Recently, I’ve been watching TV series and movies written, produced and filmed in different parts of the world. It’s been an interesting look at the ways different cultures feel about sex, nudity, violence, marriage, and family life.
It’s fun to look at traffic patterns and vehicles around the world, home designs, and clothing. How are law enforcement, lawyers, judges, and courts different? How about food, restaurants, family dinners? What about body image? I’ve read complaints on several fan sites for British television that American actors are all impossibly attractive without any imperfections, and talent is sometimes less important to us. What do you think? Are we more obsessed with looks than talent as opposed to other countries? After spending the last month watching international Films and TV series I’ve watched talented actors from around the world. Some are mega-talented and gorgeous. The two attributes are not mutually exclusive, but I’m starting to really appreciate talented character actors who are real scene stealers.
Everything I listed this month is available on Netflix. They all have subtitles, and the voices have been dubbed in English (except for the American and UK films).
Tuiskoms is a series from South Africa. Four years after the sudden death of her husband, Fleur (Michelle Botes) can’t keep their restaurant in Johannesburg going. She’s forced to close it and she and her teenaged daughter move in with her parents in her small South African hometown. The ghost of Fleur’s husband also makes the trip back and often appears when she needs him most. Fleur’s mother is a well-known author who seems distant and focused more on work than family. Her father seems like the nice guy until there’s a mix-up with the flower deliveries to his wife and his much younger mistress. A trip to the café/flower shop opens a world of possibilities for Fleur both professionally and personally. It’s highly entertaining look at family life and healing from trauma reminds us that laughter is often the best medicine.
Despite Everything is a Spanish comedy about four estranged sisters who reunite at their mother’s funeral. At the reading of the will they learn the man who raised them is sterile and is not their biological father. Then, they learn that each woman has a different biological father which they must identify from a set of clues in order to keep their inheritance. If any sister fails, they all forfeit their inheritance, and everything goes to charity including the monies set aside to care for the man who raised them. It’s a nice mix of comedy and drama with an important messages about what makes people family.
A Tourist’s Guide to Love is an American film set in Vietnam. On the night Amanda thinks her fiancée John (Ben Feldman) is going to propose, he announces he’s taken a forensic accounting job in Ohio and wants to put their relationship on hiatus for the next year. It does not go over well. Amanda who is travel executive accepts an undercover assignment from her boss Mona (Missi Pyle) to evaluate the tourist industry in Vietnam to see if they should acquire a promising tour business in that country. Amanda and the tour guide Sinh (Scott LY) have instant chemistry that’s complicated by the unexpected arrival of John who joins the tour in hopes of winning her back. There’s also another complication, Sinh doesn’t know his company is up for sale and he doesn’t know Amanda is the person who will decide his fate. Beautiful scenery and real insights into the country and its people. It’s a portrayal of modern-day Vietnam looking to the future and ready to forge a new relationships with other countries.
An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts is an Italian series, Alice is a talented production assistant for a small television network in Turin. She’s still reeling from her breakup with Carlo (Alberto Paradossi) who also works for the network. When Alice meets Tio, a soap opera actor, she learns he is self-proclaimed astrology guru. He convinces Alice that she can cure her broken heart by listening to the stars. When the network’s morning program slides in the ratings, Alice pitches the idea of a dating show based on Tio’s knowledge of astrological signs. Will astrology save the network and mend Alice’s broken heart?
Make Me Believe is a film from Northwestern Türkiye. Sahra (Ayҫa Ayșin) and Deniz (Ekin Koҫ) were childhood friends before they drifted apart because of family issues. Their grandmothers are still best friends. The meddling grandmoms cook up a scheme to make Sahra and Deniz fall in love.
Nadaaniyan is a 2025 Indian Hindu language teen romantic comedy. Pia (Khushi Kapoor) is a privileged South Delhi school girl who hires a boyfriend, Arjun (Ibrahim Alikhan) to convince her friends and family she has no interest in Ayaan (Dev Agasteya) the wealthy boy her parents want her to choose who is also the boy her best friend likes. Arjun is at the school on a scholarship because his mother is a new teacher there. He is not considered a suitable match for someone from one of the wealthiest families in the area. This pleases Pia because she wants to get her father’s attention. Things don’t quite go to plan when Arjun charms her family and proves himself to be an excellent student and debater. The more time Pia and Arjun spend together, the closer they become, but what will happen if their deception is discovered?
Love Forever is a Swedish comedy about a wedding. Hanna (Matilda Källström) and Samuel (Charlie Gustafsson) are getting married. She is from an urban family in Stockholm. He was raised in Gotland. They decide a country wedding venue would be unique, but they didn’t count on his parents hijacking the wedding to make sure their rural customs are followed. Add her sophisticated family to the mix and watch this recipe for disaster yield hilarious and heartwarming results.
The Åre Murders is a Swedish crime drama. Hanna Ahlander (Carla Sehn) is a Stockholm detective under internal review after she exposes the inappropriate actions of one of her fellow detectives. While awaiting her reinstatement, she decides to go to a ski resort in Åre to clear her head. Hannah walks right into a search for a missing girl and offers her assistance to the understaffed police force. At first she faces resentment from the detectives in charge, but her powers of observations special skill set prove useful. She uncovers dark secrets people want to remain hidden, but will it help them find the girl before it’s too late?
Faraway is a German film about a Turkish woman, Zeynap (Naomi Krauss) who is simultaneously dealing with the death of her mother, her hypercritical father, distracted husband, and ungrateful daughter. When she learns she has inherited a house on a Croatian island, Zeynap decides to let her family fend for itself for a few days while she goes to Croatia to examine the property and get away from the constant drama. When she arrives, she meets Josip (Goran Bogdan) the original owner of the house who her mother allowed to stay rent free. At first she intends to make minor repairs and sell the place, but Josip doesn’t want to lose his family home. While she is away, her husband consummates the “emotional affair” he admitted to having with a younger co-worker. This enrages Josip who believes Zeynap is a beautiful mature woman deserving of love and respect from her family. With her life changing so rapidly after feeling stuck for so long what will she do?
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a British mystery thriller. When Pip (Emma Myers) was in grade school, Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), was allegedly murdered by her high school boyfriend Sal Singh (Rahul Pattni). Sal allegedly killed himself after being considered a suspect, and the police quickly closed the case. Pip was one of the last people to see Andie and Sal, and she never believed Sal was the killer. Five years later for her senior project, Pip is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer. She braves resistance and threats from some of the people closest to the case, but refuses to quit. Will she find the truth before someone can silence her? What if the police got it right?