What to Watch This Quarantine: Foreign Movies

As many of us are stuck indoors for extended periods of time, the only options for entertainment are streaming.  Now that we have been quarantined for a very extended period, you might be running out of your normal movies to watch. Luckily, we have you covered with some foreign films that might provide you new perspectives and let you visit places and see cultures you wouldn't normally see.   

El Amor Menos Pensado (HBO) - Mature Intelligent Romantic Comedy
This highly rated Latin comedy received praise for its mature writing, funny subject matter, and intelligent observations on life and romance.

Furie (Netflix) - Martial Arts Action
An intense martial arts action movie about a mother trying to track down her kidnapped child before it is too late, this one had heart, suspense, and most importantly, very good martial arts fighting.

Gully Boy (Amazon) - Uplifting Hip Hop Drama
Gully Boy is an absolute treat, a film about underground Indian hip hop that has good messages, charming characters, and a ton of great hip hop.  This one is one of my favorite foreign films I have seen in recent memory. 

Parasite (Hulu) - Intense Psychological Thriller
Parasite is like having two films in one, and the combination of the two results in a suspenseful, methodical story that has some interesting characters and plenty of surprises.  For more information, check out our review!

Photograph (Amazon) - Touching Romantic Drama

From the director of The Lunchbox--one of my favorite foreign films in recent memory--comes another unlikely romantic tale.  In it, a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee during a family visit, which leads to more than either of the pair expected.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Hulu) - Understated Romantic Drama

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is an understated masterpiece, with wonderful acting, superb sounds throughout, and a story that will paint a wonderful movie picture for you.  For more information, check out our review!

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (Amazon) - Fun Bollywood RomCom
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is both an important milestone for Bollywood and an enjoyable Rom-Com with great performances, laugh out loud moments, and a strong message that should not be missed.  For more information, check out our review!

Street Dancer 3 (Amazon) - Fun Dancing Action
Street Dancer 3D takes on the world with intense and grandiose dance battles from some immensely talented performers.  For more information, check out our review!

War (Amazon) - Explosions Biceps Action
War has two charismatic stars, plenty of explosions, biceps, big action, and enough fun to keep entertained for its two and a half hour duration.  For more information, check out our review!

Review: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Release date: February 21, 2020
Running time: 117 minutes
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Gajraj Rao

Ayushmann Khurrana seems to always be pushing the boundaries of Bollywood.  He recently played a man whose feminine voice led him to a career as a phone companion.  And now he is headlining the first Gay Rom-Com Bollywood film.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.  In Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, two gay men Kartik (Khurrana) and Aman (Kumar) go to Aman's sister's wedding.  The two have been living together in the city but are forced to face Aman's traditional and conservative family.  Early on, some bad timing revels their relationship and how the family and the two men react to this and the subsequent conflicts form the basis of the movie.
  

One thing I have learned from Khurrana is that he throws himself into his roles, with this film being no exception.  Khurrana fully embraces his role as a gay man and really drives this film.  Although the conflict is with Aman's family, Kartik is the main provoker and really pushes all involved to confront their discomfort with homosexuality.  But since this is also a Rom-Com, Khurrana's comic chops are put on display as well.  And although this isn't a constantly funny film, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments in the movie.  The film has a nice balance of seriousness and comedy to keep the story going but also to release the tension if it builds up.    

One thing I appreciated about this film is that it does not shy away from the gay relationship of the two main characters.  The two's relationship is clear from the beginning, and despite Aman's fear of sharing who he is with his family, his homosexuality is brought to the family's attention early in the film.  And despite this, the film still approaches the subject of homosexuality with enough care and humor to make an entertaining story.  There are several moments where Kartik or Aman are explaining to their older parents and relatives how they cannot change who they are, and questions whether they ever had to make a "choice" to be heterosexual.  And the film attacks the age divide well, touching upon the issue of societal expectations versus doing what makes you happy.  And despite tackling all these issues, the film itself is focused for a Bollywood movie.  The runtime is short and the situation is not dragged out like in some Hindi films. 

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is both an important milestone for Bollywood and an enjoyable Rom-Com with great performances, laugh out loud moments, and a strong message that should not be missed. 

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