Intercultural Communication

A list of films that can be interpreted from the point of view of cultural dimensions

1. Lost in Translation (2003) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture, Hofstede's
Individualism/Collectivism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity/Femininity
2. Amélie (2001) - Fons Trompenaars' universalism vs. particularism, Hofstede's Masculinity/Femininity,
Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism
3. Bend it Like Beckham (2002) - Fons Trompenaars' achievement vs. ascription, Hofstede's
Individualism/Collectivism
4. Spirited Away (2001) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture.
5. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance
6. The King's Speech (2010) - Masculinity vs. Femininity, Edward T. Hall's High/Low Context, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism
7. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - Geert Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance
8. Freedom Writers (2007) - Geert Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance
9. The Namesake (2006) - Geert Hofstede's Individualism vs. Collectivism, Trompenaars'
Achievement/Ascription
10. The Intouchables (2011) - Edward T. Hall's High-Context Culture, individualism vs collectivism, Geert
Hofstede's Power Distance, Fons Trompenaars' Achievement vs. Ascription
11. The Kite Runner (2007) - Geert Hofstede's Power Distance and Masculinity vs. Femininity
12. Goodbye Lenin! (2003) - Fons Trompenaars' Universalism/Particularism, Power distance, high vs low
context, Uncertainty Avoidance, Collectivism/Individualism
13. Triangle of Sadness (2022) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
14. A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Edward T. Hall's Monochronic/Polychronic, Hofstede's
Masculinity/Femininity
15. Brick Lane (2007) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs. Polychronic
16. A Separation (2011) - Uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininity, High Context vs Low Context,
Time Orientation
17. The Lives of Others (2006) - Uncertainty avoidance, Masculinity vs Femininity, Edward T. Hall's
High/Low Context, Geert Hofstede's Power Distance
18. Talk to Her (2002) - Uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininity
19. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) - Power distance, individualism vs collectivism, Hofstede's Uncertainty
Avoidance
20. Amores Perros (2000) - Geert Hofstede's Masculinity/Femininity, Fons Trompenaars' Universalism vs.
Particularism
21. The Big Lebowski (1998) - Edward T. Hall's High/Low Context, Fons Trompenaars' Achievement vs.
Ascription, Individualism/Collectivism
22. Angst essen Seele auf (1974) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
23. Gegen die Wand/Head On (2004) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
24. Auf der anderen Seite (2007) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
25. Soul Kitchen (2009) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
26. Die Fremde (2010) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
27. The Gods Must be Crazy (1980) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
General questions for evaluating a film
• What is the film about? Summarize the film.
• What genre is the film—for example, is it a drama, a historical drama, a comedy, a thriller, or a
documentary?
• What is the message of the film?
• Whose point of view is shown in the film?
• Who are the different characters portrayed in the film?
• Is the film based on a book? Who is the writer?
• Who is the director?
• Who are the actors? Do they play their parts convincingly?
• In your opinion, is the film structured in a way so that the audience can follow the plot easily?
Does it manage to uphold suspense?
• How would you describe the language used in the film and the actors’ way of speaking?
• How did you feel watching the film?
• Were there any images or sounds you found particularly impressive?
• Which scene(s) do you find most memorable?
• What do you think of the ending of the film? If there were a sequel to the film, how would you
like the story to continue?
• How would you rate the film? For example, was it entertaining, funny, instructive, sad, trite,
etc.?

Questions for evaluating the intercultural aspects of a film

• What cultural aspects, values, attitudes, and behaviors of the respective cultures are shown?
• Do you think the conflict in the film could also occur in your community?
• What is the conflict about? How does the conflict evolve? Is it resolved?
• Could the conflict have been avoided or resolved differently?
• Does the film help you better understand the particular community?
• To which character(s) do you relate most? Why?
• Can you understand the motives of all the people involved, even if you don’t sympathize with
them?
• Are characters portrayed as stereotypes, or are they like real-life people?
• Were you aware of the problems shown in the film before you watched it?
• How has the film changed your attitude towards the problem and/or groups portrayed in the
film? • How was the film received by the ethnic group or minority portrayed in the film?
• Could the film be set in your culture as well?
• Explain all the cultual dimensions that you could identify in the film.
• What are some cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, rituals, symbols and heroes that you
could identify in the movie?
• What sort of stereotypes does the film use?