20 Foreign Films Directed by Women

Foreign language films, often directed by women, offer insights into societal progress and achievements. Cinema has shaped conversations around critical topics, transcending silent films to color blockbusters. Despite male-dominated directorial roles, Hollywood challenges norms. Lesser-known foreign films highlight global women’s achievements, often featuring complex female characters. Here are 20 exceptional foreign films directed by women.

Our Love Story (2016)
Korean romantic drama by HyunJu Lee portrays the unique love between Yoon Joo and Ji Soo, challenging social norms.

Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Austrian directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala craft a psychological thriller centered on twin boys and their suspicions of their mother.

Whale Rider (2002)
Niki Caro’s film delves into a Maori girl’s struggle against gender norms to become a chief in New Zealand.

The Truth Beneath (2016)
Lee Kyoung-mi’s South Korean thriller follows a politician and his wife embroiled in a scandal after their daughter goes missing.

Sweet Bean (2015)
Directed by Naomi Kawase, this Japanese heartwarming tale revolves around an elderly woman’s expertise in making traditional sweets.

Toni Erdmann (2016)
Maren Ade’s unconventional comedy portrays a father’s comical attempts to reconnect with his work-focused daughter.

Missing Young Woman (2001)
A documentary by Lourdes Portillo, shedding light on the tragedy of young women being raped and murdered in Mexico.

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015)
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s documentary highlights a survivor of an honor killing, emphasizing women’s rights in Pakistan.

Number 37 (2018)
Nosipho Dumisa’s South African thriller centers on a man who witnesses a crime and gets entangled in a web of crime and deceit.

Mustang (2015)
Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s debut film depicts the struggle of five sisters against traditional values in a Turkish village.

Rafiki (2018)
Wanuri Kahiu’s Kenyan lesbian romance follows Kena and Ziki as they navigate their love amidst societal opposition.

Summertime (2015)
Catherine Corsini’s period romance portrays two women’s love in 1971 Paris and their fight against societal norms.

Heavenly Body (2011)
Alice Rohrwacher’s coming-of-age drama follows a Swiss girl in Italy confronting the Catholic church’s restrictions.

Zero Motivation (2014)
Talya Lavie’s Israeli comedy-drama humorously depicts the lives of female soldiers in the Israeli Defence Forces.

Things to Come (2016)
Isabelle Hupert stars in Mia Hansen-Løve’s French drama about a philosophy professor’s transformation after life’s upheavals.

Wadjda (2012)
Haifaa al-Mansour’s Saudi Arabian film captures a young girl’s defiance of societal norms and her dream of owning a bike.

The Second Mother (2015)
Anna Muylaert’s Brazilian film observes the dynamics between a live-in housekeeper and her daughter, highlighting class issues.

Monsoon Wedding (2001)
Mira Nair’s vibrant film explores the complexities of arranged marriages within a large Indian family.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
Ana Lily Amirpour’s Iranian-American film follows a vampire heroine who combats injustice on the streets.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Céline Sciamma’s period drama portrays a forbidden love story in 18th century Brittany, demonstrating restraint and intimacy.
Re-reported from the article originally published in Movieweb