Jared Marchant

The most impactful early experience with International Cinema was Ikiru. I think part of why it was in particular really meaningful was because it was It's a Wonderful Life but even better, and I realized I don't have watch a movie in a my own language to get something out of it. It was a similar film but even better. 

Julia Gehring

I’m not sure what my first one was because I know my mom showed us a lot of French ones growing up.  I think one of the first was that movie My Fathers Glory (I think it was called that). I remember thinking it was cool that I could understand a little of the French and also read along with it. It was a good time. However when I watched Spirited Away the first time as a child I was literally terrified and didn’t watch it again till 19. I don’t think it was the language difference, I just was really scared.

Harrison Koford

First international film I saw was Seven Samurai.  It’s one of my dad’s fav films and he shared it with me when I was 10. Loved it.

Ethan Knowlton

I really didn't start getting into international films until I was in college.  Oh Jiro Dreams of Sushi. It was the first movie I actively endorsed that was subtitled.  The first documentary I saw that was like not boring. It was cool to see a little piece of the world that I would not have known about if I had not seen the movie. 

Samuel Dallon

My first experience with international cinema was when we watched Ирония Судьбы in a Russian class. It was kind of weird, and occasionally difficult to understand, but it was generally enjoyable.

Aric Walker

So the first international films I saw were at BYU's int. cinema; not sure of what was first. Enjoyed the different viewpoints and also that they don't always have a happy ending like most american films do.

Megan Pickett 

Pans Labyrinth: I was like 12 at my house with my parents. I freaking loved it but also was terrified out of my mind. But. Definitely peaked my curiosity in movies from other cultures.

Chad Gehring 

I saw a French film called My Father's Glory with Susan at BYU and I really enjoyed it. Before that I had only seen old Godzilla movies. Needless to say, it opened my eyes to film. I ended up taking a film as art class and found myself in a wonderful world of Bergman, Rossellini, and Truffaut. I love foreign films now!

Whitney Kinnison

My first international film I went to a Swedish movie with my cousin. It was an assignment for his class. But it turned out to be a Swedish opera and we left after 10 minutes because we couldn’t take the opera aspect😂

Beth Christensen

When I was little I saw Cinema Paradiso and hearing Italian instead of English put me out of my comfort zone a little, especially when something intense happened because it was harder for me to tell what was going on. So since following dialogue and plot is easier now than then, just in general, I’m definitely more able to enjoy international films more these days.

Shane Huang: 

I remember watching Castle in the Sky as a kid and being encapsulated by the pure sense of adventure and the really cool world

Arissa Watkins: 

I can’t remember the first international films I’ve seen, but after my mission I ended up watching a bunch of Armenian movies with some friends and I really enjoyed it. I think a lot of foreign films have a much different outlook on life than mainstream American movies. It was refreshing and a bit sad to watch those movies. Also I saw Parasite last night (!!)

Parker Gehring

While I am sure I saw some international film before this point, my Dad showed me The 400 Blows and The Grand Illusion when I a teenager.  I quite liked The Grand Illusion as it had a plot that was a bit easier to follow than The 400 Blows (although that movie has since become one of my favorite films).  Overall, I was grateful for the experience of watching both as they helped me to begin expanding my cinematic world view. 

 

Karina Orton 

Pretty sure it’s the Bollywood film Lagaan. My mom loves it and showed it to us as kids. She even had the soundtrack on CD. I was a big fan (still am), especially of the musical numbers.

Suzette Payne 

Probs "Life is Beautiful" in my sophomore English class. ‘Twas a nice film and a nice experience. Big fan.

Anne Gehring Radcliffe

This may not be my first, but the only one I can remember! Your uncle took me to see The Red Balloon at BYU somewhere. I was not interested in seeing a foreign film, but ended up loving it!

Мария Усанова 

О, мой первый фильм был Терминатор 😁 Мы смотрели в подвале, где кто-то показывал через видеомагнитофон на телевизоре за деньги иностранные фильмы 😁 тёмная комната, люди, впервые смотрящие подобный фильм, я, подросток, с мыслями: может ли что-то подобное сюжету фильма произойти в жизни... В общем, вот.

Naomi Allan Hathaway 

Babette's Feast was one I watched with my mom when I was young. I loved the International Cinema at BYU. I still look for movie ideas from their website.

Илья Демьянов

Первый иностранный фильм который я посмотрел, если я правильно помню, был сериал "все реки текут". Я был очень маленький, где-то 4-5 лет мне было. Меня впечатлил главный герой, было интересно, пароходы которых я никогда не видел, иностранная речь, что-то неуловимое в их лицах, что говорило, что они иностранцы. Не смотря на то, что сериалы это так себе занятие для маленького ребёнка, я смотрел и более того так сильно был под впечатлением от главного героя, что нарисовал его портрет.

Michael Walker: 

I've seen so many. The Red Balloon comes to mind (Le Balon Rouge): Touching and introspective. Also Le Gloire de mon pere. 

Tamara Patterson: 

I was searching Tv for movies in the middle of the afternoon while living in Germany and came across (Bollywood film) “The Lunch Box.” Decided to watch it and I was glued to the end.  

                                   

This movie brought out the best romance, intrigue, fantasy, and silent friendship ; yet brought a nice message to learn from too.

Susan W. Gehring: 

One of my first international films was “Le gloire de mon père.” I watched at BYU. For me, its warmth and child-like wonder was like a warm summer breeze, including all the things I love about France. I enjoyed see the scenery and Marcel Pagnol’s childhood memories in vivid colors.  Beautiful!!

On a side note, I actually saw “Back to the Future” in Brussels, Belgium for the first time, making it “an international film.”😂