By The Hunger
Oscar time. There’s no better time to look back on famous flagging moments in film. Perhaps it wasn’t always in pursuit of capturing flags, but there has always been a natural quest for exotic foreigners.
Flagging-related behaviour has filtered into the following films and are a testament to “hooking up with foreigners” 101. Whilst there are many more examples, the selected few highlight some famous hook-ups and memorable flagging moments on the silver screen.
In no particular order:
American Pie (1999)
It’s easy to think that Jim got the Czech flag with Czech exchange student Nadia. Not true. Although Jim got very close, especially during the infamous dancing camera scene, Jim’s sexual promptness disqualifies him not once, but twice, from hooking up with every sophomore’s wet dream.
- Captured Flags: No (Not until American Pie 2 does “The Sherminator” get Nadia’s Czech flag, and she gets his American.)
- Award: Shag the exchange student for “The Sherminator” and a Razi worthy performance by Jim.
Russian Dolls (2005)
Roman Duris’s character, Xavier, is a on a quest to find meaning in his life. In the process, he shags a couple of French girls (one of Senegalese descent), a gorgeous English model, a Spanish girl he chases around the streets sans clothes, as well as an English lass he falls in love with. Another character named William has a Russian love interest, hence the film title and hence the Russian flag. If that weren’t enough, there’s also a lesbian French flag claimed as well!
Make sure to watch the prequel first, The Spanish Apartment, the quintessential exchange student film. But be warned: French director Cédric Klapisch nails the ERASMUS exchange experience and this will have you applying to foreign universities in no time. I’ve never seen so much foreign shagging in one film.
- Captured Flags: French, Spanish, English, and Russian.
- Award: Multiple flags & girl-on-girl flagging moment.
Coming to America (1988)
Eddie Murphy’s character, Prince Akeem from Zamunda, falls in love big time when he meets Lisa, an American girl. It’s a made up African country but I’m willing to give it temporary sovereignty for theoretical purposes. Geographical borders are man-made and always have the possibility to change Good news, this equals more flags.
- Captured Flags: “Zamundan” flag, American flag.
- Award: Virgin (as in newly created) nation.
Scarface (1983)
Pacino again, this time as the infamous Cuban Tony Montana. Montana rises to the top of the cocaine food chain and marries his predecessor’s girl, Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer) along the way. This queen of hearts is the last card needed to achieve an American Dream royal flush. Montana’s right hand man, Manny, shags half of Miami on his way to his ace of hearts, Montana’s sister!
- Captured Flags: Cuban and American. Montana gets the American flag, Elvira gets the Cuban, and his buddy Manny is a flag magnet.
- Award: Cuba Libre (because everyone wants to fuck over Castro).
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Bruce Willis’s character can’t believe a language barrier forces him to risk his life for his daddy’s watch. Miscommunications are common when you are dating someone from another country. But it sure is worth it.
- Captured Flags: French flag, American flag.
- Award: Foreign relationship.
Euro Trip (2004)
After realizing that she looks more like Heidi Klum’s sister than Scharwzenegger’s brother, Scotty travels to Germany to meet his virtual pen pal. Takes him a long time but he finally gets his first flag. His nerdy friend nearly captures a Dutch in Amsterdam, but alas a street side BJ doesn’t count. In the second to last scene the two American friends have a mile high rendezvous but home flags don’t count. Really there should have been more flags earned, a road trip across Europe, come on!
- Captured Flags: German flag, American flag.
- Award: Most distance travelled for flag.
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
The young doctor earns his Ugandan flag on the way to his medical post in the opening scenes of the film. But his Ugandan flag trail doesn’t stop there – he has the stones to shag Idi Amin’s wife at the same party. They say these films are “based on real events” but no way that scene ever happened.
- Captured Flags: Ugandan and Scottish.
- Award: Rare flag, Fastest flag earned.
The Beach (2000)
If you can’t get laid in Thailand, then you have more problems than Gaddafi right now. Leonardo Di Caprio’s character, Richard, ends up with sexy French femme Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) in an untouched paradise. That’s akin to getting laid accidentally on the way to the Playboy Mansion. He has the right idea.
Not sure what those Swedish dudes or Francoise’s ex were doing there at night. I mean seriously who would want to be on that Thai island with no girls, I don’t care how fresh the seafood is, it sounds like a hellhole. Richard gets the English flag on his way back to the mainland but let’s not celebrate that.
- Captured Flags: French and English.
- Award: Backpacking Flag (most backpackers have a flagger side).
James Bond Collection
Worthy of a separate article, this guy has shagged and shot his way across the globe. And did so with typical Bond panache. Possibly the most famous flagger who ever lived.
- Captured Flags: A LOT.
- Award: Lifetime achievement award.
The Last Tango in Paris (1972)
An American in Paris, living the dream. The sex scene is as famous as the film itself. Don’t watch over breakfast while you’re eating toast and butter.
- Captured Flags: American and French.
- Award: Classic expat.
Godfather – Part One (1972)
A film that needs less introduction than Ben Hur, if you haven’t seen The Godfather Part One or Part Two yet (no need to watch the third), hire it, buy it, steal it, this needs to happen.
When Al Pacino’s character, Michael Corelone, kills the NYC Police Chief he’s forced into hiding in Sicily. It’s there he meets, marries, and bangs Apollonia (Simonetta Stefanelli), who despite being Italian looks more like a Greek Aphrodite. Unfortunately she is blown up in a car, he returns to the US, and then ends up marrying his ex-girlfriend, played by a less-stunning Dianne Keaton.
- Captured Flags: Italian and American.
- Award: Foreign marriage. (Two marriages in one film for Michael Corleone, not bad.)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
I bet Woody Allen’s studio pitch went like this: Think Scarlett Johanssen, Penelope Cruz, and Barcelona’s BOOM; what budget would you like Woody? If this film doesn’t make you want to go to Spain, then you didn’t understand the film and are quite possibly blind.
- Captured Flags: Spanish and American.
- Award: My Anyone’s dream flag threesome.
Blow (2001)
My take: Johnny Depp’s character, George Jung, quips “life passes most people by with the making grand plans for it.” Not this guy. America’s version of Pablo Escobar also marries and bangs his Colombian bride in a blaze of coke.
- Captured Flags: Colombian and American.
- Award: Flagging in style.
Cleopatra (1963)
Cleopatra, Cesar. One of the most famous love stories in history. They gave birth to a son Caesarion: was he more Egyptian or more Roman?
- Captured Flags: Roman and Egyptian.
- Award: Most famous foreign hook up.
Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Three brothers head out for a spiritual journey led by the oldest, Francis (Owen Wilson). Their quest for enlightenment aboard the Darjeeling Limited takes them places they never thought of, capturing the Indian flag being one them. One of the brothers, Jack (Jason Schwartzman), hooks up with a hot Indian stewardess on board the locomotive in true Karma Sutra fashion.
- Captured Flags: Indian and American.
- Award: Best public flag shag.
Troy (1956, 2004)
The most beautiful mortal who ever died, Helen of Troy, so stunning she started the most famous war in history. The most famous horse in history also inspired a timeless name for a condom company, still genius.
- Captured Flags: Trojan and Greek.
- Award: Hook up that changed the world.
