I’m not a gifted athlete. I’ve never split an atom. I’ve not invented anything other than
#ChubbySwag. And, sadly, my Hummel-like mug will never grace the pages of
Vogue. However, to my credit I do hold
the distinction of being a polyglot, that is to say I am proficient in a number
of languages in addition to my mother tongue.
Scientists haven’t been able to fully
explain the phenomenon, but it is believed that a combination of motivation,
pattern recognition, as well as innate linguistic and learning abilities account
for polyglotism.
My own polyglotism was fostered in large
part by a life-long affinity for international cinema. Growing up in the eighties and nineties I
spent a lot of quality time with cable television, particularly at my father’s
house. When I wasn’t watching gross-out
children’s programming on Nickelodeon—Does
anyone remember You Can’t Do That on
Television?—I had my eyes glued to foreign films I frequently stumbled
upon while clicking through the ol’ cable box.
For a pint-sized introvert, these
artistic and sometimes obtuse films guaranteed me several hours of alone time
at a stretch. Those early years were chaotic
and very traumatic; foreign films, ones that necessitated I focus my energies
on the movie, were a godsend. Maybe that’s
why I am adroit with languages. It certainly
is why I love international cinema.
That being said, I do realize that my cinematic
preferences may not be to everyone’s taste; however, I do believe there is at
least one non-English film to suit almost anyone. In the spirit of making international cinema
more accessible to my readers, I will be posting a five part series on how to
select a foreign film that is to your taste; key films, movements, and
directors to consider when selecting a film; and strategies that will help you
get the most out of your viewing experience.
Watch this space!
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