r/ForeignMovies • u/Swimming_Proof7034 • Apr 18 '26
Would anyone actually use an app that gives you cultural context before watching international films?
I watch a lot of world cinema and I always feel like I'm missing something, especially the cultural and historical weight behind it.
For example, I just watched a Bollywood movie and found out about the pressure of academics later, which added to the story.
I'm thinking about building something where you type in any movie or TV show and get a quick brief on the culture, history, and real-world context before you watch. No spoilers. And a separate mode after you finish that breaks down what's real vs dramatized vs historically disputed.
Would anyone actually use this or is it something people would just try once and forget about? Genuinely trying to figure out if this is worth building.
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u/LopsidedVictory7448 Apr 19 '26
Nope. It's not the reason I first watch a movie. If I feel the need to investigate it will be after the movie and can easily look it up on the Web
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u/Kamuka Apr 19 '26
I talked to my Iranian friend about how important it is to be buried in Iran when you die that explains Taste of Cherry's obsession with finding someone to bury him.
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u/Elizabeth147 Apr 19 '26
It’s a great idea but I have no idea if it would be popular.
I got totally immersed in Bollywood for many years, and made many friends, and learned an enormous amount via a very interactive website that was just what you’re talking about. (Called Bollywhat.)
It was a mix of people from Indian families and non-S Asian fans and scholars.
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u/narnarnartiger Apr 19 '26
No. I like figuring it out through the context of the film. Or looking it up after
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u/skaldk Apr 19 '26
looking it up after
That's when the app is to be used I guess... It's actually an argument in favor of the project.
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u/skaldk Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Since the app will be most probably yet another AI-based app using model x or y from OpenAI and Anthropic...
I feel like I just can use these LLM myself and ask specific questions about the context of a movie/tv-show... Like I did recently with The Last Kingdom and Britannia. I used AI, Wikipedia and history maps to get more context about locations, characters, historical events, etc...
My2cents : if you want to make an app for that... try to bring something that what we can't already make with independant tools :
- to import your watching history from other services
- to get a map and a timeline from it showing what part of history and what location is covered by the movies and shows you already watched
- to establish relationship between movies and shows you already watched, based on history, location, characters,...
- to suggest other movies and shows about that location, that period of time or that characters
- to establish how close from history is a movie/show (Vikings or The Last Kingdom... Same locations, same period of time, definitely not the same historical realism)
- etc...
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u/Hopeful_Stomach9201 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Khamenei essentially sacrificed himself on the first day of the American/Israel bombings due to the idea of martyrdom. I did not think too much of it, plenty of people throughout history have done the same. Later I watched an Iranian movie, It Was Just An Accident. Martyrdom apparently is a big part of their culture and mentioned a few times throughout the movie. It was very interesting given recent events. Afterward I looked it up and read more on the subject.
Now, I wouldn't say I needed a preview of their culture to understand or enjoy the movie anymore than I already did. And whatever peaked my interest during the movie I went and researched myself hours later.
When I watch these international movies I go in knowing they might talk about something I'm not familiar with.
But there are a lot of people in this world and I think any idea like that would attract interest.... if done well.
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u/SangfroidSandwich Apr 18 '26
No. I have life experiences, books and Wikipedia already.