Films for English Speakers

Though The Apartment seems to be a harmless comedy, it is in fact a subversive and sharp look at Cold War corporate puritan America. Billy Wilder presents one of the most bittersweet, painful, and beautiful comedies ever made. 

Bailey, living with her father and brother in northern England, seeks escape when her father announces his marriage. After meeting a strange character, Bailey embarks on a journey that forces her to grow up. Andrea Arnold’s film blends realism with fantastical elements, showcasing her unique filmmaking style.

After witnessing the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, two musicians flee Chicago, posing as members of an all-girl band. Mayhem ensues as both fall for Sugar Cane and try to keep their true identities hidden. One of the best and most loved comedies of all time.

Mikhalkov’s nostalgic epic takes place during the 19th century and tells about a retired thirty-something civil servant whose life is suddenly disturbed by two major events. The film effectively captures the spirit of the decadent age preceding the Russian Revolution. 

Tamara and Adam, a chaotic couple expecting a child, face eviction in Tel Aviv. Tamara searches for a new home in Adam’s hometown, Haifa, sparking a wild day that reveals the depth of their passionate, turbulent relationship.

Spike Lee's powerful film centers on an Italian pizzeria, which acts as a Caucasian and archaic settlement in the heart of an African-American neighborhood, when racial tensions explode on the hottest day of the year. Lee’s brilliant, enjoyable, and enthralling film seems as relevant as ever. 

An American woman visits Venice for the first time but feels lonely. She meets a local man in Piazza San Marco, and despite his marriage, they spend a few happy days together. Summertime offers a poignant cinematic experience, with a standout performance by Katharine Hepburn.

A government scheme sees newly widowed Santosh inherit her husband’s job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a low-caste girl is found raped and murdered, she is pulled into the investigation under the wing of charismatic feminist inspector Sharma.

After falling out with his editor, a sharp political journalist is forced to interview America’s most popular soap actress. What starts out as a boring and frustrating interview turns into an intellectual battle of wits, desires, and deep, dark secrets.

Christian Vincent’s debut film, a funny and clever work with clear Truffautian influences, follows romantic Antoine as he documents his courtship of an ugly girl. She in the end turns out to be beautiful and he sympathetic.

On September 16, 1977, Maria Callas was found dead in her Paris home. Maria revisits her final week—ill, addicted to sedatives, and lost in memories. Pablo Larraín crafts a poetic, emotionally resonant portrait, enriched by operatic passages and a powerful lead performance.

A television news crew documents a serious malfunction at a nuclear plant in California during an earthquake. The head engineer investigates the incident, grappling with his professional conscience. The China Syndrome is a superb film that skillfully blends ethical questions with an effective thriller.