Ok... so because I need an updated movie list and it appears a few other do... here goes...
Favorite European Movies or TV series...
There are new posters here as well as new films and TV series, so let's hear it!
(like I already don't waste enough time watching films about Europe!)
Kitchen Stories
http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B06E3DA103DF933A15751C0A9629C8B63
Folke (Tomas Norstrom), an expert from Sweden's Home Research
Institute, is part of a project to track the domestic habits of
Norwegian bachelors. He is in and out of the home of one of the
study's subjects, Isak (Joachim Calmeyer), a bizarre codger who pads
around his tiny, uncomfortable house in a remote village. Isak turns
the tables at night by slipping into his attic and spying on the
lonely Folke, who is housed in a trailer on Isak's property.
The Jewish Cardinal, a drama based on the life of Jean-Marie Lustiger, former Archbishop of Paris-born a Jew in Poland 1926.
The Great Beauty, an aging one hit author savors his life in Rome. Incredible photography and soundtrack, won Oscar for best foreign film last year.
Nicky's Family, documentary about British stockbroker Sir Nicholas Winton, who worked to save the lives of nearly 700 Czech and Slovak children just prior to WW2.
The Past, excellent modern day drama of a French woman and her estranged Iranian husband, stars Berenice Bejo (The Artist).
Barbara, cold-war drama set in 1980 East Germany.
Renoir, great film about the artist and his young model.
The Welldiggers Daughter, drama set in Provence, 1914 or so. Daniel Auteuil.
Bicycling With Moliere, loved this film!
All Together, five aging French friends live together instead of in a retirement home, very good.
A Year in Burgundy, documentary about several French wine making families.
The Grocer's Son, estranged son returns to southern France to take over his fathers mobile grocery business.
Kings of Pastry, interesting doc about the process of becoming a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, or MOF.
The Women on the 6th Floor, slice of life for a well to do family and their Spanish maids.
Girl on a Bicycle, lightweight French comedy about a Parisian tour bus driver and the...girl on a bicycle.
Heartlands, this 2002 Michael Sheen film is a classic imho.
Headhunters, this 2011 Norwegian film is not for the faint of heart; spectacular action movie, and I don't say that often.
edit: Kitchen Stories is excellent!
Oh, and don't forget Mic Macs!
...and we watched An American in Paris the other night and loved it, it's the complete package.
Dave & Edgar... glad I asked... lots of these are new to me:)
I think the Harry Potter flims and Dr. Who shows were on the other list too
so for new movies/tv shows how about Game of Thrones. It is filmed in N. Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, and now Spain. Very adult subject matter/ lots of violence but beautiful locations.
Outlander is flimed in Scottland but I have not been able to watch it yet but I hear it is very good.
Hmm what else...
3 Days to Kill, action movie located in Paris starring Kevin Costner (not his best movie but it has its moments)
Any of the Taken movies starring Liam Neeson.
Just to add a few
J
How about a link to the old list?
The Golden Door - Sicilian emigration to the U.S. in the early 1900s
Pane e Tulipani - Italian romantic comedy
The American - George Clooney; great scenery in Abbruzzo
"All Things Bright and Beautiful" would certainly make my top 10 of beautiful scenery on film.
Quiet Man
Ryan's Daughter
Leap Year
My favorite Italian film: Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch). Sweet, funny story with beautiful Roman Trastevere background. And I second Laurel's choices, although I'm not familiar with the George Clooney one - yet!
James. Don't know how to link the old list but it was outstanding. I printed the whole thing out and have shared with so many friends. Lots of new ones here:)
Highly recommend the movie I watched yesterday afternoon. "The Trip" in which two English comedians (Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon) take a three-day road trip/restaurant tour through the Lake District of England. Funny stuff. Great country inns they stay in. Beautiful scenery of the Lake District. Bolton Abbey ruins. They stop at the home of poet William Wordsworth, Dove Cottage, which is lovely. Apparently, there was a British TV series called The Trip which aired only in Great Britain, and the movie is made from the best clips of the TV series.
The two made a second movie, The Trip to Italy, in 2014.
TV Series (favorite - not new):
Little Britain (the original seasons from the UK - not Little Britain USA from HBO).
Father Ted
New Films:
Pride
Copenhagen
Terry Kathryn and James, Here are the links to the old movie threads:
Favorite European Film, posted by TK:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/favorite-european-film
Found this also:
Movies For An English State Of Mind, posted by Kay on 1/5/13:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-north/movies-for-an-english-state-of-mind
Enjoy! I really enjoyed reading through these two threads.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) while searching for the above movie threads, I found these old threads. I nominate all three threads as possibly funniest of all time here:
Capri Pants For Men (goes off-topic for awhile to discuss the singing group ABBA):
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/capri-pants-for-men
Hula Hoop Lady: (note: all posts by George from Ottawa have been
removed, even the one where he accuses us of being one big Coffee Klatch):
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/hula-hoop-lady
And the following posted by Nigel:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/schedule-and-preparation-for-discussions
Rebecca... I remember the Capri Pants... it was really funny. It would be a great series of photographs...
The Men in Capri!
I think the Hoop lady was before my time, but I will have to read it for a laugh.
I talked about the Spanish TV show 'Velvet' on another post but thought I should add it here. Subtitled, romantic and often quirky show depicting forbidden love between the classes. Upper class family in Madrid who are owners of a beautiful Art Décor department store in the mid 50s... clothing, music and scenery are all beautiful. It was produced by the same people who did another great Spanish series Grand Hotel. Both are on Netflix... awaiting next seasons on both.
Also... all time favorite... Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries... addictive and with a million dollar budget per episode you can only imagine the clothing and scenery. Australian TV series.
"...so let's hear it!"
This is a relatively recent film, a real comedy with all the cultural cues, on the Belgians and the French: "Rien à declarer" There is a German dubbed version called "Nichts zu verzollen" But seeing it in the original is better.
In light of WW 1, specifically the year 1914: "Joyuex Noel" (a Franco-German co-production)
The movie "Il Postino" (The Postman). Italian language, English language subtitles. Filmed at a small island located near the southwest corner of Italy. This movie is quiet, mostly calm, it moves at a steady slow pace. I suggest : do not see the last five minutes of it : it has a violent scene that is not relevant to the movie. This movie is not the American movie "The Postman" that Kevin Costner was in.
Rik from Vicenza mentioned this one in the old thread, but "Euro Trip" still cracks me up.
The Love Punch - Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson in Paris/French Riviera for a rom-com/heist movie
Copenhagen - great views of the city but may be distasteful to some as it's about a 28 year old man who falls in love with a 14 y.o. (Nothing happens)
Populaire- Romain Duris movie where he coaches his secretary to win a typing competition ( takes pace in the 50s/60s)
Really, anything with Romain Duris in it for French movies. :)
The Grocer's Son. - man has to go home and take care of his father's business while he is sick
The Closet - office worker who coworkers think is gay; he goas along with it.
I found most of these on either Netflix or Amazon Prime if anyone is interested.
Venice: Some Guido Brunetti mysteries by American author Donna Leon have been made into a video series. This production is in German (with English subtitles) set in Venice. The scenery & palazzo visits are amazing, if you don't mind Italian characters not speaking Italian. We prefer the actor who plays Brunetti in episodes 5 and after. Found these DVDs at the local library.
I swear, every time I see the title of this thread I think I'm going to find a discussion of adult flics. It hasn't happened.
As everyone is aware , " The Grand Budapest Hotel " is up for best film . Since the release I have watched this film often ,and love it more each time . It's very funny . it's true , but the story goes far deeper - About a world that is already gone when the the film starts , the level of detail in the film is truly extraordinary . Do not miss this .
I agree, steven, Grand Budapest was very entertaining. I was interested to find this from the New York Times about the miniatures used for the exterior hotel shots, we saw the Museum of Miniature and Cinema this year in Lyon, it was amazing too:
Hi,
Does a one have any suggestions for Belgium and Holland/Netherlands (where I'll be traveling this summer). I know about In Bruges, of course, but any others?
Thanks everyone, :)
The HBO mini series "Rome". It will give life to the history of Julius Ceasar and Ceasar Augustus and make it much easier to understand the rise and fall of the Roman Empire which all other European history revolves around. After watching it I found myself reading about history with a much better comprehension since I could relate it to the characters in the show. Stumbling upon a historical site in Rome and reading a plaque with the name of a historical character from the show gave it so much more meaning than just reading a name .
Here's yet another old thread about movies with European settings: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/european-movies-40-part-2-41
Just found another Pierce Brosnan movie: Love is All You Need: Widower meets aDanish woman while visiting his Itsly for his son's wedding
Loving the Pierce Brosnan lately! YUM!
Steven.... love Wes Anderson and the film... disappointed that it was a miniature and I can't go there!
I just finished watching a British TV series that was shown on the Starz network called "The Missing". While not very uplifting (about a child abduction), it was quite good. It's set in London and a small town near Lille, France.
The Killing (Forbydelsen) Danish, Borgen (about Danish politics), The Bridge (Bron) also Danish, Wallander - both the Swedish and British versions, Hinterland (BBC Welsh production), Happy Valley, MI-5, Sherlock BBC series and Robert Downey, Jr. films, Crossing Lines, Midsomer Murders, Transsiberian, I'm sure this has been mentioned -- The Bourne Trilogy, Lust For Life, The Agony and the Ecstasy, Valkyrie, The Book Thief, Munich, Casino Royale
Mediterraneo captures what I travel for -- serenity, beauty, letting down one's guard and becoming a part of another culture.
And for a hilarious look at how NOT to travel in Europe, follow Worldwind Tour #225, a nine country, eighteen day bus trip from London to Rome, in If It's Tuesday This Must Be Belgium.
I forgot Monument's Men. Although, I would highly recommend reading the books Monument's Men and Saving Italy by Robert Edsel first. And along those lines, The Rape of Europa, also about the Nazi pillaging of art throughout Europe. It's a documentary, but it's very good. Ok, I'll stop......
Terry Kathryn , In a sense you actually can ! Just on the way out to Met Opera to see " The Merry Widow " , I'll write more later . Have to stop on the way home to pick up a few Courtesans au Chocolat ; ---)
Chiming in as a member and not a moderator...
Movies that put me in the mood to travel are ones that happen to feature great locations. For example, even if you don't like Star Wars 1-3, the lake shots of Naboo are in the Italian Lakes District (Lake Como?). Don't like action? French Kiss is a classic rom/com featuring Paris and the south of France.
Definitely avoid watching Taken before traveling... especially if you have children... unless you have a special set of skills.
If you liked the latest Die Hard movie, first you need help; second you might enjoy spotting all of the "Moscow" locations in Budapest.
One of the Bourne movies spends some time in Paris, Jason Bourne is to meet someone on the pont Neuf in Paris. I have watched it many times.
I agree that the Grand Budapest Hotel is great.
I have seen Zen, set in Italy on tv but I cannot remember if it was PBS or BBC.
Love the topic! Great info, so many movies to see!
Terry Kathryn ( and anyone else with an interest ) " The Grand Budapest Hotel " , was filmed in and around Goerlitz , Germany and Zgorzelec , Poland and can be visited . Here are a few links which will prove enjoyable for admirers of Monsieur Gustave -----------http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/g/Grand-Budapest-Hotel.html#.VL_l6rA5CUk ---------------http://youtu.be/gYMfEKELveQ
La Meglio Gioventu` and 1900, yeah i love long movies.
Just finished watching "In Brugge". What lovely scenery they show in this film, as well being a great movie. Not sure how they got all the tourists out of the way to film this, but they must have gotten up at the crack of dawn.
European Vacation with Chevy Chase is silly but I love it anyway!
