

However, this answer is wrong. It should be something like, “I’ve already watched all the good English-speaking movies!” because there are many foreign films worth watching. Some are really good, while others are only decent. To help sort out the terrible foreign films, and promote procrastination, here’s a list of movies that make reading subtitles worth it.

“Amélie”: This one is a French romantic drama, but with a lot of quirks. The movie is about a woman named Amélie who finds a box of treasures in her bathroom, behind a tile. The young girl returns the treasures to their original owner, and plays a bit of matchmaker. Amélie even solves a mystery in this movie. The beginning is a bit questionable, but by the middle of the movie you’ll be hooked. WARNING: Parents and roommates passing by the screen will also be hooked: Be prepared to make your room into a movie theater.

“Miss Granny”: Picture a know-it-all old woman who won’t stop shouting her opinion. Did you think of your grandma? This drama comedy from South Korea follows a widow who is about to be sent to a home for the elderly, but not before she is magically changed into a 20-year-old. Ms. Mal-soon had a rough beginning and now has the chance to do it all over. She must choose between being young again, or going back to being grandma. The ending is a surprise you’ll never expect.

“The Intouchables”: This true story follows the tale of a convict who becomes the caretaker of a wealthy quadriplegic. Driss is hired on for his strength to help Philippe, but soon the two become friends. Driss has family issues and Philippe deals with a wild daughter. It’s interesting to see how Philippe treats Driss even though he was just released from prison. The French movie is filled with humor and is recommended for everyone.

“The Hunt”: In this Danish movie, Lucas is a kindergarten teacher who lives a lonely life. It picks up when he receives custody of his son and finds a new love. When a young child makes a claim, Lucas faces charges of pedophilia. His life takes a plummet for the worse as no one trusts or believes him. Incredibly suspenseful, “The Hunt” will easily drive one crazy waiting for the end.

Remember, when there’s nothing good to watch in your native English tongue, switch to foreign films and don’t be afraid to read a few subtitles.