Festive Foreign Film Fans

Bob & Mark

Bob and Mark are regular American guys exploring different countries and cultures through the holiday experience of Christmas. They enjoy festive movies, music, food, and customs. Each episode features the two visiting a new international location. It's like a global Christmas party!

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Top 10 Festive Foreign Film Fans Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Festive Foreign Film Fans episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Festive Foreign Film Fans for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Festive Foreign Film Fans episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Episode 7: Anna and the Apocalypse (Scotland)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

09/06/23 • 43 min

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Bob and Mark ur hoachin as they tromp through the Scottish moors in kilts and tap shoes tae be tellin eh day’s good craic eh a fever dream – the Christmas Zombie Pandemic High School Musical -- “Anna and the Apocalypse”. There’s nothing better than flesh-eating festivities eh go wae ye haggis. It’s pure bagging! Yin join us mate eh speak Gaelic, talk holiday scran, hold hands with Thor and Odin, and burn a little o’ the Rowan branch. And we ain’t blootered! We also recall auld lang syne as a wee bairn wae the Orchids song “I Wish I Was”. It leaves is pure greeting. Ye won’t be ‘scunnered!
Our movie:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6433880/

Christmas Zombies:

https://undeadwalking.com/2020/12/04/5-best-zombie-christmas-movies-walking-dead-fans-might-love/

Auld Lang Syne

https://www.scotland.org/inspiration/the-history-and-words-of-auld-lang-syne?fbclid=IwAR0lu1G_qu-e_SnGcczp06PireW8ZTCF8pSy4iwG-3gAQxbnqaS3Y5tI6s4

How to say “Merry Christmas” in Scottish Gaelic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N3mt34hXPM

Hogmanay

https://www.historic-uk.com/.../The-History-of-Hogmanay/

Yule

https://sonsofvikings.com/blogs/history/viking-origins-of-christmas-yule-traditions?fbclid=IwAR077lL9mLI6C9ZUCsS6sozIE_lh3ttc_scRScHzKtDwWw77miwl_c0YMu8

13 Days of Christmas

https://thefifearms.com/whats-on/13-days-of-yule/?fbclid=IwAR2V7VedXFx4-4LHkHOpyTSuzCA-yCanG2szwZkQJZA-1V2hrwBSl3QryS8#:~:text=To%20the%20tune%20of%20The,illustrations%20by%20illustrator%2C%20Edinburgh%20Letters

Scottish Christmas song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZYV-oZYXIk

Email Address:
[email protected]
Instagram:
@festivefans
4F Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm?si=rEwNHgOyRACX1IuPZe0PTw&pi=u-D3fbqpFNSw-phttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/48fClElFHIbhA4u55qo5Hm

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 23: Alles is Liefde (Netherlands)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

05/06/24 • 42 min

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The boys are going Dutch this episode and exploring Christmas in the land of tulips, windmills, and hole-y dykes. Grab your wooden shoes, we are heading to the Netherlands for St. Nicholas Day! We also examine a surprisingly dated film from 2007, Alles is Liefde, and discuss whether the same film could be made today. It is another example of the subgenre we call the “Love Actually Knockoffs” with several characters, many stories at once, and intersecting storylines brought together by the holiday spirit. The film is funny and has all of the necessary feel-good elements – including a charming prince on a horse – but it also features the controversial assistant of St. Nicholas known as “Zwarte Piet" or "Black Pete”. This traditional Dutch character is portrayed here in an exaggerated and offensive fashion. The film even posits the question of whether the Petes exist as the slaves of St. Nicholas, and this concept is played for laughs. Sadly, this undertone of racism detracts from what is a fun, lighthearted holiday movie, especially if you’re interested in the culture. And speaking of, we also take a look at some unique Christmas elements, including a novelty song about a dead rabbit, Santa with a butt plug, and a popular festive song that was first popularized by Ernie and Bert on the Dutch Sesame Street, and is sung by one of the actresses in the film. This episode is truly a delectable gourmetten!

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 26: It's Our Anniversary Show! (Part 2)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

06/25/24 • 76 min

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This episode is our longest and most special. It is Part 2 of our anniversary show. We welcome our first guest, author and podcaster Alonso Duralde; we pick our favorite global holiday songs and movies; and, most importantly, we enjoy and celebrate our podcast, and our listeners, and everything new this first year has taught us. When we started, we were told that our topic was super niche and no one was going to be interested in a discussion of foreign Christmas movies -- especially those that are hard-to-find and from obscure countries. The practical advice would have been to find a topic more relatable to a larger audience. Instead, we decided to stick with a concept that we care about. We know our audience is small, but we hope that they engage with us and with the podcast in the same way that we do. It's not only about Christmas, or movies, or customs, but it is about basic goodness, spiritual hunger, and human kindness. We live in a world divided, and we can be incredibly self-focused and distant from other countries. We often look through a prism that reflects only ourselves and our experience. It is our hope that in some small way this podcast can build bridges and break down walls. Watching international films, you will see a different view of the world. When we learn to look outside of ourselves and appreciate other cultures, we can accept the unique world around us, and that is the true meaning of Christmas.

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Festive Foreign Film Fans Trailer

Festive Foreign Film Fans

04/30/23 • 0 min

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This is the trailer for the podcast.

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 4: Tokyo Godfathers (Japan)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

07/25/23 • 38 min

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It's a colorful challenge, but Mark and Bob are just the two-dimensional, cartoonish guys to tackle this episode's first animated film Tokyo Godfathers. Mark goes deep, but Bob -- he's here for the anime pillows, electric eels, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. All that's missing is Pokemon and Hello Kitty! Yes, Mark is still injured, but the boys manage a tour of the Pacific Rim and the lively and eclectic country of Japan. We stumble our way through a touching story, original characters, fun customs, and Tatsuro Yamashita's popular song "Christmas Eve" (with English words too!) So, let's take a pause to bask in the holiday rays from the Land of the Rising Sun!
Our Movie:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388473/
4F Test: F estive = (It's a Christmas movie); Feel = (It'll give you the feels); Future = (Going to watch the sequels); Fan = (A recommendation with caution)

Where to watch it:

Tubi TV (https://tubitv.com); Vudu (https://www.vudu.com); Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/games?hl=en_US&gl=US); iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com); Amazon Instant Video (https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Video/b?ie=UTF8&node=2858778011)

Manga:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga

Anime Pillow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDrsUHAyE_Y

Tokyo

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html

Transgender Issues

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/06/28/americans-complex-views-on-gender-identity-and-transgender-issues/

AIDS

https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids/

Three Kings

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/three-kings-magi-epiphany

How to Say “Merry Christmas” in Japanese:

https://www.japanesepod101.com/blog/2017/12/14/how-to-say-merry-christmas-in-japanese/

Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan

https://www.cnn.com/travel/a

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

New 4F Promo!

Festive Foreign Film Fans

07/25/23 • 0 min

Festive Fans Unite! (send us a message)

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 5: Listy Do M (Poland)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

08/06/23 • 43 min

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What nationality is Santa Claus? North Polish! Ha, we are starting this episode's summary with a (Gran)Dad joke to celebrate the birth of our new podmast-cot (and Mark's granddaughter) Layna "Festivus Fania" Chandler. In fact, mark your chanlenders because his family is all over this show. They are the Pole-y Spirit as we travel to Poland -- the ancestral homeland of Mark's wife Sue. We watch a great film called Listy do M (I know it sounds like a porno movie, but it means 'Letters to Santa"). We also jam out to the Polish Mariah Careys and their song "Kto Wie", plus we talk Wigilia and food, lots of rich, hearty food to fill out our Santa physiques. Join us for our Eastern European journey to find the first star, so we can begin eating already!
Our movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1927077/

Tomasz Karolak’s band: https://paczkiwtluszczu.pl/

Mark tore a tendon: https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/ruptured-tendon

Travel to Poland: https://www.poland.travel/en

Travel to South Korea: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do

Radio DJs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_radio_disc_jockeys

4F Test: Festive = (It is a Christmas movie); Feel = (It gives you the feels); Future = (We will watch again with sons); Fan = (We heartily recommend it to others)

How to say “Merry Christmas” in Polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK39ukOWQ70

Polish Home Alone: https://culture.pl/en/article/home-alone-in-poland-an-unexpected-national-tradition

Wigilia: http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Wigilia.htm

Christmas Eve Meal: https://www.local-life.com/krakow/articles/christmas-eve-meal-i

Oplatki: https://aleteia.org/2018/12/19/the-beautiful-polish-tradition-of-breaking-bread-on-christmas-eve/

Polish Christmas Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48fTZ5J7jAQ

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 6: Mon Oncle Antoine (Canada - Quebec)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

08/25/23 • 40 min

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You may be dying to know that for this episode, we dig up Mark's past -- and it's of grave interest. Since his dad was the town's undrtaker, he is best suited to lay out our film for public viewing. We explore a dreary holiday in a town entombed by its sole industry -- asbestos mining. And Mark buries it pretty good. But don't write our obit yet, we also enjoy the better part of being Quebecois at Christmas -- pig's feet soup, flying canoes, lumberjacks, and a star fairy. And don't forget to wash it all down with communion wine!
Our movie:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067439/
Quebec region
https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-us/where-to-go/regions-of-quebec

Lumberjack Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRdur8GLBM

Quebec Film Industry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Quebec

Funeral Practices in Canada
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/funeral-practices

Asbestos Mining
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/asbestos-mine

How to say 'Merry Christmas' in the Mi'kmaw language
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/mi-kmaq-language-bernie-francis-holiday-greetings-1.4954824

Reveillon
https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/features/the-reveillon-christmas-canada

The Flying Canoe
https://www.myfrenchcanadianfamily.com/post/the-flying-canoe-is-a-19th-century-french-canadian-acid-trip-and-we-love-it

Quebec Christmas Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E37a30inFs

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Season 2, Episode 11 - Wajib (Palestinian Territory)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

12/06/24 • 44 min

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For this episode, we travel to the Middle East and the region which today is known as the Palestinian Territory. In the same way that Festive Fans covered Russia and Ukraine last December, we wanted to visit another area in need of hope during this holiday season. Finding joy during times of war can be deeply challenging. What is ironic is how the birthplace of the Prince of Peace has seen such ongoing human suffering, political tension, and regional instability. We view the State of Palestine through the eyes of a father and son, Abu and Shadi, featured in the 2017 film Wajib. Not only is there the existing tension between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but also the strained relationship between the father and son.

Abu lives in the daily shadow of oppression, trying his best to continue a normal life. Shadi lives in Italy, after having been forced to leave because of his political activity. Their internal struggle is brought to the surface when Shadi returns to Nazareth for his sister’s wedding. Shadi is angry by what he sees as the humiliation of the Palestinian people, but Abu is loyal and devoted to his homeland. The two spend the day together hand-delivering wedding invitations. The constant bickering can be exhausting, but their quiet resolution is touching and reminds us how hope can flourish even in the midst of strife. If there is a Christmas message here, it is the importance of human connection among all people. This offers the only possibility for peace and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092522416848
4F Flair Shop (Festive Fans Merchandise)
https://festivefanflair.myspreadshop.com/

Episode 1: The New Adventures of Aladdin (France)

Festive Foreign Film Fans

06/06/23 • 41 min

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This is our first episode of Festive Foreign Film Fans. Just the name is a mouthful -- imagine what the show is like. Bob and Mark travel to France to review the French film Les nouvelles aventures d'Aladin. Neither one speaks the language or has even travelled to the country (first mistake), so they offer great introspection. They also play a French Christmas song, sung by a non-French singer (second mistake) and discuss customs they know nothing about. You may not think this is a great investment of your time, but sometimes you need légumes when you can't have fromage. So, step out of your traditions and communities, and join us as we celebrate with a little Midwestern émerveiller and éblouissant!
Our Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4466864/
4F Test: F estive = (It is a Christmas movie); Feel = (It gives you the feels); Future = (We will watch again with sons); Fan = (We heartily recommend it to others)

Where to watch it: Tubi TV https://tubitv.com

Podcasts Mentioned:

Total Christmas https://www.totalchristmaspodcast.com/

Happy Halloween: https://open.spotify.com/show/33p3DQ4ZxYM9xI4jWGHS0K?si=d1af9bb9f7c046e8

Mark’s Favorite Team: Minnesota Vikings https://www.vikings.com/fans/

How to Pronounce Joyeux Noël? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kwrRoF3v2c

Père Fouettard (Father Whipper): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A8re_Fouettard

Saint Nicholas and the Evil Butcher:

https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/stories-legends/traditional-stories/early-miracles/evil-innkeeper

Strasbourg France: https://www.christmas.alsace/strasbourg-christmas-market/

Confectioner’s Truce (Trêve Des Confiseurs):

http://www.aussieinfrance.com/2015/12/fridays-french-treve-des-confiseurs/