My Best Friend, a Patrice Leconte film with Daniel Autiel is lovely…… not out and out funny, but bitter/sweet…. tres French.
Two Days in Paris…recent but hilarious and feel good.
I really, really enjoyed Good Morning by Ozu. It paints a wonderful picture of childhood, and I’d definitely recommend watching it. http://www.criterion.com/films/624
how about some Shunji Iwai? Either Love Letter or Swallowtail Butterfly.
Send her Sandra Nettelbeck’s MOSTLY MARTHA. A pure comedy from start to finish. Both of you will never feel better.
cinema paradiso
Hors De Prix
Goodbye Lenin!
The Science of Sleep
L’Auberge Espagnole
Paris Je T’aime
For some good French comedy, go back a bit and pick up “The Tall Blond Man with One Brown Shoe”, a very funny ‘mistaken-identity’ spy film with some wonderful moments and a great veteran cast. There’s a bit of sex in the film, but nothing offensive, very lighthearted stuff.
I’m with you, most of my collection is serious or depressing. Here are some that come to mind that are more light-hearted.
Chungking Express
Porco Rosso
Playtime
Masculin Feminin
‘Une Femme est une Femme’ is wonderful, as is ‘Mon Oncle’.
You should watch a Lebanese film called, CARAMEL by female director Nadine Labak- who also stars in the film. It’s wonderful. Just watch it. I think especially women would appreciate this film, but it’s no chick flick.
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Young Girls of Rochefort (if you don’t mind a Jacques Demy musical)
Traffique
“…something like Amelie”?
How ‘bout ’Kamikaze Girls’ – offbeat, dreamlike Japanese girl-power flick, or something like that…
I’ll always have a soft spot for King of Hearts.
i, too, would recommend “king of hearts”. it’s one of the most charming films.
The Girl on the Bridge (Leconte)
I suggest you to try some Alex de la Iglesia’s films, my favourites are El día de la Bestia (the day of the beast), Acción Mutante, among others from him, really funny. One of the movies that use to bring me positive energy is the swedish “As it is In heaven”, by Kay Pollack.
Some of the earlier Godard films are not depressing. A lot of French New Wave is playful and fun.
Many films by Almodovar, Bunuel and Rohmer are lighthearted.
Also check out films like Mes petites amoureuses (Eustache), Same Old Song (Resnais) & 8 femmes (Ozon).
Wow! thanks guys, feels like these films don’t get as much talk around here, I haven’t heard of most of them so It’ll take me a while to sort them all. Ha, now I don’t eve know where to start, but its good to have this post to come back to. Hope it gives others good suggestions as well.
Hi there Micah- Life is Beautiful, though more mainstream, is a wonderful film as well.
Fanfan le Tulipe; Divorce Italian Style; there are others, but that’s a start
L’Auberge Espagnole [aka Euro Pudding]
and it’s sequel
Les Poupées Russes [aka The Russian Dolls] (both very cute)
Paris Je T’aime
Apres Vou
OSS 117: Le Caire nid d’espions
Priceless
Any of Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot movies – great fun!
Watch 2 Days In Paris!
Ozu’s Good Morning
Cornelius’ Passport to Pimlico (and any other Ealing title)
Tacchella’s Cousin, Cousine
I agree with Michelle about Hulot films. I think Delicatessen might fit the bill, although I’m not sure it’s uplifting. I like Juzo Itami’s Tampopo, but it’s not necessarily uplifting (but it is light-hearted and not a downer).
Amelie is much more depressing than any Tarkovsky or Godard film, i can tell you that.
The Band’s Visit (2007)
The Music teacher by Gérard Corbiau (1988).
The full monty
Potiche
Plot with a view
Drifting clouds
Making up!
Micah B
I read all the posts here, but this is one I need help on. My mom saw Amelie and really loved it. She knows Im into foreign films and asked me to recommend some like Amelie…I told her Id get back with her, cause my few hundred foreign films are all serious and/or depressing (Antonioni, Bergman, Godard, Tarkovsky….). Now Im racking my brain cause I’ve probably seen some, but just don’t remember :)
Im kinda in the mood to watch some great feel good Foreign movies too. Can you guys help.