About us
This group is for relaxed discussion of recent foreign films - of all types, from any country. We keep the number of meeting participants small so everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, and no one may dominate the conversation. In addition, our aim is not to be technical film critics. The goal is to search out films that give us an alternative cultural, social, political viewpoint - a viewpoint that comes from the rest of the world outside the US. And our main interest is in character development, relationships, and story.
The format is to watch the movie on your own sometime before the meeting. We'll always choose movies that are easy to locate for streaming. Meetings will take place in a public location like a cafe, pub, or restaurant.
New members are always welcome! If you’re interested, please be sure there's a realistic photo of yourself, and answer 2 questions which will appear after you hit the “Request to Join” button.
Looking forward to great conversations!
Upcoming events
2
Film: Bait
McMenamins John Barleycorns, 14610 Southwest Sequoia Parkway, Tigard, OR, USThis group is for relaxed discussion of recent foreign films - of all types, from any country. We keep the number of meeting participants small so everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, and no one may dominate the conversation. In addition, our aim is not to be technical film critics. The goal is to search out films that give us an alternative cultural, social, political viewpoint - a viewpoint that comes from the rest of the world outside the US. And our main interest is in character development, relationships, and story.
~~~~~~~~“Bait is a 2019 British drama film written, directed, shot, edited, and scored by Mark Jenkin. It stars Edward Rowe as a struggling fisherman in a Cornish fishing village, and deals with rising tensions between the locals and tourists. Set against a backdrop of second homes, short-term lets, and gentrification, it has been interpreted as a critique of precarity.”
“As visually distinctive as it is narratively satisfying, Bait blends a classic aesthetic with timely themes to produce a thrillingly original and uniquely original drama.”
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bait_2019
The film can be streamed from Kanopy (the free public library online film streaming service), Apple TV, Fandango, Prime Video, and possibly elsewhere.
2 attendees
Film: Istanbul Encyclopedia
King Tide Fish & Shell, 1510 Southwest Harbor Way, Portland, or, USThis group is for relaxed discussion of recent foreign films - of all types, from any country. We keep the number of meeting participants small so everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, and no one may dominate the conversation. In addition, our aim is not to be technical film critics. The goal is to search out films that give us an alternative cultural, social, political viewpoint - a viewpoint that comes from the rest of the world outside the US. And our main interest is in character development, relationships, and story.
~~~~~~~~~~Please Note: This meeting we’ll try discussing something that requires more prior watching time because we think explication of the multi-layered themes warrants it. We’ll schedule it a bit farther out to allow for that.
“Istanbul Encyclopedia premiered on Netflix in 2025. Directed by Selman Nacar, the show is being praised for its nuanced portrayal of contemporary life in Türkiye and megacity Istanbul, capturing the tensions between secular and conservative segments of society, social hypocrisy, class divides, and identity struggles. This heartfelt show consists of eight episodes and is noted for its emotional depth, and as a love letter to Istanbul, not just portraying the city but also its memories and personal histories.” - Türkiye Today
“A young student moves in with her mother's estranged best friend in Istanbul, trading her humble hometown for a city that tests her identity and convictions.”
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/istanbul_encyclopedia
The film can be streamed on Netflix.
4 attendees
Past events
2
Group links
Organizers
Members
30
