Movies portaiting cultures propperly

[Nacho]

Yesterday I was seeing "Wasabi" at TV. It's a french movie with Jean Reno, quite good, and it goes about a policeman going to Japan to protect his half japanese daughter.

I was seeing it and thinking "Wow, this japs really like the bright lights, dying his hair with silly colours, and the arcades..." But they I thought that the portait the french were making of the japanese youth could be totally wrong. So, I decided to ask before making myself a wrong idea.

So, Kinoko.. you are there. Is that "manga image" correct? Is there a movie which portaits well the nowadays japanese culture?

And the rest of you? Is there a famous movie which portaits well your culture? Post it here and explain why! Helm... Can you ask your older relatives if "Captain Corelli" is correct?

Is "crocodile dundee" a good movie about the people in the inside lands of Australia? Yes? No? Why? Is there any one better? "Muriel's wedding" is a good one?

Are there "Mr. Beans" in London?

About me... Not sure about good spanish movies, or movies about Spain which portait it propperly... If you can think in one and I've seen it, post it's name and I'll reply.

Thanks ^_^.

[bush_monkey]

Well, i can't speak for them but I've always believed that the "Volcano High" kids were a true representation of Korean youth 

[Chicky]

Sean of the dead = england

[Radiant]

Sean of the dead = england

How about Trainspotting?

Oh and for the record Pulp Fiction != Netherlands.

[biothlebop]

Isn't Almodóvar spanish? Only read a book by him though.

[Vince Twelve]

Kinoko's not the only Japanite here, y'know...  Jean Reno is pretty popular here and "Wasabi" is a pretty well known movie among Japanese people, and not because they think it misrepresents the culture.  I haven't seen it myself, but from what you describe, it's fairly typical of big cities in Japan.  "Cool" guys here often try to style their hair like anime characters.  Arcades are also really popular, and not just with nerdy people.  High school girls go in there too (mostly to take these little "print club" picture stickers that are really popular).  There are lots of seizure-inducing lights and loud noises all over the place.  So, yeah, at least that part is fairly accurate.  I'd wager that they shot the film in Japan, yeah?  That would mean that at least the settings, if not the characters, are realistic.

[Kinoko]

What Vince said ^_- He's been here longer than me anyway.

I live in a little village where youth above high school age doesn't exist and noone dyes their hair. There's no arcade, and no bright lights besides pachinko. But if we're talking Tokyo, sounds like the movie may be doing a decent job of representing the livelier suberbs.

[Helm]

I don't know any greeks so I can't answer your question, Farlander. I can tell you this, though: Cannibal Holocaust = Helm way of life

[Babar]

Hahah...If I believed everything I took from movies, I'd think that:

-You can actually "get the girl" by "checking her out" at the local eatery for 10 minutes

-ALL male-female relationships will eventually turn sexual

-Racism was something that finished sometime in the 70s

Farl, are all Spanish girls really that hot looking?

[Nikolas]

And Helm is not the only Greek here.

You cannot believe all the Hollywood says, but still everything is based somewhere.

In the case of Capten Corelli, I know for a fact that Italians were not hated as much as the Gremans were, and actually there had been relationships Greek women with Italian sholdiers. Of course Greek people did not speak English... but anyhow...

[Nacho]

Almodóvar is Spanish, yeah. And, whereas the critics, the media and the intellectuallity seem to love him, the public in general don't do. I can say that there are exceptions, and you might not think that everybody who says he's good is an hypocrit, but general public preffer some other directors, like Amenábar.

If I am told to say a film which portaits Spain propperly, I think I can say "La vaquilla".

It's a film about the spanish civil war. But it's not a war movie. The republicans are in the trenches, bored, writing letters and generally doing nothing. Then, the loudspeakers in a village in the vicinity, under the control of the Nationals, says that it's going to be a "corrida" in honor of the Virgin of August. So, the republicans decide to form a 5-man commando to capture the animal and have meat, because there is a serious lack of food in the republican army. Imagine the situations of this commando. Very funny. Very inspiring about how stupid civil wars are. I recommend it.

[LimpingFish]

If I see another American movie about Ireland, where everybody has red hair, 90% of the population is called "Mary" or "Seamus", everybody owns at least ONE cow, every pub has a fiddle player and a fight always spontaneously erupts at the end of the night, and people can't go five minutes without mentioning "Tir Na Nog" or "The Fairys", I may eat my own face! 

Ireland is a far duller, depressing, and "Urbanized" country than Hollywood would have you believe.

[Renal Shutdown]

You're just saying that because you leave the house less than I do.

[SSH]

How about Trainspotting?

I don't think Trainspotting was ever supposed to represent England

[Nacho]

SSH, I am not asking for movies intending to represent cultures. Just movies which do it, even without attempting.

[Las Naranjas]

Which would be impressive for a film which could, by way of analogy with SSH's complaint, be based in Lisbon and represent Spain.

[Nacho]

I don't understand... which was the country represented in Trainspotting?

[LimpingFish]

Scotland.

I think...

[Nacho]

Ok, I see SSH's complain now... And now, I am interested... Are there really Mr. Beans in London?

Because a friend of mine says there are, but I am skeptic.

[Becky]

Farlander: No, there aren't.  I don't know anyone that acts like Mr Bean, in London or out.