Why You Should Watch More Foreign Shows
There's a big world outside of your bubble.
One of the biggest contributors to my personal development is traveling. Had I not lived and worked from 36 countries, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.
This is why I encourage you to travel as much, and as soon, as possible. It’s important to see how people live in other countries to better understand yourself. At the very least, go outside of your city for the weekend.
I realize not everyone can pack their bags and go. Maybe you have responsibilities at home that require your physical presence. Perhaps you’re financially unable to leave your country.
But just because you can’t physically travel, doesn’t mean you can’t experience other cultures through foreign shows.
One of my first experiences with a foreign show was a Swedish film called Mitt liv som hund (My Life as a Dog). Prior to watching this, I had mostly consumed American shows. While My Life as a Dog wasn’t necessarily a life changing film, it struck me because of how different it was from American films. It was like tasting a new dish after consuming the same types of meals your entire life.
My Life was a Dog was the first foreign show I remember watching. Слово пацана. Кровь на асфальте (The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt) was the most recent.
Released in 2023, The Boy’s Word is a Russian TV series that takes place in the USSR during the late 1980s. Here’s an summary:
The Soviet Union is dying, and along with a premonition of change, freedom of speech, music and prices, freedom from conscience appears, bordering on lawlessness. A schoolboy, Andrey transforms from an outsider into a cruel gang member.
And, here’s the trailer with English subs:
One of biggest disconnects today between countries is the one between the US and Russia. Prior to visiting Russia in 2019, my only insights about Russia were through news and films. Both of these sources of content focused more on stereotypes than culture. While roaming street gangs aren’t a highlight of Russian culture, they are a part of its history. Thanks to films, anyone can get insight into this moment in history — from someone who more connected to it than a non Russian.
Wrapping up:
One of the biggest takeaways from traveling is how different and alike we are. Ultimately, humans share similar goals — no matter where we’re from; things like being happen, having a healthy family, and taking care of people we love.
Sometimes we forget this reality.
Internationally conflicts and or bad actors can drive us toward hating hate, more than loving, our neighbors. It’s important to remember that the nuances between cultures aren’t tools of division; but rather, they are simple reminders of how unique and special we all are as a species.
Raymond Duke