12 Santa Frei International Movies to Stream During the Holidays

For those of you tired of the usual holiday movie diet of silly bells, snowflakes and sugar plum fairies, The Hollywood ReporterThe international team has curated a menu of new foreign films, currently available for screening in the US, that offer something for more refined cinema.

Whether your taste is Irish hip-hop or Mexican musicals, Austrian horror or Danish romance, family-friendly Thai comedy, or adult-only Australian animation, we’ve got you covered for those long winter nights.

Bunnell and Adamah (Stream/Rent: Apple, Amazon, Fandango)

French-Senegalese director Ramata-Toule Sai’s daring debut illuminates the complexities of love and identity in a Romeo-and-Juliet-style story set in rural Senegal. Featuring captivating performances from Khadi Mane and Mamadou Diallo as the titular couple, Bunnell and Adamah Combines rich, humane storytelling with stunning visuals to conjure up a deeply imagined world. While the director’s spin may not be to everyone’s taste, the film still has a lot to say about community, gender roles, and the climate crisis. And does so beautifully.

Crossing (Stream/Rent: Mobi, Apple, Amazon, Fandango)

A profound story of queer identity and trans acceptance set against the backdrop of the vibrant streets of Istanbul, Leon Akin’s Georgian/Turkish drama. Crossing won the hearts of audiences at the Berlin Film Festival with its beautiful story of a Georgian woman (played by the brilliant Georgian actor Mazia Arboli) who teams up with the brother of one of her former students to track down her errant trans niece. She travels to Turkey. . Eloquent and affecting, Akin’s short story-telling brings emotional depth to an open-ended conclusion that resonates with universal themes of family and change.

Devil’s Bath (Stream/Rent: Shudder, AMC+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Fandango)

Devil’s Bath An intense historical psychological drama from Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the directing team behind such atmospheric horror stories. good night mom And Lodge. Inspired by true stories of women driven to extremes in 18th-century Austria, it’s more psychological horror than gory slasher (though things get a lot bloodier in the final reel).

Don’t expect too much from the end of the world (Stream/Rent: Mobi, Apple)

Radu Jude’s provocative Romanian film is a cinematic firecracker—explosive, funny, and infuriating in equal measure. Blending biting satire with social commentary, it explores work, capitalism, and misogyny through the lens of an overworked production assistant (a hilariously laconic Ilinca Manolache), whose life and Struggle Jude connects with another exploited working woman, who is the main character in the film. Framot, 1981 Romanian drama Angela is moving on.. Winner of the Locarno Jury Prize, this bold essayistic film is radical and often dark but, even at a nearly 3-hour runtime, never bores.

Fallen leaves (Stream/Rent: Mobi, Apple)

Aki Kaurismäki’s gloomy yet optimistic Finnish essence tells a tender story of love found in the midst of loneliness. With nods to cinematic greats like Ozu and Bresson (and plenty of references to his own impressive cinematic canon); Fallen leaves It’s a charmingly minimalist, deeply human tale of two lonely souls: a middle-aged alcoholic – “I’m depressed because I drink and I drink because I’m depressed” – played by Josie Vatanen, and a super Played by a market worker (Alma Pöyti) who comes together against all odds. A pure piece of deadpan bliss for true cinephiles.

Emilia Perez (Stream/Rent: Netflix)

Jack Audiards Emilia PerezAn Oscar front-runner, there’s an inexplicable genre mashup — a Mexican transgender crime musical directed by a Frenchman — that boldly explores themes of gender identity and trans liberation. Featuring transformative performances from Spanish trans actress Carla Sofía Gascon, and revelatory turns from Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez, most all-singing, all-dancing extravaganzas are best experienced on the big screen, but Audiard’s audacious story is more than any other. Shines on the platform.

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Stream/Rent: Netflix)

The only family-friendly film on this list, this blockbuster comedy from Thailand is perfect holiday fare: a funny, ultimately heartwarming tale of family, ambition and redemption. A scheming young man – played by pop singer-turned-actor Pothipong Asaratnakul aka Bulkin – quits his job (as a failed video game streamer) to take care of his dying grandmother, hoping that her Will be named in the will and will inherit his fortune. From this predictable setup, Pat Boonnitipat spins a tender and funny tale of mortality, personal growth, and learning to accept loved ones with all their flaws.

Knee cap (Stream/Rent: Apple TV+, Fandango, Microsoft, Spectrum)

This Irish-language comedy is hardly family-friendly (the F- and C-bombs alone rule it out for underage viewing), but Rich Pippiatt’s fictional story is loosely based on the real-life story of Irish hip-hop band Kinkap. . , a must watch for adults. A heartwarming story of two working-class drug dealers who team up with a local schoolteacher to form an Irish-language hip-hop band, Knee cap It’s your typical feel-good, rags-to-riches story, with lots of ketamine.

La Chamra (Stream/Rent: Apple, Hulu, Fandango, Microsoft, Spectrum, Amazon)

Alice Rohrwacher’s visually stunning La Chamra Dives into the world of Italian tomb robbers, blending folklore, realism and mysticism. Acting Challengers Starring heartthrob Josh O’Connor as a sadistic grave raider with a knack for finding hidden treasures, the film explores themes of love, loss and the morality of history. A lyrical and thoughtful addition to Rohrwacher’s extraordinary body of work.

Memoir of a Snail (Stream/Rent: Apple TV+, Fandango, Amazon)

An Australian soil wonder, Memoir of a Snail A strange but fascinating tale of memory, loss, and the peculiarities of human (and snail) behavior. Directed by Adam ElliottMary and Max) and featuring voice performances by Sarah Snook and Jackie Weaver, this epic tale of grief, loneliness and longing follows a gastropod-obsessed misfit and his lost pyromaniac twin brother. With twists of tragic, comedic and realistic, it’s not for kids either, but fans of hand-drawn animation – the film doesn’t have a single frame of CG imagery – are in for a treat.

perfect day (Stream/Rent: Hulu, AppleTV+)

Anyone wondering what to be thankful for this holiday season should watch this tender Japanese drama by German master Wim Wenders. Koji Yakusho shines as a middle-aged Tokyo man who finds solace in routine and small pleasures. The film unfolds as a poetic meditation on the quiet beauty of everyday life, slowly assembling the tenderly observed fragments of life into a profound account of one man’s struggle to find peace and contentment. Create an active account.

The Promised Land (Stream/Rent: Apple, Hulu, Hoopla, Amazon, Fandango, Microsoft)

Nikolaj Arcel’s “Nordic Western” depicts Mads Mikkelsen as a low-born military man in 18th-century Denmark who fights against harsh odds, the elements, class prejudices and cruel landowners on the wild Jutland heath. Determined to cultivate. As grand and stirring as John Ford’s story, this is a historical epic to curl up on those cold winter nights.

The taste of things (Stream/Rent: Apple, Hulu)

This 19th-century foodie romance, France’s official Oscar submission last year, was overshadowed by Justin Triet. Anatomy of a FallBut Tran Anh Hùng’s story of Eugénie (Juliette Binoche), the right-hand woman, and long-time lover, of top chef Dudin (Benoît Magimel), is still a visual and gastronomic delight. A wonderful feel good treat for the holidays. Don’t just watch on an empty stomach.