In 2020, the acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, celebrated for his masterpiece “Parasite,” humorously shared a profound insight at the Golden Globe Awards. He remarked, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” For cinephiles worldwide, this moment resonated deeply. “Parasite,” an unconventional foreign-language film, not only captured the hearts of audiences in the United States but also clinched the prestigious Best Picture Oscar. It marked a historic moment in the 92-year history of the Oscars, as a non-English language film triumphed on the grandest stage. This milestone reminded us that cinema flourishes far beyond the boundaries of Hollywood and the United States.
Cinema, a narrative art form just over a century old, has become a global phenomenon. The breadth, influence, intricacies, and diversity of international cinema are boundless and cannot be contained within a single blog post. Our aim here is to provide you with a glimpse of this vast cinematic world and, hopefully, ignite your curiosity to explore it further. While we wish we could offer our community access to every film, constraints such as distribution, space, budget, and time make that impractical, at least for now. Nevertheless, our collection of world cinema is impressively diverse, thoughtfully curated, generous, and continually evolving. Just like everything else in our library, it exists in symbiosis with the vibrant community we serve.
Defining World Cinema:
When we refer to “world cinema,” we are encompassing films created outside the U.S. film industry. However, this distinction is not entirely straightforward, and categorizing world cinema solely as an alternative to Hollywood is problematic. For many years, Hollywood dominated global cinema, both in terms of style and commercial success. It was often perceived as the epicenter of filmmaking, with other cinematic endeavors considered peripheral or even in opposition. This perspective still holds sway to some extent, although it is gradually evolving for the better. The term “world cinema” has historically been used as a qualifier, akin to “world music” or “world literature,” implying something “other” or non-Western. Some scholars have rightfully criticized this as a “West versus the rest” binary, which oversimplifies the complexity of global cinema.
While these categories are limiting, they serve practical purposes. We assume that most of our patrons are familiar with and interested in U.S. cinema, which occupies a prominent place on our library’s shelves. “World cinema” serves as a convenient navigational tool, enabling you to discover films from regions beyond the United States. Ideally, our entire collection offers diverse perspectives and experiences that our community might not encounter otherwise.
A Positive Definition of World Cinema:
Embracing film scholar Lucia Nagib’s more positive definition of world cinema offers a broader, more inclusive, and democratic perspective. Nagib challenges the limitations of the “Hollywood/West versus the rest” binary and reframes world cinema as a truly global cinema with no central (Hollywood/Western) authority, encompassing all cinematic approaches. This pluralistic approach allows for the telling of diverse histories and the exploration of various cultural perspectives.
The Early Days of Cinema:
Cinema made its debut in the 1890s as a novelty form of entertainment, with audiences gathering to watch static shots of various subjects. Among the earliest-known films are those created by the French Lumière brothers in 1895, depicting workers leaving their workplace during a lunch break.
In these early years, the United States had the largest cinema market. It wasn’t until around 1905 that cinema started to expand internationally. Italy, France, and Denmark were among the major contributors to early cinema, and many films exhibited in the U.S. during the early 20th century came from Europe, particularly France. The Hollywood “studio system” didn’t take root until around 1910. Initially, many films viewed by American audiences were produced by and imported from other countries.
The Advent of Sound:
After more than 40 years of silent cinema, the introduction of synchronized sound in 1927 was a groundbreaking innovation. While initially disruptive, sound quickly gained acceptance worldwide and had a profound impact on filmmaking. For world cinema, especially in countries aiming to distribute their films in the U.S., language became a significant barrier.
Post-WWII Expansion:
After World War II, filmmaking flourished in countries worldwide. By 1955, nearly 60% of films were produced outside the U.S., Europe, and the USSR, with Japan leading the way. India, Hong Kong, Mexico, and other nations contributed to this global cinematic surge. Additionally, countries like Burma (now Myanmar), Pakistan, South Korea, and the Philippines began producing films at an unprecedented pace. Many of these films reflected their cultures, and some nations were experiencing their first taste of postcolonial freedom or rebuilding after the devastation of war, using cinema to define or redefine their identities.
Regrettably, many of these films are difficult to access today, having been lost, destroyed, or archived and rarely screened. Nevertheless, post-WWII marked a renaissance for world cinema in the United States, with more films finding distribution and achieving box office success.
World Cinema from the 1960s to the Present:
The 1960s ushered in a wave of new cinematic movements and cultures, including the French New Wave, English Free Cinema, Dogme 95, New Iranian Cinema, Bollywood, and Nollywood. This period saw the emergence of more personal, independent, idiosyncratic, political, and radical filmmaking styles.
Cinema’s Evolution:
Cinema, a relatively young art form, is still evolving and continues to be written and rewritten. As we enter the second century of cinema, it has firmly established its presence worldwide, with numerous national cinemas boasting their own histories, identities, and masterpieces. In 2023, globalization, digital production and exhibition, streaming distribution, and internet-driven film fandom have transformed and broadened our understanding of what cinema is. Questions arise: Must films be viewed in theaters, or can they be enjoyed at home? Is traditional filmmaking on the decline, or are we witnessing a cinematic renaissance? The landscape of cinema is ever-changing and dynamic.
Accessing World Cinema:
Today, with a multitude of DVDs and streaming platforms, viewers have more choices than ever before, with opportunities to explore both classic and contemporary films. Despite Hollywood’s substantial marketing efforts, discovering films and filmmakers from other countries requires dedication. Fortunately, the Chicagoland area still boasts arthouse theaters, film clubs, universities, and museums dedicated to showcasing world cinema on the big screen. Our library continues to host monthly Movie Nights featuring exceptional films from around the world, followed by engaging discussions. Furthermore, our extensive collection of world cinema is accessible through DVDs and streaming platforms like Kanopy and Hoop
The Power of World Cinema:
Films from around the world offer us the chance to encounter different nations, cultures, people, and ways of life. World cinema provides an opportunity to counteract isolationism, division, and hatred. While world cinema cannot single-handedly address the diversity challenges prevalent in Hollywood (and in many other film industries), each time we engage with a film from another culture, it fosters empathy. And from empathy, positive change can emerge.