Drama

  • Bertrand Tavernier – La princesse de Montpensier AKA The Princess of Montpensier (2010)

    2001-2010Bertrand TavernierDramaFrance

    France, 1562. Against a background of the savage Catholic/Protestant wars, Marie de Mézières (Mélanie Thierry), a beautiful young aristocrat, and the rakish Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel), fall in love, but Marie’s father has promised her hand in… France, 1562. Against a background of the savage Catholic/Protestant wars, Marie de Mézières (Mélanie Thierry), a beautiful young aristocrat, and the rakish Henri de Guise (Gaspard Ulliel), fall in love, but Marie’s father has promised her hand in marriage to the Prince of Montpensier (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet). When he is called away to battle, her husband leaves her in the care of Count Chabannes (Lambert Wilson), an aging nobleman with a disdain for warfare. As he experiences his own forbidden desire for Marie, Chabannes must also protect her from the dangerously corrupt court dominated by Catherine de Medici. Director Bertrand Tavernier translates Madame de Lafayette’s 1622 novella into a bracingly intelligent and moving evocation of the terrible conflict between duty and passion. Though the themes are classic, Tavernier, with the cinematographer Bruno de Keyzer’s vivid landscapes and Philippe Sarde’s pulsing score, makes them feel passionately, urgently contemporary.Read More »

  • Gonzalo García Pelayo – Salón de Uñas AKA Nail Salon (2024)

    2021-2030ArgentinaComedyDramaGonzalo García Pelayo

    “Salón De Uñas revolves onces again around the question
    to which extend new relationship models can be feasible…” ~Cine ArgentinaRead More »

  • Tunç Basaran – Piano Piano Bacaksiz AKA Piano Piano Kid (1991)

    1991-2000DramaFantasyTunc BasaranTurkey

    Quote:
    The original meaning of the word “piano” is “quiet” or “soft,” so when Kemal’s uncle Kerim admonishes him by saying Piano Piano Kid, he’s encouraging him to go through life softly. Uncle Kerim hopes to improve the family fortunes by using his numismatic scholarship to make a great deal on old coins. The boy lives in his family’s boarding house, surrounded by interesting and eccentric, but kindhearted people. His father is thoroughly addicted to gambling, and aside from rents paid by their tenants, the family makes most of its money through the efforts of Kemal’s mother in her acting jobs. Though his parents often argue, it is also clear that they love one another. This sweet family drama is set in Istanbul in the 1940s, and won a “Best Director” award in the 1991 Istanbul Film Festival. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie GuideRead More »

  • José Giovanni – La scoumoune AKA The Pariah (1972)

    1971-1980CrimeDramaFranceJosé Giovanni

    Episodic portrait of a criminal, from 1934 until after the war. Roberto Borgo is tough, cool, sardonic, loyal, and deadly. He comes to Marseilles to help his friend Xavier Saratov get out of jail, first killing a local brothel and casino boss to take over the businesses, and, with the help of Xavier’s sister, Georgia, amass money for Xavier’s defense. Xavier loses in court, so Roberto gets himself thrown in prison to be with his friend. Escape proves futile, but they are pardoned in exchange for working as sappers. After the war, Xavier is a bitter cripple, but Roberto remains detached, extorting ownership of a casino, which puts his friends at risk. Does he care?Read More »

  • Jacques Toulemonde Vidal – Anna (2015)

    2011-2020DramaFranceJacques Toulemonde Vidal

    Anna is a young Colombian woman living in Paris, daily struggling with her emotional frailty. She tries to spend more time with her ten-year-old son, Nathan, but Philippe, her former husband, doesn’t trust her anymore and threatens her to take full custody of the child. Having no other choice, she convinces her boyfriend Bruno to help her, and the three of them fly away to Colombia. During this journey, Anna will strive to build a new family, and will face the difficulty of being a mother.Read More »

  • Harun Farocki – Etwas wird sichtbar AKA Before Your Eyes (1981)

    1981-1990DramaGermanyHarun Farocki

    Google translated description from the Harun Farocki’s site:
    Harun Farocki’s film Something Becomes Visible does not want to explain why a war in such a distant country could for a moment spill over to the whole western world. It’s about distances, relationships between. Nor does he explain, he just reminds us that never before has a war been so massively covered. But it would be too much to say that the pictures helped determine its course. It shows the aftermath, the effects of the war. He combines a historical motif with a romantic one. Vietnam and a couple in love.Read More »

  • István Szabó – Zárójelentés AKA Final Report (2020)

    2011-2020DramaHungaryIstván Szabó

    A cardiologist is sent into retirement, but he feels at loss without his work. He returns to his home village to work as a general practitioner. This is the start of his ordeal: he’s confronted with raw reality, which finally brings him to his knees. But music has the last word.Read More »

  • Sophie Fillières – Ma vie ma gueule AKA This Life of Mine (2024)

    2021-2030ComedyDramaFranceSophie Fillières

    Plot: Barbie, once an attractive, devoted mother and partner, faces newfound challenges as she turns 55, descending into darkness, violence, and absurdity while grappling with her identity, relationships, and life’s complexities.Read More »

  • Shintarô Katsu – Zatôichi AKA Zatoichi 26: Darkness is his ally (1989)

    1981-1990ActionDramaJapanShintarô Katsu

    Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. When he’s caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series of sword-slashing showdownsRead More »

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