IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Foreign Films & Culture (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real exam on the topic of foreign films and their impact on local culture.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Foreign Films & Culture

Some believe that it is beneficial to show foreign films while others feel this can have a negative impact on local culture.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Real Past IELTS Exam

Some believe cinemas should show a wide breadth of films from around the world, while others worry about the globalising effect on local culture. In my opinion, though reliance on domestic film can contribute greatly to the cultural development of a nation, it is too severe a restriction.

Those wary of the pernicious effects of films from other countries point to the importance of nationally produced films. When a country imports few films from abroad, they are forced into making more and better movies to attract audiences. For instance, in the 1980s immediately after the cultural revolution in China, few foreign films were shows. Studios instead funded ambitious Chinese film-makers like Zhang Yimou, who would later go on to lead the early 1990s ascent of Chinese new wave cinema. This same pattern has been repeated in South Korea, Japan, France, and numerous other countries at different periods in the 20th century. The sum effect on culture for each respective nation has been massive and, in many cases, represents their most recent defining cultural achievements.

Nonetheless, watching foreign films allows individuals to enjoy the best entertainment on offer. It would be cruel to ban foreign films and enforce a sub-par viewing experience in countries with under-developed film industries. Film is, after all, mainly an enjoyable form of relaxation. The most popular movies tend to come from Hollywood and include blockbuster superhero franchises, Oscar-worthy dramas, and comedies. Many local theatre chains would struggle to stay in business without foreign films and the new online streaming options mean that audiences would likely just subscribe to Netflix or download movies illegally. The actual cultural benefits of such restrictions might therefore be questionable while theatre-goers would surely be deprived of quality recreation.

In conclusion, the examples of isolated national film industries do not outweigh the diversionary value of film. There are other methods of preserving and encouraging culture besides censoring outside influences.

Analysis

1. Some believe cinemas should show a wide breadth of films from around the world, while others worry about the globalising effect on local culture. 2. In my opinion, though reliance on domestic film can contribute greatly to the cultural development of a nation, it is too severe a restriction.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
2. Give a clear opinion. Read more about introductions for IELTS here.

1. Those wary of the pernicious effects of films from other countries point to the importance of nationally produced films. 2. When a country imports few films from abroad, they are forced into making more and better movies to attract audiences. 3. For instance, in the 1980s immediately after the cultural revolution in China, few foreign films were shows. 4. Studios instead funded ambitious Chinese film-makers like Zhang Yimou, who would later go on to lead the early 1990s ascent of Chinese new wave cinema. 5. This same pattern has been repeated in South Korea, Japan, France, and numerous other countries at different periods in the 20th century. 6. The sum effect on culture for each respective nation has been massive and, in many cases, represents their most recent defining cultural achievements.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea, if necessary.
3. Give an example.
4. Develop or extend the example to other countries.
5. State the full results.

1. Nonetheless, watching foreign films allows individuals to enjoy the best entertainment on offer. 2. It would be cruel to ban foreign films and enforce a sub-par viewing experience in countries with under-developed film industries. 3. Film is, after all, mainly an enjoyable form of relaxation. 4. The most popular movies tend to come from Hollywood and include blockbuster superhero franchises, Oscar-worthy dramas, and comedies. 5. Many local theatre chains would struggle to stay in business without foreign films and the new online streaming options mean that audiences would likely just subscribe to Netflix or download movies illegally. 6. The actual cultural benefits of such restrictions might therefore be questionable while theatre-goers would surely be deprived of quality recreation.

1. Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain this main idea.
3. Vary short and long sentences.
4. Give specific examples to support your main idea.
5. Continue developing the same main idea – don’t switch to a new one.
6. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, the examples of isolated national film industries do not outweigh the diversionary value of film. 2. There are other methods of preserving and encouraging culture besides censoring outside influences.

1. Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
2. Add a final thought/detail.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Some believe cinemas should show a wide breadth of films from around the world, while others worry about the globalising effect on local culture. In my opinion, though reliance on domestic film can contribute greatly to the cultural development of a nation, it is too severe a restriction.

Those wary of the pernicious effects of films from other countries point to the importance of nationally produced films. When a country imports few films from abroad, they are forced into making more and better movies to attract audiences. For instance, in the 1980s immediately after the cultural revolution in China, few foreign films were shows. Studios instead funded ambitious Chinese film-makers like Zhang Yimou, who would later go on to lead the early 1990s ascent of Chinese new wave cinema. This same pattern has been repeated in South Korea, Japan, France, and numerous other countries at different periods in the 20th century. The sum effect on culture for each respective nation has been massive and, in many cases, represents their most recent defining cultural achievements.

Nonetheless, watching foreign films allows individuals to enjoy the best entertainment on offer. It would be cruel to ban foreign films and enforce a sub-par viewing experience in countries with under-developed film industries. Film is, after all, mainly an enjoyable form of relaxation. The most popular movies tend to come from Hollywood and include blockbuster superhero franchises, Oscar-worthy dramas, and comedies. Many local theatre chains would struggle to stay in business without foreign films and the new online streaming options mean that audiences would likely just subscribe to Netflix or download movies illegally. The actual cultural benefits of such restrictions might therefore be questionable while theatre-goers would surely be deprived of quality recreation.

In conclusion, the examples of isolated national film industries do not outweigh the diversionary value of film. There are other methods of preserving and encouraging culture besides censoring outside influences.

Answers

wide breadth lots of different

globalising effect making the whole world the same

local culture the country in question

reliance dependence

domestic film film made in their country

contribute greatly add a lot to

cultural development the progress of art/culture

severe extreme

restriction regulation

wary suspicious about

pernicious effects bad impacts

point to argue

nationally produced films movies made in that country

imports what is brought into the country

abroad foreign

forced into must

attract audiences bring people in

immediately after right after, following

cultural revolution in China a program of restriction in China in the 1960s and 70s

studios film companies

funded ambitious gave money to promising

later go on after this would

ascent rise

Chinese new wave cinema early 1990s movement of good Chinese films

same pattern identical trend

repeated happened again

numerous many

different periods various times

20th century 1900-2000

sum effect total impact

respective nation country in question

massive huge

in many cases most of the time

represents total

most recent defining cultural achievements most important art made recently

nonetheless regardless

on offer available

cruel mean

ban restrict

enforce make sure it is followed

sub-par viewing experience bad time at the movies

under-developed not mature, not advanced

form make up

tend to usually

blockbuster superhero franchises Marvel and DC movies

Oscar-worthy dramas high-brow films

local theatre chains cinemas in your country

struggle have a tough time

stay in business continue to operate

streaming options online services for watching videos

audiences the people who watch

subscribe sign up to

download movies illegally steal films

actual cultural benefits real advantages for the culture

restrictions limits

questionable doubtful

theatre-goers people who watch movies

deprived of quality recreation taken away the fun

isolated alone

outweigh more important than

diversionary value important distractions

preserving keeping intact

encouraging helping

censoring outside influences restricting foreign films

Pronunciation

waɪd brɛdθ 
ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n ɪˈfɛkt 
ˈləʊkəl ˈkʌlʧə 
rɪˈlaɪəns 
dəʊˈmɛstɪk fɪlm 
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t ˈgreɪtli 
ˈkʌlʧərəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
sɪˈvɪə 
rɪsˈtrɪkʃən 
ˈweəri 
pɜːˈnɪʃəs ɪˈfɛkts 
pɔɪnt tuː 
ˈnæʃnəli prəˈdjuːst fɪlmz 
ˈɪmpɔːts 
əˈbrɔːd 
fɔːst ˈɪntuː 
əˈtrækt ˈɔːdiənsɪz 
ɪˈmiːdiətli ˈɑːftə 
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən ɪn ˈʧaɪnə 
ˈstjuːdɪəʊz 
ˈfʌndɪd æmˈbɪʃəs 
ˈleɪtə gəʊ ɒn 
əˈsɛnt 
ˌʧaɪˈniːz njuː weɪv ˈsɪnəmə 
seɪm ˈpætən 
rɪˈpiːtɪd 
ˈnjuːmərəs 
ˈdɪfrənt ˈpɪərɪədz 
ˈtwɛntɪəθ ˈsɛnʧʊri 
sʌm ɪˈfɛkt 
rɪsˈpɛktɪv ˈneɪʃən 
ˈmæsɪv 
ɪn ˈmɛni ˈkeɪsɪz 
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnts 
məʊst ˈriːsnt dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ ˈkʌlʧərəl əˈʧiːvmənts 
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
ɒn ˈɒfə
krʊəl 
bæn 
ɪnˈfɔːs 
sʌb-pɑː ˈvjuːɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns 
ˈʌndə-dɪˈvɛləpt 
fɔːm 
tɛnd tuː 
ˈblɒkˌbʌstə ˈsuːpəˌhɪərəʊ ˈfrænʧaɪzɪz 
ˈɒskə-ˈwɜːði ˈdrɑːməz 
ˈləʊkəl ˈθɪətə ʧeɪnz 
ˈstrʌgl 
steɪ ɪn ˈbɪznɪs 
ˈstriːmɪŋ ˈɒpʃənz 
ˈɔːdiənsɪz 
səbˈskraɪb 
ˌdaʊnˈləʊd ˈmuːviz ɪˈliːgəli 
ˈækʧʊəl ˈkʌlʧərəl ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
rɪsˈtrɪkʃənz 
ˈkwɛsʧənəbl 
ˈθɪətəˌgəʊəz 
dɪˈpraɪvd ɒv ˈkwɒlɪti ˌriːkrɪˈeɪʃən 
ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd 
aʊtˈweɪ 
daɪˈvɜːʃənəri ˈvæljuː 
prɪˈzɜːvɪŋ 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ 
ˈsɛnsərɪŋ ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ˈɪnflʊənsɪz 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Some believe cinemas should show a w___________h of films from around the world, while others worry about the g________________t on l______________e. In my opinion, though r____________e on d_______________m can c________________y to the c______________________t of a nation, it is too s________e a r____________n.

Those w_______y of the p____________________s of films from other countries p_________o the importance of n_________________________s. When a country i__________s few films from a_________d, they are f_____________o making more and better movies to a___________________s. For instance, in the 1980s i_______________________r the c_____________________________a, few foreign films were shows. S________s instead f________________s Chinese film-makers like Zhang Yimou, who would l____________n to lead the early 1990s a________t of C________________________a. This s___________n has been r__________d in South Korea, Japan, France, and n___________s other countries at d____________________s in the 2_______________y. The s____________t on culture for each r___________________n has been m__________e and, i____________s, r________________s their m____________________________________s.

N____________s, watching foreign films allows individuals to enjoy the best entertainment o________r. It would be c_______l to b___n foreign films and e__________e a s___________________________e in countries with u________________d film industries. Film is, after all, mainly an enjoyable f______m of relaxation. The most popular movies t________o come from Hollywood and include b____________________________________s, O_________________________s, and comedies. Many l_______________________s would s______________e to s_________________s without foreign films and the new online s_________________s mean that a______________s would likely just s_______________e to Netflix or d____________________________y. The a__________________________s of such r_______________s might therefore be q__________________e while t_______________s would surely be d____________________________________n.

In conclusion, the examples of i____________d national film industries do not o___________h the d________________________e of film. There are other methods of p_______________g and e_________________g culture besides c_______________________________s.

Listening Practice

Listen about some important Korean films below:

Reading Practice

Read about some Chinese directors below:

The 10 Best Chinese Film Directors: Trendsetters & Pioneers

Speaking Practice

Answer the following questions from the real IELTS speaking:

Film/Movie Star

Who is your favourite film star?

Would you like to be a film star?

Have you ever met a film star in person?

Are film stars popular in your country?

Real Past IELTS Speaking Exam

Writing Practice

Write about the topic below then check with my sample answer:

Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real Past IELTS Writing Exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Film as Art (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)