The opening scene of Quentin Tarantino’s "Reservoir Dogs" features a group of suit-clad criminals walking in slow motion, a visual homage to the 1974 Japanese film "Battles Without Honor and Humanity." This is just one thread in a vast tapestry of international influence that has shaped what we consider "American cinema." While Hollywood is often viewed as the dominant force in global filmmaking, it has continuously drawn inspiration, techniques, and revolutionary ideas from filmmakers around the world.
From the early days of cinema, foreign influences have been crucial in shaping American film. German Expressionism of the 1920s, brought by émigré directors fleeing Nazi Germany, gave birth to film noir and horror genres as we know them. Directors like F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder brought techniques of shadow play and psychological complexity that would forever change American cinema.
The French New Wave of the 1950s and 60s revolutionized filmmaking techniques. Directors like François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard introduced handheld cameras, jump cuts, and unconventional narrative structures that would later influence American New Hollywood directors such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Arthur Penn.
Japanese cinema, particularly the works of Akira Kurosawa, transformed American genres in profound ways. "Seven Samurai" became "The Magnificent Seven," while "Hidden Fortress" heavily influenced "Star Wars." The visual storytelling techniques of Kurosawa continue to inspire American filmmakers today.
Hong Kong action cinema of the 1980s and 90s revolutionized how action sequences were shot in Hollywood. The balletic violence and intricate martial arts choreography seen in films like "The Matrix" were directly influenced by Hong Kong directors like John Woo and performers like Jackie Chan.
More recently, the success of directors like Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro has brought Latin American sensibilities to mainstream American cinema. The historic Best Picture win for Bong Joon-ho’s Korean film "Parasite" in 2020 marked a watershed moment in this ongoing cultural exchange.
This cross-pollination continues in the streaming era, where global access to international cinema is easier than ever. What we consider "American cinema" has always been an amalgamation of global ideas, techniques, and sensibilities, proving that great storytelling truly has no borders.
The next time you watch a classic American film, look closely for the shadows of German expressionism, the jump cuts of the French New Wave, or the kinetic energy of Hong Kong action choreography. These elements, once foreign imports, are now part of the shared language of cinema – a language that speaks in many accents but communicates in universal visual terms.