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The beautiful 1971 foreign language movie Ron Howard watched “over and over again”
Ron Howard identified Jan Troell’s 1971 Swedish film *The Emigrants* as a major influence on his development as a director. The film impressed him by showing that cinema could create deep emotional involvement across language barriers, using subtitles and human observation rather than relying on English dialogue or conventional Hollywood spectacle.
Howard particularly admired the film’s naturalistic depiction of Swedish migrants struggling with physical hardship, emotional isolation and cultural displacement on the prairie. He praised the performances of Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, as well as Troell’s long-lens photography, handheld camerawork and understated staging, saying he watched the film repeatedly because it changed how he approached directing scenes.
In short
- *The Emigrants* became a key influence on Ron Howard’s directing.
- Its subtitles did not prevent Howard from becoming fully absorbed.
- Naturalistic filmmaking and performances inspired repeated viewings.
Explained simply
*The Emigrants* is a 1971 Swedish film directed by Jan Troell about Swedish migrants struggling with hardship and cultural displacement on the American prairie. The film is notable for its naturalistic storytelling, powerful performances from Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, and distinctive cinematography that emphasises observation over spectacle.
Ron Howard, one of Hollywood's most prolific and successful directors, has identified this film as a crucial influence on his approach to filmmaking. Howard has said he watched it repeatedly because it showed him that cinema could create deep emotional involvement across language barriers, using subtitles and careful observation of human behaviour rather than relying primarily on dialogue or conventional Hollywood techniques.
The significance is that this film shaped how one of Hollywood's most commercially successful directors works. Understanding that Howard drew crucial inspiration from a Swedish film helps explain the international influences behind his distinctive directorial approach.