Drama

  • Henry Hathaway – Peter Ibbetson [+Commentary] (1935)

    Henry Hathaway1931-1940DramaRomanceUSA

    Synopsis
    When his mother dies, young Peter Ibbetson leaves Paris and his best friend, Mary, behind to live with a severe uncle in England. Years later, Peter (Gary Cooper) is an architect with little time for women, until he begins a project with the Duke (John Halliday) and Duchess of Towers (Ann Harding). When Peter and the duchess become great friends, she reveals that she is Mary — but the duke soon suspects his wife of infidelity and challenges Peter to a duel, threatening the pair’s second chance.Read More »

  • Julian Schnabel – Before Night Falls (2000)

    Julian Schnabel1991-2000DramaRomanceUSA

    Synopsis
    Episodic look at the life of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in Oriente province to his death in New York City. He joins Castro’s rebels. By 1964, he is in Havana. He meets the wealthy Pepe, an early lover; a love-hate relationship lasts for years. Openly gay behavior is a way to spite the government. His writing and homosexuality get him into trouble: he spends two years in prison, writing letters for other inmates and smuggling out a novel. He befriends Lázaro Gomes Garriles, with whom he lives stateless and in poverty in Manhattan after leaving Cuba in the Mariel boat-lift. When asked why he writes, he replies cheerfully, “Revenge.”Read More »

  • Marcel Carné – Thérèse Raquin AKA The Adultress (1953)

    Marcel Carné1951-1960CrimeDramaFrance

    After being adopted by her aunt, Thérèse Raquin was forced into marrying her sickly cousin Camille at an early age. For the past 17 years, she has been trapped in a loveless marriage, working in her aunt’s haberdashery shop in Lyon to support the husband she has grown to despise. One day, Camille gets himself drunk and has to be carried home by Laurent, an Italian lorry driver. The instant that Thérèse sees Laurent she is attracted to him. He is everything a man should be, not the mean sickly creature she is married to. Laurent is equally drawn to Thérèse and the two embark on a clandestine love affair. When he realises his wife’s infidelity, Camille decides to take her to Paris, to place her with relatives who will cure her of her wanton nature. Read More »

  • Leos Carax – Annette (2021)

    Leos Carax2021-2030DramaFranceRomance

    Los Angeles, today. Henry (Adam Driver) is a stand-up comedian with a fierce sense of humor who falls in love with Ann (Marion Cotillard), a world-renowned opera singer. Under the spotlight, they form a passionate and glamorous couple. The birth of their first child, Annette, a mysterious little girl with an exceptional destiny, will turn their lives upside down.Read More »

  • Gyal Sonthar – Dbus lam gyi nyi ma AKA The Sun Beaten Path (2011)

    2011-2020ArthouseChinaDramaGyal Sonthar

    The film narrates the life of a grieving and guilt-ridden young farmer on his way back from a pilgrimage to Lhasa after he had killed his mother in a tragic.

    The film received the Dragons & Tigers Award at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival.Read More »

  • Masahiro Makino – Wakaki ni ho Jirocho: Tokaido no tsumujikaze AKA Gale of Tokai (1962)

    1961-1970ActionDramaJapanMasahiro Makino

    The story about the young Yakuza boss Jirocho, the role popularised by the great Chiezo Kataoka! An outstanding movie with intrigue and suspense directed by Masahiro Makino. This is the final in Makino’s Jirocho trilogy!

    Synopsis:
    When yakuza boss Jirocho learns about the illegal activities in the town of Kofu where poor towns people are being victimized by the local yakuza boss, he invites his disciples to set things right.Read More »

  • Banmei Takahashi – Ai no shinsekai AKA New Love in Tokyo (1994)

    Banmei Takahashi1991-2000DramaJapanRomance

    Synopsis
    A look a the lives of two sex workers in Tokyo: Rei, who works as an S&M dominatrix, and Ayumi, in the more straightforward profession of call girl. In addition to their working life, the film also looks at their private lives. Rei is acting in an amateur theatre company (along with the receptionist from Ayumi’s escort service), while Ayumi is living with her student-boyfriend as he struggles to finally get accepted to college.Read More »

  • Robert Altman – Vincent & Theo (1990)

    Robert Altman1981-1990ArthouseDramaUSA

    Synopsis:
    During his lifetime, Vincent Van Gogh (Tim Roth) has no greater champion of his work than his devoted brother, Theo (Paul Rhys). As an art gallery owner, Theo pushes for the recognition that Van Gogh’s masterpieces deserve, only to meet with abject failure. While Van Gogh struggles with obscurity and mental illness, Theo faces serious financial difficulties due to poor sales. Eventually, both the Van Gogh brothers begin falling apart over the reality of their unrealized dreams.Read More »

  • Yvonne Rainer – The Man Who Envied Women (1985)

    Yvonne Rainer1981-1990DramaExperimentalUSA

    In an avant-garde attempt to explore widely disparate, unconnected subjects dealing with topics as diverse as sex, a broken marriage, artists’ housing in New York, and Central American politics, director Yvonne Rainer meanders through a lot of philosophical and rhetorical territory. In the end, the voyage may be too much for most viewers, although certain segments of the film stand out as quite successful.Read More »

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