42 Up The latest instalment in this remarkable series.Directed by Juzo Itami -
Tampopo Noodles and sex, a gourmet comedy.
A Taxing Woman Satire about money sex, power and tax evasion.
A Taxing Woman Returns The hilarious sequel.
Directed by Akira Kurosawa -
The Bad Sleep Well 1960. Toshiro Mifune stars in Kurosawa’s first venture with his own short-lived production company.
Hidden Fortress 1958. Great comedy - George Lucas acknowledges it as one of his sources for "Star Wars".
Kagemusha 1980. A 16th Century thief is spared execution if he will pose as a secretly deceased warlord.
Ran 1985. Based on Shakespeare’s "King Lear".
Rashomon 1951. Set in 12th Century Kyoto, offers four mutually contradictory versions of an ambush, rape & murder, each through the eyes of one of those involved.
Rhapsody in August 1990. Concerned with the evils of atomic warfare.
Sanjuro 1962. The sequel to "Yojimbo".
Seven Samurai 1954. A 16th century village hires professional warriors to fend off bandits - a classic!
Throne of Blood 1957. Based on Shakespeare’s "Macbeth", set in 17th century Japan.
Yojimbo 1961. Tongue - in - cheek samurai eastern-western, stars Toshiro Mifune.
Directed by Nagisa Oshima -
Empire of Passion For those whom passion enslaves there is no happiness, but in hell. Rated R. English language version.
Violent Killer Disturbing tale of a brutal sex murderer, his protective wife and a woman he previously raped. Rated R.
An Actor’s Revenge Dir. Kon Ichikawa, 1962. A kabuki actor seeks revenge on the men who drove his parents to suicide.
The Ballad of Narayama Dir. Shohei Imamura. Story of the struggle for survival in a Northern Japanese village 100 years ago. Rated R.
Circus Boys Dir. Kaizo Hayashi. A Celebration of the magic of the circus and the cinema, of adventures and dreams that never die.
The Family Game Dir. Yoshimitsu Morita, black comedy starring Juzo Itami.
Hana-Bi/ Fireworks Dir. Beat Takeshi. Ex-cop drifts towards a one-off crime seemingly for all the right reasons.
Kamikaze Taxi Dir. Masato Harada, 1995. A young, angry, combative movie about those endemically racist, sexist and corrupt institutions, the yakuza and the government.
Kwaidan Dir Masaki Kobayashi, 1964. Compelling quartet of Japanese ghost stories.
The Life of Oharu Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi, 1952. Powerful and elegant 17th century chronicle of the decline and fall of a woman from the Imperial court into prostitution.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Dir. Paul Schrader. Bio of the famous Japanese writer.
Onibaba Dir. Kaneto Shindo, 1964. A strange and violent folktale.
Picture Bride Dir. Kayo Hatta. Based on the stories of Japanese sugar plantation labourers in Hawaii, in the early 1920s, sending home for their mail order brides.
The Porn Merchants Dir. Shohei Imamura. Rated R.
The Sensualist Dir. Yukio Abe. Overwhelmingly beautiful portrayal of the effervescence of culture at the height of the Edo Era. Animated.
Shall We Dance? Dir. Masayaki Suo. Delightful Japanese style "Strictly Ballroom".
Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t Dir. Masayuki Suo. Corporeal Japanese comedy.
Tokyo Story Dir Yasujiro Ozu, 1953. Quietly powerful story about old age and cultural change. Widely thought to be a masterpiece.
Tetsuo: The Iron Man Dir. Shinya Tsukamoto - primal 21st century cinema. Rated R.
Tetsuo II: Body Hammer Dir. Shinya Tsukamoto. Weird, beautiful and horrific sequel. Also Rated R.
Violent Cop Dir. "Beat" Takeshi. Taut direction and comic moments that suddenly explode into violence. Rated R.
A Weatherwoman Dir. Tomaki Hosoyan. Bizarre cult comedy.
A Weatherwoman Returns Dir. Tomaki Hosoyan. The sequel.
Woman of the Dunes Dir. Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1964. A highly charged and remarkably sensual exploration of the human condition.
CHINA/ HONG KONG/ TAIWAN/TIBET
Directed by Chen Kaige -
Farewell My Concubine. Cannes Festival Award Winner.
King of the Children. Reflects a culture in the throes of change.
Life on a String Intensely beautiful epic about a blind old musician revered as a saint.
Yellow Earth The interaction of a communist soldier with a backward village.
Directed by Ang Lee -
see also Sense & Sensibility & The Ice Storm in Contemporary UK & US Drama
Eat, Drink, Man, Woman Comedy about a retired Taipei chef and his three unmarried daughters.
The Wedding Banquet US-Taiwanese. Top-notch comedy in which a gay Taiwanese, living in New York, tries to fool his parents by having a fake wedding.
Directed by Zhang Yimou -
Ju Dou, 1991. Magnificent melodrama set in and around a dyeing workshop in a remote village in the 20s.
Raise the Red Lantern Superb film, winner of the Silver Lion Award, Venice Film Festival, 1992.
Red Sorghum Chronicles a most untraditional union between a pair of rural lovers.
The Road Home 1999. All scenes in the present are shot in monochrome and all flashbacks to the 50s are in glorious colour, a seemingly contentious interpretation of recent Chinese history.
Shanghai Triad A complex tale of life and gangsters in Shanghai during the 30s.
To Live Unlike other films covering the traumas of the rise of Maoism, this film invokes the optimistic spirit that allowed people to survive.
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai -
Chungking Express Tells two loosely interlinked stories about lovelorn cops who get involved with women who are wrong for them.
Days of Being Wild Set in Hong Kong in 1960.
Fallen Angels Story of a Hong Kong hit-man.
Happy Together Lyrical meditation on the meanings of partings, reunions and attempts to start over.
The Blue Kite Dir. Tian Zhuangzhuang. Epic drama of domestic life during China’s 50s & 60s, seen mostly through the eyes of one young boy.
Blush Dir. Li Shaohong. Set in Shanghai in the 1930s.
Bullet in the Head Dir. John Woo, 1990. Ambitious Vietnam epic about the dehumanising effects of greed and repression.
Chinese Ghost Story Dir. Ching Siu-Tung, cult Hong Kong flick produced by martial arts great Tsui Hark.
Chinese Ghost Story II Dir. Ching Siu-Tung. More high style, low comedy and classy special effects.
Chinese Ghost Story III Dir. Ching Siu-Tung. Completes his ghostly series.
The Cup Dir. Khyentse Norbu. Delightful Tibetan tale of a group of monks obsessed with football and the World Cup.
East Palace, West Palace Dir. Zhang Yuan. The most daring of all the "illegal" independent films made in China in the 90s.
Ermo Dir. Zhou Xiaowen, 1994. Entertaining tragi-comedy about the ups and downs of modernisation in China.
Foreign Moon Dir. Zhang Zeming. Wittily charts the lives of 3 Chinese emigrés living in the West
Hard Boiled Dir. John Woo, Hong Kong. Critically acclaimed, but unbelievably violent action film. Rated R.
Horse Thief Dir. Tian Zhuangzhuang. A film from Tibet.
Kitchen Dir. Yim Ho. Cantonese adaptation of the cult Japanese novel by Banana Yoshimoto.
Old Well Dir. Wu Tianming, starring Zhang Yimou.
Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker Dir. He Ping. Based on a short story by Feng Jicai, this is a multi-award winning tale of love in China.
Rouge Dir. Stanley Kwan, 1989. Award-winning melodrama which features two of Hong Kong’s greatest stars - Anita Mui & Leslie Cheung.
Sex and Zen Dir. Michael Mak. Outrageous Cantonese erotic saga. Rated R.
Sex and Zen II Dir. Chin Man-Kei. The wildly improbable sequel. Rated R.
Sex and Zen Part 3 Dir. Aman Chang. Just when you thought they’d "done it all", there’s more. Also Rated R.
The Story of Xinghua Dir. Yin Li, 1993. Set in a remote northern village, it explores the conflict between moral corruption and ancient traditions and the strength of new ideals in modern China.
Sun Valley Dir. He Ping. Mythic tale of a widow, her lover and the taciturn hitman who turns up to kill the lover.
Swan Song From the streets of Canton, the powerful story of a father & son betrayed by the "new" China.
The Temptation of a Monk Dir. Clara Law. An epic story of love, lust and betrayal set in 7th century China.
Windhorse Dir. Paul Wagner & Thupten Tsering. Tibetan
THAILAND/ INDONESIA/ PHILIPPINES/VIETNAM
Cyclo Dir. Tran Anh Hung. A compelling portrait of moral derailment & salvation in a city in social & spiritual turmoil. Rated R.
The Elephant Keeper Feature with conservationist theme about illegal logging in the north of Thailand.
Midnight Dancers Dir. Mel Chionglo. Gay sexiness with social criticism...a wild journey through the sordid underbelly of Manila. Rated R.
My Sky, My Home Dir. Slamet Rahardjo Djarot. Gentle Indonesian drama which will appeal to children and adults alike.
The Scent of Green Papaya Dir. Tran Anh Hung. Exquisite exploration of a servant girl’s private world in 50s Saigon.
Three Seasons Dir. Tony Bui. Debut feature for Vietnamese-American Bui is a complex tale of modern day Saigon. Stars Harvey Keitel.
Directed by Satyajit Ray -
An Enemy of the People 1989, Ibsen’s play transposed to the streets of Bengal.
The Chess Players 1977, ironic tale of two 19th century nawabs playing interminable games whilst their domestic domains crumble. In Hindi.
Aparajito 1956 Second part of the "Apu trilogy". Winner of Golden Lion at 1957 Venice Film Festival.
The World of Apu 1959, final part of the trilogy takes Apu through marriage and bereavement.
The Bandit Queen Dir. Shekar Kapur. Powerful true story of India’s renowned female rebel leader. Rated R.
Earth Dir. Deepa Mehta. Powerful and impressive drama set against the historical background of partition between India and Pakistan.
Fire Dir. Deepa Mehta. Taboo-breaking story of two women rejecting their traditional family roles. Made in English.
Kama Sutra Dir. Mira Nair. Visually delicious and sensual story built around the ancient text about sexual love. Made in English.
Maya Dir. Ketan Mehta. Based on Flaubert’s "Madam Bovary".
Salaam Bombay Dir. Mira Nair, 1988. The most potent film about street children since Hector Babenco’s "Pixote". In Hindi.
AFRICAN & MIDDLE EASTERN CINEMA:
Bashu, the Little Stranger Dir. Bahram Beizai. Bashu loses his home and family in an air raid and flees the city.
Camera Afrique & Camera Arabe Dir. Ferid Boughedir. Two overview documentaries.
Children of Heaven Dir. Majid Majidi. Engaging Iranian drama.
Gabbeh Dir. Mohsen Makhmalbaf. Lyrical Iranian film about colour, life & love.
Halfaouine Dir. Ferid Boughedir, Tunisia 1990. Traces the sexual awakening of an adolescent boy and the role of women in Tunisian society.
Journey of Hope Dir. Xavier Koller, 1990. Academy award winner - best foreign film. Dramatic tale of a Turkish family’s flight into Switzerland in search of a better life.
The Runner Dir. Amir Naderi, 1984. An astonishing piece of filmmaking in which a harsh account of modern poverty supports passages of extravagant but unsentimental lyricism. Persian language/ English subtitles.
The Silences of the Palace Dir. Moufida Tlatli, France/Tunisia 1994. Remarkable debut about the days of female slavery in Tunisia.
Three African Shorts Three short fictional films that offer a vivid overview of the 30 year history of filmmaking in Black Africa.
Tiläi (The Law) Dir. Idrissa Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso, 1990. Examines the role of the law in village society.
The White Balloon Dir. Jafar Panahi. Reveals the terrors & wonders of the world from the point of view of a 7-year-old girl.
Xala Dir. Sembene Ousmane, 1974. Satirical look at the Senegalese bourgeoisie.
Yaaba Dir. Idrissa Ouedraogo, 1989. In the Mooré language of Burkina Faso, "yaaba" is a title of respect, meaning "grandmother" and "yaaba" is the name given by a young boy to an old woman ostracised by his village.
Yol Dir. Serif Gören, 1982. Political expatriate, Yilmaz Gurney’s extraordinary Turkish odyssey.
Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix -
Betty Blue — the Director’s Cut An extra hour of Beatrice Dalle’s pouting. Rated R.
Diva 1982. A stylish operatic thriller.
The Moon in the Gutter 1983. Stars Gerard Depardieu and Nastassja Kinski.
Roselyne and the Lions. Courage, danger and fear are the main elements.
Directed by Claude Berri -
Germinal Gerard Depardieu stars in adaptation of the Emile Zola classic.
Jean de Florette Winner of 3 British Oscars. With Yves Montand and Gerard Depardieu.
Lucie Aubrac Based on the true story of two WWII Resistance heroes.
Manon des Sources Sequel to "Jean de Florette". Both based on the books by Marcel Pagnol.
Directed by Luc Besson -
see also The Fifth Element in Sci-Fi
The Big Blue extended 162mins. Widescreen version.
Joan of Arc 1999. Star studded sword and sorcery epic starring Milla Jovovich as Joan. Mainly in English.
Nikita Punk junkie viciously kills a Parisian cop but is given a second chance.
Subway Misfits and thieves living in the Paris underground. Stylish blend of MTV and "Diva".
Directed by Robert Bresson -
L’Argent 1983, adapted from a Tolstoy story, winner of Grand Prix at Cannes.
A Man Escaped 1956, thought to be the key film of his influential career, it is based on the true story of a Resistance fighter who was sentenced to death by the Nazis.
Directed by Luis Buñuel -
Belle de Jour 1967, stars Catherine Deneuve
Diary of a Chambermaid 1964, the personal dilemma of a maid caught in the grip of Fascism in 1939 France.
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 1972, Oscar winning surreal comedy with Fernando Rey & Delphine Seyrig.
The Exterminating Angel 1962. Guests at an elegant dinner party cannot bear to leave, but die instead.
Spanish language, English s/titles.
The Milky Way 1968, a surreal pilgrim’s progress.
The Phantom of Liberty 1974, dreamlike comedy stars Monica Vitti, Michel Piccoli.
That Obscure Object of Desire 1977, Buñuel’s last film stars Fernando Rey hopelessly in love with a young virgin. In typical Buñuel fashion 2 actresses play the virgin.
Tristana 1970, black comedy stars Catherine Deneuve.
Viridiana 1961, powerful psychological study of a novice nun who loses her innocence. Spanish language, English subtitles.
Directed by Marcel Carné -
Les Enfants du Paradis (The Children of Paradise) 1945, one of the most celebrated films of cinema history, everyone should see it at least once.
Le Jour Se Lève (Daybreak) 1939. One of the great "moody" classics of pre-war French cinema, has Jean Gabin playing a doomed murderer awaiting the inevitable arrival of the police.
Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows) 1938, classic romantic crime thriller stars Jean Gabin.
Les Visiteurs du Soir 1942. A whimsical medieval fairy tale that is visually splendid.
Directed by Claude Chabrol -
Une Affaire de Femmes Stars Isabelle Huppert, based on the true story of Marie Louise Giraud wartime mother and abortionist.
Les Biches Studies the permutational relationships of a man and two women.
The Blood of Others. Starring Jodie Foster, based on the book by Simone De Beauvoir. In English.
L’Enfer/ Torment Psychological thriller about pathological jealousy.
A Judgement in Stone Based on the novel by Ruth Rendell.
Madame Bovary Marvellous adaptation of the Flaubert novel. Isabelle Huppert stars.
Masques Philippe Noiret stars in unusual murder mystery.
Quiet Days in Clichy Based on a novel by Henry Miller. Rated R. In English.
Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
Les Diaboliques 1954. The great masterpiece of the macabre, stars Simone Signoret.
The Wages of Fear 1953, Yves Montand stars in one of the most suspenseful films ever made.
Directed by Jean Cocteau -
The Blood of a Poet 1930, intriguing and inventive first film.
La Belle et la Bête 1946, classic retelling of "Beauty and the Beast".
Orphée 1950, updating of the Orpheus legend.
Directed by Jacques Demy -
Lola 1960, enigmatic Anouk Aimée stars in one of the influential films of the French "New Wave".
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, 1964. The Extraordinary French musical with Catherine Deneuve.
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard -
Alas for Me 1993. Obscure, yet visually and aurally ravishing. Although regarded as a master of the modern cinema very few of his films have had commercial releases in Australia, but this one, starring Gerard Depardieu did.
Alphaville 1965, one of his most enjoyable early films.
Band of Outsiders (Bande à Parte) 1964, continues his love affair with Anna Karina and with Hollywood.
Breathless (À Bout de Souffle) 1959, groundbreaking "new wave" film stars Jean Seberg & Jean-Paul Belmondo.
Contempt 1963, humorous look at international movie making, stars Fritz Lang, Brigitte Bardot & Michel Piccoli. In English.
Hail Mary (Je Vous Salue Marie) 1985, caused a riot when first screened. Also contains "The Book of Mary" by Anne-Marie Mieville, a study of the virginity cult. Rated R.
Passion 1982, stars Isabelle Hupert, Hanna Schygulla.
Pierrot le Fou 1965, the last romantic couple flee Paris for the south of France, or do they?
Slow Motion (Sauve qui peut [la vie]) 1980, perhaps his most autobiographical film. Rated R.
Two or Three Things I Know About Her (2 ou 3 Choses que Je sais d’elle) 1966, dazzling sociological fable of Paris and prostitution.
Une Femme est Une Femme 1961, stars Jean-Paul Belmondo & Anna Karina (then Godard’s wife).
Weekend 1967, a mind-expanding diatribe. Rated R.
Directed by Patrice Leconte -
The Girl on the Bridge/ La Fille sur le Pont 1998. Stars Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis.
The Hairdresser’s Husband An amusing study in the erotic possibilities of hairdressing.
Monsieur Hire Brilliant ‘noir’ character study.
Ridicule An idiosyncratic but never self-indulgent view of pre-Revolutionary France.
Yvonne’s Perfume Gloriously sensual tale about a summer on Lake Geneva in the ‘50s.
Directed by Jean Renoir -
La Bête Humaine 1938, stunning
adaptation of Zola’s novel about
destiny, violence, passion and trains.
La Grande Illusion 1937, monumental film on the folly of war.
La Marseillaise 1938, retells events of the French Revolution, financed entirely by public subscription.
The Rules of the Game (La Règle du Jeu) 1939, banned upon initial release as "too demoralising", this brilliant social comedy was not widely seen until 1956.
Directed by Alain Resnais -
Hiroshima Mon Amour 1959. A Landmark film of the "new wave", scripted by Marguerite Duras.
L’Année Dernière à Marienbad (Last Year in Marienbad) script by Alain Robbe-Grillet, 1961.
Nuit et Brouillard (Night and Fog) Commissioned to mark the 10th anniversary of the liberation of WWII concentration camps - a documentary classic.
Providence His first English language film is a complex drama starring John Gielgud, Dirk Bogarde and Ellen Burstyn.
Directed by Eric Rohmer -
§ An Autumn Tale/ Conte d’Automne
1998 A leisurely but immensely charming comedy.
The Baker of Monceau/ Suzanne’s Career The first of the "moral tales"
Le Beau Marriage ( A Good Marriage) 2nd of the "Comedie et Proverbes" series.
Boyfriends and Girlfriends 1987,
One of the "Comedies and proverbs" series about love and friendship.
Conte de Printemps (A Tale of Springtime) 1989, official selection of New York and Berlin Film Festivals.
Claire’s Knee 1971, a middle-aged man’s obsession with youth.
La Collectioneuse 1967, 3rd in his "moral tales" series.
La Femme de L’Aviateur 1st of "comedies and proverbs" series.
Full Moon in Paris 1984. "He who has two women loses his soul, he who has two houses loses his mind".
Love in the Afternoon His final moral tale takes the choice beyond love and flirtation into the confines of marriage.
Ma Nuit Chez Maude 1969, still one of his best.
Die Marquise von O.... 1976, award winning adaptation of German novel. In German/ English subtitles.
Pauline à la Plage 1982, 3rd in "comedies and proverbs" series.
Perceval 1978, retells the tale of the search for the grail.
The Sign of Leo His rarely seen first feature.
A Summer’s Tale The third film in his four seasons set is totally beguiling.
Directed by Jacques Tati -
Jour de Fête 1949, award-winning feature debut is an hilarious expose of the modern obsession with speed and efficiency, set amidst a rural village.
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday 1952, delightful comedy classic. This English
language version was created by the director.
Mon Oncle 1958, a poetic satire of man against machine.
Playtime 1967. Hulot on the loose in a surreal, scarcely recognisable Paris. Original international dialogue.
Tati Shorts 3 hilarious short films by Jacques Tati.
Directed by Bertrand Tavernier -
Round Midnight 1986, a loving homage to jazz musicians and their world. In English.
Death Watch starring Romy Schneider, Harvey Keitel and Max von Sydow. In English.
Life and Nothing But Stars Philippe Noiret and Sabine Azema in an extraordinary drama of the aftermath of war.
A Sunday in the Country Elderly painter who never quite made the grade visited by offspring who never quite fulfilled his expectations.
These Foolish Things/ Daddy Nostalgie Moving drama stars Dirk Bogarde and Jane Burkin. In English & French.
Directed by François Truffaut -
Anne and Muriel/ Two English Girls (Les Deuxs Anglaises et le Continent) 1971, tantalising romance of discreet menage à trois.
Jules et Jim 1962, the most famous and critically acclaimed of his films - still fresh after 30 years.
The Last Metro 1980. Drama set during WWII, stars Catherine Deneuve & Gerard Depardieu.
Les Quatres Cents Coups (The 400 Blows) 1959, the film that launched the French "New Wave".
Tirez sur le Pianiste (Shoot the Pianist) 1960, affectionate homage to the Hollywood gangster film.
Directed by Jean Vigo -
L’Atalante 1934 classic has frequently been placed by critics amongst the ten best films of all time.
Zéro de Conduite 1933, equally celebrated, this anarchic view of a French school was banned until 1945.
The Accompanist Dir. Claude Miller. Wartime tale of deceit towards oneself and one’s country.
Au Petit Marguery Dir. Laurent Benegui. The restaurant of the title has been a haven of friendship in Paris, but tonight is its closing night — its last supper.
Au Revoir Les Enfants Dir. Louis Malle. Moving autobiographical film set in a convent school in 1944.
36 Fillette Dir. Catherine Breillat. Examines the sexual coming of age of an adolescent girl. Rated R.
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Dir. Léos Carax. Visually stunning but anarchic tale of a pair of homeless lovers.
Angel Dust Dir. Edouard Niermans. An elliptical noir plot and offbeat comedy - stars Bertrand Giraudeau.
Artemisia Dir. Agnes Merlet. Biopic on the life of the revolutionary 17th century female artist Artemisia Gentileschi.
As Thick As Thieves Dir. Claude Zidi, comedy in tradition of "Les Fugitifs".
Autobus Dir. Eric Rochant. A suspenseful ride through France keeps you guessing about the outcome to the very end.
Le Bal Dir. Ettore Scola, multiple French Academy Award winner, based on the work of the Theatre du Compagnol.
Beaumarchais Dir. Edouard Molinaro. An 18th century costume romp based on the colourful life of the opinionated, highly sexed scoundrel, & playwright of the title.
La Belle Noiseuse: Divertimento Dir. Jacques Rivette. This is the shorter version of Rivette’s adaptation of Balzac’s story about a painter, "The Unknown Masterpiece"
Le Bonheur est dans le pré Dir. Etienne Chatiliez. Fairly low-brow comedy about a man escaping the boredom of his life.
La Cage Aux Folles Dir. Edouardo Molinaro, a cult camp comedy classic. Dubbed into English.
Celestial Clockwork Dir. Fina Torres. A giddy fairytale comedy. In French & Spanish with subtitles.
Claudel: the story of Rodin’s mistress Dir Bruno Nuytten, with Isabelle Adjani & Gerard Depardieu.
Céline et Julie Vont en Bateau (Celine and Julie go Boating) Dir. Jacques Rivette, 1974. Brilliantly allusive meditation on the nature of fantasy.
C’est La Vie Dir. Diane Kurys. Bittersweet recollection of a summer in adolescence.
Chocolat Dir. Claire Denis. A young woman returns to the Cameroons where she recalls her childhood as the daughter of a district governor.
The City of Lost Children Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro. Another bizarre tale from the makers of "Delicatessen".
Le Colonel Chabert Dir. Yves Angelo. Great adaptation of a tall tale by Balzac starring Depardieu.
Les Compères Dir. Francis Veber. Comedy in which a desperate woman manipulates her former boyfriends into searching for her runaway son.
Le Confessionnal/ The Confessional Dir. Robert LePage. French-Canadian thriller about the making of Hitchcock’s "I Confess".
La Crise/ The Crisis Dir. Coline Serreau. Black comedy from the maker of "Romuald et Juliette".
Cyrano de Bergerac Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau. Multiple award winner stars Gerard Depardieu.
Danton Dir. Andrzej Wajda. Depardieu stars as the historic revolutionary in a parable of modern life.
The Dark Woods Dir. Jacques Dearay. Thriller with Beatrice Dalle.
Death in a French Garden Dir. Michel Deville, sex lies and videotape French style. Rated R.
Delicatessen Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro. Crazy comedy, winner of 4 French Academy awards.
§ The Dinner Game/ Le Diner de Cons Dir. Francis Veber. Black comedy about a group of friends who compete with each other in providing an idiot to be their dinner guest.
La Discrète Dir. Christian Vincent. Sly French comedy about seduction, sensuality and survival.
The Dreamlife of Angels/ La Vie Rêvée des Anges Dir. Erick Zonca. Gripping, unsentimental, and yet profoundly moving tale of two very "ordinary" young women.
The Eighth Day Dir. Jaco Van Dormael. Stars Daniel Auteuil in a kind of French "Rain Man".
L’Elégant Criminel Dir, François Girod. Daniel Auteuil stars as the roguish seducer Lacenaire (1800-1836).
§ L’Ennui Dir. Cédric Kahn. After the failure of his marriage a man finds himself drawn into a relationship with a totally unsuitable woman. Adapted from the novel "Boredom" by Alberto Moravia. Rated R.
Farinelli Dir. Gerard Corbiau. Sumptuous 18th century tale about two brothers, their music & sex.
Five Days in June Dir. Michel Legrand. A young boy’s discovery of life, love and war.
Fred Dir. Pierre Jolivet. Tale of a simple man with simple needs accidentally caught up in a life of crime.
Les Fugitifs Dir. Francis Veber, a wonderful comedy stars Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard.
French Twist/ Gazon Maudit Dir. Josiane Balasko. Puts an astute modern spin on the ménage-a-trois farce.
Le Grand Chemin Dir. Jean-Loup Hubert, a delightful film about an 8 year old Parisian boy’s visit to the country.
La Grande Bouffe Dir. Marco Ferreri, 1973. Ultra decadent star studded classic. Rated R.
Les Grandes Manoeuvres Dir. Rene Clair, 1955, stars Brigitte Bardot.
La Haine/ Hate Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz. Powerful drama covers 24 hours in the Paris Projects. Rated R.
Hors la Vie Dir. Maroun Bagdadi
Taut thriller about French photographer covering war in Beirut. In French & Arabic.
The Horseman on the Roof Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau. From the director of "Cyrano De Bergerac" comes another romantic period film set in Provence in 1832 during an outbreak of cholera.
I’m the King of the Castle Dir. Régis Wargnier. A kind of French "Lord of the Flies".
An Impudent Girl Dir. Claude Miller. Touching film stars young Charlotte Gainsborough as a 13-year old problem looking for somewhere to happen.
Irma Vep Dir. Olivier Assayas. Maggie Cheung stars.
J’Embrasse Pas / I Don’t Kiss Dir. Andre Techine. Two hustlers on the streets of Paris will do almost anything for money, except kiss.
Jesus of Montreal Dir. Denys Arcand. Highly acclaimed French Canadian drama.
The Lacemaker (La Dentelliere) Dir. Yves Gasser, stars Isabelle Huppert.
La Lectrice Dir. Michel Deville. Professional reader becomes involved in the lives of her clients. Rated R.
Léolo Dir. Jean Claude Lauzon. Léo is no ordinary child, he is convinced that his mother was impregnated by an Italian tomato!
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Dir. Roger Vadim, 1959. 20th century version of 18th century story, stars Jeanne Moreau.
The Liars Dir. Elie Chouraqui. Part thriller, part adventure & part comic love story, has been likened to a modern "All About Eve".
Life is a Long Quiet River Dir. Etienne Chatiliez, a wry comedy about the consequences of mixing-up babies.
The Little Thief (La Petite Voleuse) Dir. Claude Miller. Precocious teenager enters adult world.
Loulou Dir. Maurice Pialat, a cynical portrait of France in the 70s
Ma Vie En Rose/ My Life in Pink Dir. Alain Berliner. Likeable drama about a child’s pre-sexual intimations of gender identity.
Maitresse Dir. Barbette Schroeder. Gerard Depardieu stars in a kind of underground "Last Tango in Paris". Rated R.
A Man and Two Women (Un Homme et Deux Femmes) Dir. Valerie Stroh, based on the stories of sexual manners by Doris Lessing. Rated R.
Man Bites Dog (C’est Arrivé Près de Chez Vous) Dirs. Belvaux, Bonzel & Poelvoorde. Makes "Reservoir Dogs" look like muzzled mongrels. Rated R.
Marquis Dir. Henri Xhonneux, a bestial satire. Animated, rated R.
Marquise Dir. Vera Belmont. Sophie Marceau stars in 17th Century tale of a lusty dancer of both the vertical and horizontal variety.
Mina Tannenbaum Dir. Martine Dogosawa. Poignantly comic tale of a female friendship.
Mon Homme Dir. Bertrand Blier. A somewhat misanthropic tale of a prostitute and her pimp.
Mon Père Ce Heros Dir. Gerard Langier. Original French version of parenthood comedy with Depardieu.
The Music Teacher Dir. Gerard Corbiau. A romance with a faintly demonic edge - it stands with "Amadeus".
My Father’s Glory (La Gloire de mon Père) Dir. Yves Robert, based on the autobiographical works of Pagnol.
My Mother’s Castle (Le Château de ma Mère) Dir. Yves Robert, the glorious sequel.
Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud/ Nelly and Mr Arnaud Dir. Claude Sautet. Another understated study in adult emotions by the director of "A Heart in Winter".
La Nuit de Varennes Dir. Ettore Scola, stars Harvey Keitel, Marcello Mastroianni & Hannah Schygulla.
Olivier, Olivier Dir. Agnieska Holland. A child goes missing only to reappear years later or does he?
Paris Vu Par.... Dirs. Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch, Jean-Daniel Pollet, Eric Rohmer, Jean-Luc Godard & Claude Chabrol, 1964. Six shorts by the fathers of the French "New Wave"
Pépé le Moko Dir. Julian Duvivier, 1937. Jean Gabin stars as the quintessential seductive loner who lives as a gang leader in the Algerian Casbah.
Police Dir. Maurice Pialat. Award-winning thriller.
The Polygraph Dir. Robert Lepage. Is the polygraph the final arbiter of truth or just a trick to get the suspect to confess? French Canadian drama.
Port Djema Dir. Eric Heuman. Examines the bloody legacy of French colonial rule in East Africa.
Post Coitum Dir. Brigitte Rouan.
Perhaps more tasteful than it sounds.
A Pure Formality Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore, stars Gerard Depardieu & Roman Polanski.
Queen Margot Dir. Patrice Chereau, 1994. Based on a Dumas novel of the events surrounding the notorious 16th century St Bartholomew’s Day massacre.
§ The Red Violin Dir. François Girard. Meditation on the enduring nature of music through the 300 year history of one violin. Largely in English.
The Return of Martin Guerre Dir. Daniel Vigne, stars Gerard Depardieu. In 1542 a young man disappears from his village only to return 9 years later - or does he?
Ripoux Contre Ripoux Dir. Claude Zidi. Delightful comedy starring Philippe Noiret.
§ Romance Dir. Catherine Breillat. A psychological study on the nature of sex and romance. Rated R.
Romuald et Juliette Dir. Coline Serreau. A complex tale of "star crossed lovers" but there’s little in this plot that stems from Shakespeare.
Le Samourai Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1967. A great movie, stars Alain Delon as an enigmatic killer.
A Shadow of a Doubt/ L’Ombre du Doute Dir. Aline Isserman. Gripping psychological thriller stars Mireille Perrier.
Six Days Six Nights Dir. Diane Kurys, Would I Lie to You? Dir. Thomas Gilou. Great comedy.
Les Yeux Sans Visage/ Eyes Without a Face Dir. Georges Franju, 1959. An incredible amalgam of horror and fairytale in which scalpels thud into quivering flesh and the tremulous heroine remains a prisoner in a waxen mask. Wildly surreal - it’s a must!
"Z" Dir. Costa Gavras, famous political thriller with Yves Montand and Irene Papas.
Zanzibar Dir. Christine Pascal, a powerful drama about passion and obsession.
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
L’Avventura 1960. Coldly elegant study of emotional and psychological alienation, set in Sicily.
The Eclipse 1962. Monica Viti stars in meditation on doomed relationships in a fractured world.
Identification of a Woman 1982. A love story based on a filmmaker’s chance encounters with 2 women. Rated R.
The Mystery of Oberwald adaptation of Jean Cocteau's play "The Eagle Has Two Heads".
Directed by Pupi Avati -
Noi Tre One of the most delightful films ever made about Mozart.
A Story of Boys and Girls A wry and worldly slice of Italian domesticity - the joys of eating and lovemaking!
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci -
Before the Revolution 1966, middle-class youth "discovers" Marxism and tries to change his life.
§ Besieged 1998. Stars Thandie Newton & David Thewlis in provocative and complex drama .
The Last Emperor 1987, epic tale of China’s last emperor, winner of 9 Academy Awards. Made in English.
Last Tango in Paris 1972, Marlon Brando & Maria Schneider star in a controversial/ once banned sex melodrama. Rated R.
Little Buddha 1994. Keanu Reeves stars. Made in English.
1900 (Novecento) 1976. The 301 minute epic in the original widescreen version. Rated R.
The Sheltering Sky 1990, adaptation of Paul Bowles’ novel, made in English.
The Spider’s Stratagem 1970, based on a short story by Jorge Louis Borges.
Stealing Beauty Stars Jeremy Irons and Liv Tyler. Romantic drama about a beautiful young American girl who spends the summer in Tuscany. In English.
Directed by Vittorio De Sica -
Bicycle Thieves 1948. Poignant classic of Italian Neo-Realism.
Two Women 1961. Sophia Loren & Jean-Paul Belmondo star. English language version.
Umberto D 1952. Neo-Realist classic.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1963. Sophia Loren stars in Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film that year. English Language Version.
Directed by Federico Fellini -
And the Ship Sails On 1984, symbolic parable about a luxury liner filled with eccentric beautiful people.
Casanova 1976, stars Donald Sutherland. Rated R.
La Dolce Vita 1960. The Vatican tried to ban it, the left championed it and the public adored it…
Fellini’s 8 1/2 1963, many think it’s his masterpiece.
Juliet of the Spirits 1965, stars Giulietta Masina.
Love in the City Looks at the oldest profession and one section is directed by Fellini.
I Vitelloni 1953, bleakly funny & perhaps his best.
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini -
Accattone 1964, his first film - a drama of Rome’s seedy underside.
The Gospel According to Saint Matthew 1964. Reworks Matthew’s gospel from a Marxist perspective.
Hawks and Sparrows 1966. A Marxist parable told by a wise crow.
Medea 1970, a fascinating collision of Freudian and Marxist themes. Maria Callas stars as Medea.
Oedipus Rex 1967, unusual reworking of Sophocles’ tragedy.
Theorem/ (Teorama) 1968, stars Terence Stamp. Pasolini achieves his most perfect fusion of Marxism and religion.
Directed by Roberto Rossellini -
Germany, Year Zero 1947, horrific story of a boy in post-war Berlin, & the influence of his Nazi teacher. In German/ English subtitles.
Paisa 1946, a film in six episodes.
Rome, Open City 1945. The film which became synonymous with Italian Neo-Realism.
Voyage to Italy 1953, stars Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders. In English.
Directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani -
Fiorile Ambitious historical epic spans two centuries of Italian history
Good Morning Babylon Stars Greta Scacchi, Charles Dance. Mainly in English.
Kaos Based on bizarre short stories by Pirandello.
The Night of the Shooting Stars Euphoric film about the end of World War II in Italy.
Night Sun Based on short story by Tolstoy.
Padre Padrone Astounding debut feature - was the first film to win both major prizes at Cannes.
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore -
See also "A Pure Formality" in France
Cinema Paradiso Delightful multi award winning drama. This version is the extended director’s cut.
Everybody's Fine Comedy with Marcello Mastroianni.
§ The Legend of 1900 Tim Roth stars as the legendary pianist who spent his entire life aboard the steamship "The Virginian". Great score by Ennio Morricone. In English.
The Star Maker Set in Sicily in 1953, a crooked filmmaker runs a "pay for your own screen-test" scam amongst the hopeful locals.
Directed by Luchino Visconti -
The Damned 1969, stars Dirk Bogarde. Made in English. Rated R.
Death in Venice 1971, Dirk Bogarde stars in this mesmerising adaptation of Thomas Mann’s novel. Made in English.
L’Innocente 1976. This understated turn-of the-century melodrama about infidelity was his final film.
Ossessione 1942, landmark in the development of Film Noir, based on James M. Cain’s "The Postman Always Rings Twice".
Rocco and His Brothers 1960, compelling drama of a poor southern Italian family beset by misfortune.
Abyssinia Dir. Francesco Martinotti. Sardonic tale of a young drifter who ends up working as a waiter in a run-down beachside restaurant.
Allegro Non Troppo Dir. Bruno Bozzetto. Incredibly imaginative parody of Disney’s "Fantasia".
The Battle of Algiers Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo, 1965. Much lauded landmark of political cinema.
Christ Stopped at Eboli Dir. Francesco Rosi, adaptation of Carlo Levi's "political" autobiographical work.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold Dir. Francesco Rosi. Based on the story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In English.
Il Ciclone Dir. Leonardo Pieraccioni. Italy’s biggest local box office hit is a great comedy.
Dear Diary/ Caro Diario Dir. Nanni Moretti, winner of Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival 1994.
Especially on Sunday Dirs. Tornatore, G.Bertolucci & Giordona. Magical vision from 3 of Italy’s most famous directors. Stars Philippe Noiret, Bruno Ganz & Ornella Muti.
Fourteen in May Dir. Antonio Capliano. Tough tale of growing up. Rated R.
Heart and Soul Dir. Duillio Coletti. Vittorio De Sica stars in Italy's answer to "Goodbye Mr Chips"
Icicle Thief Dir. Maurizio Nichetti. Wacky satire of the battle about the relative merits of film vs. television.
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion Dir. Elio Petri. Gian Maria Volonte in award winning thriller.
The Legend of the Holy Drinker Dir. Ermanno Olmi. English language original version. Stars Rutger Hauer, winner of Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival, 1988
Life is Beautiful/ La Vita e Bella Dir. Roberto Benigni, 1997. Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film tells the tale of a man who refuses to ever give way to adversity.
Like Two Crocodiles Dir. Giacomo Campiotti. A man who has lost the power to love with passion still has the power to hate with a vengeance.
Mediterraneo Dir. Gabriele Salvatores. 1992 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film - a sheer delight!
The Night Porter Dir. Liliana Cavani,1974 , starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling. In English, Rated R.
Open Doors Dir. Gianni Amelio, political drama set in Palermo in 1937, stars Gian Maria Volonte.
Il Postino Dir. Michael Radford. Philippe Noiret stars in a touching drama about the exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and his simple Italian postman.
La Scorta Dir. Ricky Tognazzi. The film that united an entire country against the Mafia. Rated R.
Seven Beauties Dir. Lina Wertmuller, stars Fernando Rey. English language version.
The Stolen Children / Il Ladro Di Bambini Dir. Gianni Amelio.
§ Tea With Mussolini Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Co-scripted with John Mortimer, it’s an amusing and brilliantly cast historical drama with an ironic edge. Mainly in English.
Tis Pity She's a Whore Dir. Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, 1973. Charlotte Rampling stars in reworking of Ford's Jacobean tragedy. Shot in English.
Volere, Volare Dir. Maurizio Nichetti. Brilliantly inventive comedy.
Wounded Love/ L’Amore Molesto Dir. Mario Martone. A psychological thriller of uncommon inventiveness.
Ulysses’ Gaze Dir. Theo Angelopoulos, 1995. Harvey Keitel stars as a filmmaker returning to his homeland after 35 years in the US.
Directed by Werner Herzog -
Aguirre, Wrath of God Klaus Kinski is extraordinary in a story of Spanish conquistadors.
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser Story of the sole known case in human history in which a man was born as an adult.
Fitzcarraldo With Klaus Kinski as manic rubber planter.
Heart of Glass With Josef Bierbichler, based on Bavarian legend.
Nosferatu the Vampire Great remake stars Klaus Kinski!
Stroszek A comedy of travel and hope featuring the singular Bruno S.
Where The Green Ants Dream Set in Australia, made in English.
Woyzeck Klaus Kinski stars in a powerful, dispassionate adaptation of Georg Buchner's play.
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder -
Effi Briest 1974. Possibly his most exquisite film - is from the novel by Theodor Fontane, stars Hanna Schygulla.
Fear Eats the Soul 1973. Deceptively simple love story which exposes the racial prejudice and moral hypocrisy in modern West German society.
Lola 1981. A variation on Von Sternberg’s "The Blue Angel".
Querelle 1982. With Brad Davis, Jeanne Moreau and Franco Nero. Based on the Jean Genet novel. His final film. Rated R.
Veronika Voss 1982. Saga of a faded film star in the post-war era, allegedly a friend of Goebells.
Directed by Tom Tykwer —
§ Run Lola Run 1998. Fast paced romantic thriller with a big techno sound has achieved cult status.
§ The Winter Sleepers 1997. Enigmatic drama involving various degrees of social and emotional amnesia.
Directed by Wim Wenders —
See also "The Buena Vista Social Club" in Documentary
Alice in the Cities 1974. A complex funny parable of the problem of communication.
The American Friend 1977. Stars Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Nicholas Ray, based on a story by Patricia Highsmith. In English.
The End of Violence 1997. Explores links between life and cinema, politics and power, venality and violence, crime and new technology. In English.
Faraway, So Close 1993. The sequel to "Wings of Desire" is a sprawling metaphysical caper of the angel who became mortal.
The Goalkeeper's Fear of the Penalty 1971. Based on the novel by Peter Handke.
Kings of the Road 1976. Unusual "road movie" with Rudiger Vogler.
Hammett 1983. Dramatisation of the life of America's greatest crime writer. Produced by Coppola. Made in English.
Paris Texas 1984. Haunting vision of personal pain and universal suffering, starring Harry Dean Stanton. In English
Wings of Desire 1988. Angels see in b&w, mortals see in colour. Stars Bruno Ganz & Solveig Dommartin.
Das Blaue Licht / The Blue Light Starring and directed by Leni Reifenstahl.
The Blue Angel/ Ecstasy Dir. Josef Von Sternberg/ Gustav Machaty. Marlene Dietrich & Hedy Lamar double.
The Brother of Sleep Dir. Joseph Vilsmaier. Set in a remote Alpine village in the early 1800s, this is a gripping story of a man torn between his love for a woman & the musical genius which consumes him.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Dir. Robert Weine, 1919 German expressionist silent classic. English intertitles.
Colonel Redl Dir. Istvan Szabo. Klaus Maria Brandauer gives a towering performance as the despicable Redl.
Das Boot — the director’s cut Dir. Wolfgang Petersen, 1981. Suspenseful WWII drama set entirely around the mission of a German U-Boat.
Europa Europa Dir. Agnieszka Holland. Based on the true story of Solomon Peel, a Jew, and his struggle to survive the horrors of WW II.
Funny Games Dir. Michael Hanecke. Confronting exploration of both the physical and emotional aspects of violence. Not for the faint hearted. Rated R.
Hitler, a Film From Germany Dir. Hans-Jürgen Syberberg, 1977. Remarkable piece of both filmmaking and historical analysis.
Hanussen Dir. Istvan Szabo, final part in his trilogy on the tragic history of Europe after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Inheritors Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky. Spirited if somewhat pointed political allegory set in an Austrian village in 1930s.
M...The Worst Crime Of All Dir. Fritz Lang. Peter Lorre stars as a psychotic child murderer in 1931 classic.
Mephisto Dir. Istvan Szabo. An unusual political thriller about an actor in Nazi Germany.
The Nasty Girl Dir. Michael Verhoeven, blends comedy with examination of a serious topic - the legacy of Nazism.
No Time For Tears Dir. Hark Bohm. Story of a woman's revenge for the molestation and murder of her daughter.
Nosferatu Dir. F.W. Murnau.1922 silent - the original vampire film. English intertitles
Pandora's Box Dir. Georg Pabst,1929, legendary film with Louise Brooks.
The Promise Dir. Margarethe Von Trotta. Drama of two lovers who were divided by the Berlin Wall.
Seduction, the Cruel Woman Dir. Elfi Mikesch, Monica Treut. Based on the S&M novel "Venus in Furs". Rated R.
The Tin Drum Dir. Volker Schlondorff, based on the novel by Gunter Grass. Rated R.
Virgin Machine Dir. Monica Treut, explores sexuality from a feminist perspective.
Antonia’s Line Dir. Marleen Gorris. The Oscar Winner for Best Foreign Film, 1996. A real delight.
Daens Dir. Stijn Connix. A priest is torn between socialism and the Church in a graphic depiction of the poverty of 19th century industrial cities. Flemish / English subtitles.
How to Survive a Broken Heart Dir. Paul Ruven. Exploits of a group of lovesick losers in Amsterdam
The Vanishing Dir. George Sluizer. A chilling psychodrama. In French and Dutch with English subtitles.
Directed by Alexander Dovzhenko
Arsenel 1928. Beautifully photographed poetic silent film exalting the revolutionary spirit of the farmers.
Earth 1930. Poetic drama of man's relationship with nature, set in the Ukraine. A silent classic.
Directed by Sergei Eisenstein -
Alexander Nevsky 1938. Classic tale of 13th century Russia.
Battleship Potemkin 1925. Landmark film of the 1905 Revolution that deserves its reputation as a groundbreaker.
Ivan the Terrible 1943. Epic spectacle of Csar Ivan IV's life.
October: Ten Days That Shook the World 1928. reconstruction of the events of the 1917 Revolution.
Que Viva Mexico His final film, made in Mexico, 1932.
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov -
Burnt by the Sun Provocative meditation about the realities of life in Stalinist Russia, set in 1936. Won Academy Award Best Foreign Film.
Close to Eden/ Urga One of the most poetic visions of recent cinema. Mongolian/ English subtitles.
Dark Eyes Based on Chekhov's "The Lady With the Dog", starring Marcello Mastroianni. Italian language.
An Unfinished Piece for a Mechanical Piano 1976, based on Chekhov's play.
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky -
Andrei Rubelev 1966. Story of a 15th century icon painter.
Ivan's Childhood 1962. His prize-winning debut feature.
Mirror 1974. Intercuts autobiographical fragments with documentary footage of the broader sweep of history.
Nostalgia 1983. His first film made outside Russia (in Italian with English sub-titles) explores the melancholy of the expatriate.
The Sacrifice 1986. His final film, is a visionary masterpiece. Swedish language/ English subtitles.
Solaris 1972. Madness threatens all who work on a space station that circles the mysterious planet Solaris. Winner, Special Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival.
Stalker 1979. Half outlaw, half saint, the Stalker guides those who want to enter the forbidden zone.
The Ascent Dir. Larisa Shepitko. Haunting allegory based on the fate of Russian partisans in German hands in 1942.
Chapayev Dir. Sergei Vasiliev, 1934. The story of a bandit who became a leader during the 1919 Civil War.
The Colour of Pomegranates & The Legend of Suram Fortress Dir. Sergei Paradjanov. Acclaimed as one of the greatest filmmakers to emerge from the Soviet tradition
Come and See Dir. Elem Klimov. Epic, allegorical enactment of the hellish experience of war. Rated R.
Molom Dir. Marie Jaoul De Poncheville. Based on legendary nomadic tales, Molom is a kind of mediator between god & humans.
Mongolian.
Prisoner of the Mountain Dir. Sergei Bodrov. Two Russian soldiers are taken hostage by a Chechen village chieftan who intends to trade them for his son imprisoned by Russian authorities.
The Royal Hunt Dir. Vitaly Melnikov. Historical epic in the tradition of "War & Peace".
The Thief Dir. Pavel Chukhrai.
In Post WWII Russia a young boy learns harsh lessons from his surrogate father.
We Are From Kronstadt Dir. Yefim Dzigan, 1936. Covers an unusual episode of the Civil War in 1919.
William Shakespeare's King Lear Dir. Grigory Kozintsev.
Window to Paris Dir. Yuki Mamin. Comic fantasy about the attractions of the West.
Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
Dekalog/ The Ten Commandments (rents in 2 parts) Ten thoughtful short films (5 in each part) built around the universal themes of love, marriage, infidelity, guilt, faith and compassion.
The Double Life of Veronique Based on the idea that everyone has a double somewhere. Sublime music.
A Short Film About Love Feature length version of one part of the Dekalog.
Three Colours: Blue 1993. Failing the courage to commit suicide after the death of her husband and daughter Julie decides to create a new, totally independent and anonymous life.
Three Colours: White 1993 This story hangs loosely around notions of political and personal equality.
Three Colours: Red 1994. This impressive conclusion to the Three Colours Trilogy and to his career, engages with dualistic notions of destiny and chance, solitude and communication, cynicism and faith.
Moonlighting Dir Jerzy Skolimowski, stars Jeremy Irons as a Polish builder moonlighting in London. Made in English.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA/ FormerlyYUGOSLAVIA/MACEDONIA
Directed by Emir Kusturica -
§ Black Cat, White Cat Fellini-style Yugoslav comedy about two gypsy patriarchs and their unruly families.
Underground Epic allegory covering the German bombing of Belgrade in 1941 to the present day.
Before the Rain Dir. Milcho Manchevski, 1994. A solemn triptych that takes us from the ethnic tensions in Macedonia to the urban strife of London and back again.
§ Cabaret Balkan Dir. Goran Paskaljevic. A series of brutally incisive short theatrical pieces reflecting contemporary Yugoslavia.
I Can Jump Puddles Dir. Karel Kachyna. Delightful 1970 Czech adaptation of the Alan Marshall story. Suitable for children
Kolya Dir. Jan Sverak. Czech, 1997 Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film - a sheer delight.
Martha and I Dir. Jiri Weiss, Czech drama set in the 30's, winner of Gold Award, Venice.
My Sweet Little Village Dir. Jiri Menzel, unique Czech blend of farce and comedy. A cinematic delight.
Nordic Cinema:
DENMARK/ FINLAND/ ICELAND/ SWEDEN/ NORWAY
Directed by Ingmar Bergman -
Autumn Sonata 1978. Liv Ulman and Ingrid Bergman as mother and daughter who have not met for seven years. In English
Fanny and Alexander (in 2 parts) 1982. His last, magnificent and magical film is set in Bergman's home town in 1907.
From the Life of the Marionettes 1980. Examines the psychology of the murder of a prostitute by a businessman. In English.
Hour of the Wolf 1967. Brilliant gothic fantasy about an artist who has disappeared leaving only a diary.
The Magician 1959. stars Max Von Sydow & Ingrid Thulin.
Scenes From a Marriage 1973. Reveals the pain, doubt, despair, confusion and loneliness when a woman discovers her husband is having an affair. Liv Ullman stars.
The Serpent's Egg 1977. Set in Berlin in 1923, drama stars Liv Ullman & David Carradine. In English.
The Seventh Seal 1957. Stars a medieval Max Von Sydow
The Silence 1963. The final part of the silence of God trilogy (1st is "Through a Glass Darkly" & 2nd is "Winter Light") is a bleak study of human loneliness. Rated R
The Touch 1970. His first English language film is a "love story" with Elliot Gould, Bibi Anderson & Max Von Sydow.
Through a Glass Darkly 1961. Academy Award winner.
Wild Strawberries 1958. Elderly dried-up academic relives his past life on the way to receive an award.
Winter Light 1963. 2nd in the trilogy about God's silence.
Directed by Aki Kaurismaki -
Ariel Supercool sardonic Finnish comedy.
Leningrad Cowboys Go America Comic road movie of truly awful Finnish musicians taking on the US
La Vie de Boheme Coolly sardonic melodrama updates La Boheme. French & Finnish dialogue/ English subtitles.
Directed by Lars Von Trier —
See also "Breaking the Waves" in Drama
§ The Idiots 1998. The first movie made according to his back to basics "Dogma 95" Manifesto, centres on a group of people who go around pretending to be mentally ill. Rated R.
Zentropa Political thriller reminiscent of Hitchcock. In German and English.
All Things Fair Dir. Bo Widerberg. Story of a passionate student /teacher affair set in the 1940s.
Babette's Feast Dir. Gabriel Axel. French maid Babette wins the lottery & holds a huge feast for the town.
Christmas Oratorio Dir. Kjellake Anderson, based on the moving Swedish novel by Goran Tunstrom.
Cold Fever Dir. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson. A quirky & affecting Icelandic/ Japanese road movie.
Devil’s Island Dir. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson. Bittersweet tale of Iceland in the ‘50s.
Elvira Madigan Dir. Bo Widerberg, 1967. A seminal film of 60s art house cinema.
The Great Day on the Beach Dir. Stellan Olsson, a marvellous comedy.
Junk Mail Dir. Pal Sletaune. Humorous tale of a lovestruck postman unable to declare himself.
§ Mifune Dir. Soren Kragh-Jacobsen. The third film made under the tenets of the Dogma 95 Manifesto.
Montenegro Dir. Dusan Makavejev. Surprising sexual and social satire. Rated R. Made in English.
The Other Side of Sunday Dir. Berit Nesheim. Norwegian drama set in the repressive 50s.
Sebastian Dir. Send Wam. Norwegian drama about an adolescent boy’s emerging homosexuality.
Sofie Dir. Liv Ullman. Period drama of desire and repression set in Copenhagen in 1866.
Zero Kelvin Dir. Hans Peter Moland. Tense psychological thriller set in Greenland in 1925.
SPAIN/ LATIN AMERICA/ PORTUGAL
Directed by Tomas Guiterrez Alea
Guantanamera 1994. A Cuban political and satirical road movie.
Strawberry and Chocolate 1993. Stinging Cuban comedy of sex and politics, and the first to openly deal with a gay theme.
Directed by Pedro Almodovar -
§ All About My Mother / Todo Sobre Mi Madre 1999. After the death of her beloved teenage son in an accident a woman looks for ways to cope with her grief.
Dark Habits One of the "lost" early films of Spain’s most outrageous contemporary filmmaker. Rated R.
The Flower of My Secret 1995. An intimate portrait of pain & regeneration that strikes the heart without trickery.
High Heels 1991. A more sober meditation on the importance of family.
Kika 1993. Dazzling, stylised & outrageous. Rated R.
Labyrinth of Passions 1982. Frocks 'n' jocks. Rated R.
Law of Desire 1987. More outrageous comedy. Rated R.
Live Flesh 1997. Freely adapted from a Ruth Rendell thriller.
Matador 1988. Mind-boggling psychosexual melodrama carried to hilarious extremes. Rated R.
Pepi, Luci, Bom 1981. His first feature. Rated R
Tie Me Up Tie Me Down 1989. Examination of the power games implicit in marriage
What Have I Done to Deserve This? 1984. Outrageous black comedy about a suburban housewife.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 1988. Comedy about men who dump women and what women then do.
Directed by Carlos Saura -
Ay! Carmela Concerns a ragged but enthusiastic cabaret trio entertaining troops in 1938.
Cría Cuervos (Raise Ravens) 1975. Geraldine Chaplin stars in elliptical film about the last days of Fascism in Spain.
§ Tango 1998 A tribute to the expressive and romantic power of the Tango.
Alsino and the Condor Dir. Miguel Littin, 1983. Award winner set in Nicaragua.
Belle Epoque Dir. Fernando Trueba. Tongue-in-cheek comedy set in Spain in 1931. Winner of 1994 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
§ Bossa Nova Dir. Bruno Barreto, Brazil 1999. Romantic comedy of errors involving a Brazilian-based widow and English language tutor and the successful older businessman who falls in love with her.
Central Station Dir. Walter Salles. A woman who writes letters for the illiterate at Rio de Janeiro's central train station feels obliged to help a 9 year old boy whose mother has just been killed. They journey to a remote area of Brazil in search of the boy’s father.
Danzon Dir. Maria Navaro, a kind of Mexican "Strictly Ballroom"
Doña Herlinda and Her Son Dir. Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, nicely judged gay comedy.
The Fencing Master Dir. Pedro Olea. A sensuous Spanish thriller.
The Holy Innocents Dir. Mario Camus, poignant drama examines entrenched class differences in modern Spain.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It Dir. Maria Luisa Benberg, with Marcello Mastroiani.
Jamon Jamon Dir. Bigas Luna. Crazy Spanish sex comedy. Rated R.
Last Images of the Shipwreck Dir. Eliseo Subiela. Unique blend of satirical madness and spine-tingling fantasy. Argentinean.
Libertarias Dir. Vincente Aranda. Story of six women’s’ fight for freedom during the Spanish Civil War. Rated R.
Like Water for Chocolate Dir. Alfonso Arau, Mexico. Magical feast of a film, winner of 25 international awards. Don’t miss this one.
Lolo Dir. Francisco Athie. Unflinching view of life in Mexico’s urban slums. Rated R.
El Mariachi Dir. Robert Rodriguez. A sort of Mexican "Mad Mex".
Miracle Alley Dir. Jorge Fons. Adaptation of the novel by Naguib Mahfouz.
Mouth to Mouth Dir. Manuel Gomez Pereira. A slice of chic Spanish eroticism.
Nobody Will Speak of Us When We Are Dead Dir. Augustin Diaz Yanes. A gutsy thriller. Rated R.
El Norte/ The North Dir. Gregory Nava. Powerful American Playhouse production about a brother and sister's flight from their ravaged Guatemalan village to the elusive dreams of North America - "El Norte".
O’Quatrilho Dir. Fabio Barreto. Scandalous passions erupt in small rural village in Southern Brazil in 1910. Portuguese.
The Quince Tree Sun Dir. Victor Erice, an extraordinary kind of "documentary" following the creation of a painting.
Red Squirrel Dir. Julio Medem. Entrancing erotic thriller with Emma Suarez & Nanch Novo.
Santa Sangre Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky. A molotov cocktail of sex, death and horror. Made in English. Rated R.
Secret Wedding Dir. Alejandro Agresti, Argentina. A parable about the hypocrisy of the "new Democracy".
Sur/ South Dir. Fernando Solanas, Argentina. Charts the agony of an exile's return and the ghosts of the past.
La Tarea Dir. Jaime Humberto Hermosillo. Dazzling and original use of video. Rated R.
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND CINEMA:
Directed by Gillian Armstrong -
Bingo Bridesmaids & Braces a fascinating study of women growing up in Australia.
The Last Days of Chez Nous Looks at complex family relationships. Scripted by Helen Garner.
Little Women Excellent, made in USA, adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, stars Winona Ryder.
My Brilliant Career Judy Davis & Sam Neill star.
Oscar and Lucinda Adaptation of the novel by Peter Carey.
Starstruck A musical comedy starring Jo Kennedy.
Directed by Bruce Beresford -
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie 1972. Ribald ocker comedy with Barry Humphries and Barry Crocker.
Black Robe Made in Canada, story of confrontation between the missionary Jesuits and the native American Indians.
Breaker Morant Famous Boer War court-martial stars Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters & Bryan Brown.
The Club Adaptation of the David Williamson play.
Driving Miss Daisy Oscar winning drama stars Jessica Tandy. Made in USA.
The Getting of Wisdom 1977. Fine adaptation of Henry Handel(Ethel) Richardson’s autobiographical novel set in 1910.
Mister Johnson Pierce Brosnan & Edward Woodward star in adaptation of Joyce Cary’s novel of an Englishman in Africa.
The Money Movers A fast paced, gritty thriller. Rated R
Paradise Road True story of the WWII prison camp experiences of a group of Dutch, English & Australian women captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore.
Tender Mercies A modern western starring Robert Duvall, made in USA.
Directed by Tim Burstall -
Alvin Purple Vintage Oz comedy or just a curiosity piece? Rated R.
Kangaroo Based on the D.H. Lawrence novel, with Colin Friels & Judy Davis.
The Last of the Knucklemen Gerard Kennedy stars in adaptation of the John Power play about "tough" Australian men. Rated R.
Petersen Early Oz new wave, stars Jack Thompson, Wendy Hughes & Jacki Weaver. Rated R
Directed by Jane Campion -
An Angel at My Table Based on the autobiography of the New Zealand novelist Janet Frame.
§ Holy Smoke Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel star in layered story of cults and credibility.
The Piano 1994 Academy Award Winner, starring Holly Hunter, Sam Neill & Harvey Keitel; Michael Nyman music score.
The Portrait of a Lady This not entirely successful adaptation of the "difficult" Henry James novel stars Nicole Kidman & John Malkovich
Sweetie Wickedly off-the-wall comedy portrays the relationship between two sisters. 5 AFI award nominations
Directed by Paul Cox -
Cactus Stars Isabelle Huppert.
The Golden Braid Inspired by Guy De Maupassant's short story "Le Cheveleur".
Island Irene Papas, Chris Haywood star.
Lonely Hearts starring Wendy Hughes and Norman Kaye.
Lust and Revenge Stars Nicholas Hope, Claudia Karvan & Chris Haywood.
Man of Flowers Starring Norman Kaye
My First Wife Stars John Hargreaves and Wendy Hughes.
The Nun and the Bandit Based on E.L. Grant Watson's noted thriller, stars Chris Haywood & Gosia Dobrowolska.
Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh Documentary on the artist.
Directed by Fred Schepisi -
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally.
The Devil's Playground The film which launched his career, stars Arthur Dignam, Nick Tate, Simon Burke & Thomas Keneally.
Evil Angels Starring Sam Neil & Meryl Streep in recreation of the Lindy Chamberlain court case.
Iceman A 40,000 year old man is found frozen in the Arctic and is brought back to life. Made in USA
The Russia House Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer star in a Tom Stoppard adaptation of a Le Carre novel. Made in USA.
Six Degrees of Separation Stars Stockard Channing, Will Smith and Donald Sutherland
Directed by Peter Weir -
The Cars That Ate Paris 1974. Black comedy of a poor country town profiting from car accidents.
Dead Poets Society Made in USA, starring Robin Williams as a teacher.
Gallipoli Mel Gibson & Mark Lee in drama of war, patriotism and friendship.
Green Card Stars Gerard Depardieu - his English language debut is a delightful romantic comedy. Made in USA.
Homesdale Wacky first film - a homage to Hitchcock. B & W.
The Mosquito Coast Compelling jungle drama - starring Harrison Ford - from a Paul Theroux story.
Picnic at Hanging Rock Adaptation of Joan Lindsay's mystery novel of events on St. Valentine's Day, 1901.
The Plumber Judy Morris stars as a woman with plumbing problems.
The Truman Show Satire of modern media and morality.
The Year of Living Dangerously Adaptation of C.J. Koch's novel of political unrest in Indonesia in 1965.
Witness Stars Harrison Ford. A thriller set in the Amish community. Made in USA.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Dir. Stephen Elliott. Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving & Guy Pearce star in an hilarious drag comedy.
All Men Are Liars Dir. Gerard Lee. Comedy starring Toni Pearen.
Amy Dir. Nadia Tass, stars Rachel Griffiths , Ben Mendelsohn, Kerry Armstrong.
Angel Baby Dir. Michael Rymer. Multiple AFI Award winner.
Aya Dir. Solrun Hoaas. Story of a Japanese war bride.
Backlash Dir. Bill Bennett. Powerful Australian drama about racism.
Bad Boy Bubby Dir. Rolf De Heer. Nicholas Hope stars in confronting film about abuse and arrested development. AFI Award winner. Rated R.
Bedevil Dir. Tracey Moffatt. Innovative rendering of three ghost stories - a dazzling debut feature.
Blackfellas Dir. James Ricketson. Award-winning, compelling story of contemporary Aboriginal life.
Bliss Dir. Ray Lawrence, from a story by Peter Carey starring Barry Otto.
Billy’s Holiday Dir. Richard Wherrett. Max Cullen stars as the hardware merchant who can sing like Billy Holliday.
Blackrock Dir. Steve Vidler. Powerful adaptation of the Nick Enright play about adolescence.
Body Melt Dir. Philip Brophy. Another gross corporeal exploration from the maker of "Salt Saliva Sperm & Sweat".
The Boys Dir. Rowan Woods. Multi AFI Award winner is an unflinching analysis of the violence that lurks in the heart of Australian society.
Braveheart Dir. Mel Gibson. Award-winning Scottish epic & Yes we claim him as an Australian!
Bread and Roses Dir. Gaylene Preston. NZ. Stars Genevieve Picot.
Break of Day Dir. Ken Hannam. Period drama.
Brides of Christ Changes in the Convent/ Church from the 60s, stars Brenda Fricker, Sandy Gore & Kym Wilson.
Brilliant Lies Dir. Richard Franklin. Good adaptation of David Williamson’s play about sexual politics and harassment.
Broken English Dir. Gregor Nicholas. Powerful NZ drama about a cross-cultural relationship.
Broken Highway Dir. Laurie McInnes. A journey like no other. Stars Claudia Karvan, Aden Young & Bill Hunter.
Burke and Wills Dir. Graeme Clifford. Period drama.
Caddie Dir. Donald Crombie. Helen Morse & Jack Thompson star in Depression era story
Careful, He Might Hear You Dir. Carl Schultz, adaptation of Sumner Lock Elliot novel set in the 1930's.
The Castle Dir. Rob Sitch. Laconic Aussie comedy — it’s a must.
Cathy's Child Dir. Donald Crombie, with Michelle Fawdon
Celia Dir. Ann Turner. Set in 1957, it shows the world through the frighteningly clear window of a child's mind.
Children of the Revolution Dir. Peter Duncan. A Reds under and in the bed comedy starring Judy Davis, Sam Neill and Jeffrey Rush.
Country Life Dir. Michael Blakemore. Clever transposition of Chekhov’s "Uncle Vanya" to the outback. Stars Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi, John Hargreaves.
Crackers Dir. David Swann. A cracking comedy.
Crocodile Dundee Starring Paul Hogan.
Crocodile Dundee II The sequel to the international success starring Paul Hogan & Linda Kozlowski
Crush Dir. Alison Maclean. Thriller about a teenage girl’s growing awareness of power and sexuality.
Dallas Doll Dir. Ann Turner. Golfing comedy starring Sandra Bernhard.
Dance Me To My Song Dir. Rolf De Heer.
Dead Calm Dir. Phillip Noyce, drama of suspense and terror stars Nicole Kidman.
Dead Heart Dir. Nick Parsons. Intense outback drama of race & cultural difference starring Bryan Brown & Ernie Dingo.
The Dead Letter Office Dir. John Ruane. Miranda Otto stars in beguiling story about a woman searching for her father.
Desperate Remedies Dir. Peter Wells. Exuberant and stylised melodrama. Rated R.
Dogs in Space Dir. Richard Lowenstein, starring Michael Hutchence. Rated R.
Doing Time For Patsy Cline Dir. Chris Kennedy. Doesn’t everybody want a Golden Guitar?
The Dunera Boys Winner of Best Australian Mini-Series. Starring Bob Hoskins, Joseph Spano
Emerald City Based on the play by David Williamson.
§ Erskinville Kings Dir. Allan White, stars Marty Denniss & Hugo Jackman in sibling drama.
The Everlasting Secret Family Dir. Michael Thornhill, adaptation of a Frank Moorhouse story.
Father AFI Award Winners Max Von Sydow & Julia Blake.
§ Feeling Sexy Dir. Davida Allen. Amusing comedy of a married woman’s secret life.
Flirting Dir. John Duigan. Sequel to "The Year My Voice Broke", stars Nicole Kidman & Noah Taylor.
For Love Alone Dir. Stephen Wallace, adaptation of the novel by Christina Stead.
For the Term of His Natural Life Dir. Norman Dawn. Restored 1927 silent classic based on Marcus Clarke novel.
Fran Winner of 3 Australian Film Institute Awards Including Best Actress - Noni Hazelhurst
Fresh Air Dir. Neil Mansfield. Story of three aspiring artists in a share house in Sydney.
Georgia Dir. Ben Lewin. Stars Judy Davis
Going Down Dir. Haydn Keenan. Tracy Mann stars.
Goodbye Paradise Dir. Carl Schultz, stars Ray Barrett, multiple AFI Award winner, 1982.
The Great McCarthy Dir. David Baker, football comedy stars John Jarratt, Barry Humphries, Judy Morris, Kate Fitzpatrick, Lou Richards.
Ground Zero Starring award winners Colin Friels, Jack Thompson and Donald Pleasance. Nuclear thriller.
Hard Knocks Dir. Don McLennan. 1980 AFI Award winner with Tracy Mann, Bill Hunter, Max Cullen, Kirsty Grant.
The Harp in the South (in 2 parts) Dir. George Whaley, adaptation of Ruth Park's novel.
Head On Dir. Ana Kokkinos. Based on the uncompromising urban gay novel by Christos Tsiolkas. Rated R.
Heatwave Judy Davis and Richard Moir star. Director Phil Noyce.
Heavenly Creatures Dir. Peter Jackson. Powerful NZ thriller about two schoolgirls whose obsessive friendship leads to crime.
High Rolling Dir. Igor Auzins, stars Judy Davis & Grigor Taylor. Rated R.
Hotel De Love Dir. Craig Rosenberg. Farcical romantic comedy.
Hotel Sorrento Dir. Richard Franklin. Hannie Rayson’s play adapted for the big screen.
Idiot Box Dir. David Caesar. Black comedy with Ben Mendelson & Jeremy Sims.
§ In a Savage Land Dir. Bill Bennett. Rufus Sewell, Martin Donovan and Maya Stange in anthropological drama set in New Guinea.
In the Winter Dark Dir. James Bogle. Based on the novel by Tim Winton.
The Interview Dir. Craig Monahan. Multiple AFI Award winner. Hugo Weaving is outstanding in this role.
Joh's Jury Dir. Ken Cameron. Dramatisation of the jury deliberations which followed the 1991 trial of the former Queensland Premier.
The Kid Stakes Dir. Tal Ordell. 1927 silent children's classic based on the popular Fatty Fin cartoon strip.
Kiss Or Kill Dir. Bill Bennett. 1997 AFI Award Winner.
The Leading Man Dir. John Duigan. Made in England, stars Jon Bon Jovi
Life Dir. Lawrence Johnston. Grim portrayal of Australian prison culture. Rated R.
Lilian’s Story Dir. Jerzy Domardzki. Terrific adaptation of the novel by Kate Grenville, stars Ruth Cracknell & Toni Collette.
§ Looking for Alibrandi Dir. Kate Woods. Melina Marchetta’s bestselling teen novel is convincingly transferred to the screen.
Love and Other Catastrophes Dir. Emma-Kate Croghan. Highly successful low-budget Melbourne University film.
Love in Ambush Dir. Carl Schultz. Sigrid Thornton stars in drama set in Cambodia.
Love Serenade Dir. Shirley Barrett. Wryly humorous look at radio announcer glamour, small town romance & sibling rivalry.
Mad Max Dir. George Miller. The original. Rated R.
Mad Max II The most haunting film in the M M series starring Mel Gibson.
Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome starring Tina Turner.
The Man From Snowy River Kirk Douglas, Jack Thompson & Sigrid Thornton star in this Australian classic.
The Man from Snowy River II The sequel.
The Mango Tree Dir. Kevin Dobson, stars Robert Helpmann, Christopher Pate.
Map of the Human Heart Dir. Vincent Ward, NZ.
§ Me, Myself, I Dir. Pip Karmel. Rachel Griffiths stars in a "what if I’d never" fantasy/ drama.
Metal Skin Dir. Geoffrey Wright, with Aden Young and Tara Morice.
§ The Missing Dir. Manuela Alberta. Traditional religion intersects with the Australian outback.
Monkey Grip Dir. Ken Cameron. Noni Hazelhurst stars.
Mr. Neal is Entitled to be an Agitator Dir. Daryl Dellora. Dramatised doco about the controversial High Court Judge.
Mr Reliable Dir. Nadia Tass, Colin Friels & Jacqueline McKenzie star in siege comedy.
Muriel’s Wedding Dir. P.J. Hogan. Highly successful recent Oz comedy.
The Navigator-A Medieval Odyssey Dir. Vincent Ward, NZ.
Night Cries A Tracey Moffat short film
The Night the Prowler Dir. Jim Sharman, stars Ruth Cracknell and Kerry Walker. Screenplay by Patrick White.
Nirvana Street Murder Dir. Aleksi Vellis. Tough and inventive filmmaking, stars Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Little.
The Nostradamus Kid Dir. Bob Ellis, stars Noah Taylor & Miranda Otto.
Occasional Coarse Language Dir. Brady Hayward. Urban comedy.
The Odd Angry Shot Dir. Tom Jeffrey. John Hargreaves stars in Vietnam War drama.
Once Were Warriors Dir. Lee Tamahori. Extremely powerful and confronting Maori drama.
One Night Stand Dir. John Duigan, what a group of young people did the night the bomb dropped.
Only the Brave Dir. Ana Kokkinos. Intense, powerful and realistic portrait of two Greek-Australian teenage girls growing up hard in Melbourne’s outer west. Award winner.
Oz - A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie Dir. Chris Lofven. A classic.
Paperback Hero Dir. Anthony J Bowman. Hugh Jackman & Claudia Karvan star in a comedy about a "don’t wanna be" romance novelist truckie.
Passion Dir. Peter Duncan. Bio of the unusual life of Australian composer Percy Grainger. Rated R.
The Perfectionist Dir. Chris Thompson, based on David Williamson's play with John Waters and Jacki Weaver.
The Plains of Heaven Dir. Ian Pringle. Set in Australia's most haunting landscape, two men suffer the effects of isolation.
Poorman's Orange Dir. George Whaley. The sequel to "The Harp in the South", based on the novels by Ruth Park.
Praise Dir. John Curran. Scripted by Andrew McGahan from his own novel.
Proof Dir. Jocelyn Moorehouse. Multiple AFI Award winner stars Hugo Weaving as a blind photographer.
The Quiet Room Dir. Rolf De Heer. A child’s view of the adult world. Disturbing.
Radiance Dir. Rachel Perkins. Based on the play by Louis Nowra.
Redball Dir. Jon Hewitt. In your face hardball urban crime drama.
The Removalists Dir. Tom Jeffrey, based on the play by David Williamson.
Resistance Dir. Paul Elliott & Hugh Keays-Byrne. Political drama.
Return Home Dir. Ray Argall, starring Frankie J. Holden, Dennis Coard & Ben Mendelsohn
The Road the Nhill Dir. Sue Brooks. Comedy of small town life.
Romper Stomper Dir. Geoffrey Wright. This is tough . Rated R
Salt, Saliva, Sperm and Sweat Dir. Philip Brophy. Mediations on the body, Rated R
§ Sample People Dir. Clinton Smith. Kylie Minogue stars
Say a Little Prayer Dir. Richard Lowenstein, based on the novel by Robin Klein.
§ SeaChange The complete three seasons of the cult Australian ABC TV comedy drama series starring Sigrid Thornton. (rents in 6 parts)
The Sentimental Bloke Dir. Raymond Longford, 1919 silent classic adapted from C.J. Dennis' popular verse, stars Lottie Lyell. Music sound track with inter-titles.
Shine Dir. Scott Hicks, award-winning biopic of pianist David Helfgott. Stars Geoffrey Rush.
The Shiralee Starring Bryan Brown, Noni Hazelhurst & Rebecca Smart.
§ Siam Sunset Dir. John Polson. Foolish comedy about a badly jinxed Brit’s trip to the Australian outback.
§ Soft Fruit Dir. Christina Andreef. Engaging story of a family dealing with their mother’s terminal illness.
The Sound of One Hand Clapping Dir. Richard Flanagan. Kerry Fox stars in compelling tale of a woman coming to terms with her troubled past.
Spider and Rose Dir. Bill Bennett. Generation gap comedy stars Ruth Cracknell.
Spotswood Dir. Mark Joffe, comedy with Anthony Hopkins
Stan and George's New Life Dir. Brian McKenzie.
§ Strange Fits of Passion Dir. Elise McCreadie. An anti-romantic comedy.
Strange Planet Dir. Emma-Kate Croghan. Latest instalment from the "love and other catastrophes" set.
Strictly Ballroom Dir. Baz Luhrmann, dance comedy stars Paul Mercurio.
Strikebound Dir. Richard Lowenstein starring Chris Haywood & Carol Burns.
Sunday Too Far Away Dir. Ken Hannam. Australian outback classic.
The Tale of Ruby Rose Set in the Tasmanian highlands with Chris Haywood & Melita Jurisic.
Talk Dir. Susan Lambert. Comic view of female friendships. Rated R
Terra Nova Dir. Paul Middleditch.
Jeanette Cronin and Angela Punch McGregor star.
Thank God He Met Lizzie Dir. Cherie Nowlan. Cate Blanchett stars.
That Eye The Sky Dir. John Ruane, based on the novel by Tim Winton.
To Have and to Hold Dir. John Hillcoat. Drama set in New Guinea.
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives Dir. Harry Sinclair, NZ. An original and exhilarating comedy of manners.
A Town Like Alice Dir. Jack Lee, 1956. Peter Finch and Virginia McKenna star in adaptation of Nevil Shute's book.
Traps Dir. Pauline Chan. Thriller set in Vietnam in the 50s.
Travelling North Leo Mckern & Julia Blake in adaptation of David Williamson's play.
True Love and Chaos Dir. Stavros Andonis Efthymiou. A gritty road movie from the creator of "Love and Other Catastrophes".
Two Hands Dir. Gregor Jordan. Very funny crime caper with Bryan Brown.
The Umbrella Woman Dir. Ken Cameron, a Peter Kenna script starring Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward, Sam Neill.
Under the Lighthouse Dancing Dir. Graeme Rattigan, stars Jack Thompson and Jacqueline McKenzie in romantic drama.
Utu Dir. Geoff Murphy, powerful drama of the Maori wars.
Vigil Dir. Vincent Ward; starring Penelope Stewart & Bill Kerr. Drama on a NZ farm.
Waiting Dir. Jackie McKimmie. Noni Hazelhurst & Ray Barrett in a comedy of errors & expectations.
Walkabout Dir. Nicholas Roeg, 1971. Landmark "Australian" film by British director.
Waterfront Starring Greta Scacchi & Jack Thompson
Weekend of Shadows Dir. Tom Jeffrey. Period drama of personal relationships.
Welcome to Woop Woop Dir. Stephan Elliot. Another outlandish comedy from the creator of "Priscilla".
The Well Dir. Samantha Lang.
Based on the novel by Elizabeth Jolley.
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted Dir. Ian Mune. Sequel to NZ Alan Duff’s tough "Once Were Warriors".
What I Have Written Dir. John Hughes, adaptation of the contemporary novel by John A Scott. Rated R.
Wide Sargasso Sea Dir. John Duigan. Rachel Ward & Michael York star in adaptation of the novel by Jean Rhys.
Wills & Burke: The Untold Story Dir. Bob Weis. Comic view of the intrepid explorers with Garry McDonald and Kym Gyngall.
§ The Wog Boy Dir. Aleksi Vellis. From one of the creators of "Wogs Out of Work" comes a very "in your face" Australian social comedy.
CLASSIC ENGLISH LANGUAGE CINEMA
(Most Films Made Before 1970)
(see also COMEDY)
Directed by Robert Aldrich -
Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte 1964. Macabre story of skeleton in closet, stars Bette Davis.
The Killing of Sister George 1968. Lesbian drama stars Beryl Reid & Susannah York. Rated R.
Kiss Me Deadly 1955. A moody, fast & violent adaptation of a Micky Spillane novel that was years ahead of its time. Influential classic noir.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962. Chiller starring Bette Davis & Joan Crawford.
Directed by John Boulting -
Brighton Rock plus Eight O'Clock Walk Dirs. John Boulting 1947/ Lance Comfort 1953. Two great British thrillers on the one tape.
I'm All Right Jack 1959. Peter Sellers as a tragi-comic shop steward in a classic British trade union satire.
Heavens Above 1963. British satire starring Peter Sellers as a socialist parson.
Directed by Frank Capra -
Arsenic and Old Lace 1944. Classic comedy stars Cary Grant
It Happened One Night Claudette Colbert & Clark Gable in legendary 1934 romantic comedy.
It's A Wonderful Life Capra's immortal 1942 tale of a suicidal man (James Stewart) visited by a trainee guardian angel on Xmas Eve.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936. Capra’s screwball comedy starring Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur.
Directed by Charles Chaplin -
The Circus / A Day's Pleasure 1928. The Circus won a special Oscar for versatility in writing, acting, directing and producing.
City Lights 1931. Chaplin's masterpiece proves the eloquence of silence.
The Gold Rush / Pay Day 1925. The Little Tramp takes on the Yukon.
The Great Dictator 1940. Chaplin plays two totally opposite roles in his first "talkie", giving a superb display of his boundless talent for inspired comedy and drama.
The Kid (& featuring "The Idle Class") 1921. The Little Tramp becomes a daddy and dallies with the aristocracy.
Limelight 1952. One of his last films, also stars Buster Keaton, and was Claire Blooms' first screen role.
Modern Times 1936. Devastating satire on industrial life.
Monsieur Verdoux 1947. Controversial black comedy.
Directed by George Cukor -
Adam's Rib 1949. Stars Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.
Bill of Divorcement / Ruby Gentry Double bill - Dirs. Cukor, 1932 & King Vidor , 1952.
Born Yesterday 1950 comedy. Delightful original version stars Judy Holliday as the quintessential "dumb blonde".
David Copperfield 1935. Adaptation of Dickens stars W.C. Fields & Freddy Bartholomew.
A Double Life 1947. Ronald Coleman’s Oscar-winning performance as an actor whose stage roles spill over into his personal life.
Gaslight 1944. A period stage thriller stars Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotton & Angela Lansbury.
Holiday 1938. Marvellous comedy - one of Cukor's best films and often overlooked.
My Fair Lady Ever popular 1964 musical version of Shaw's "Pygmalion" with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.
Les Girls 1957 musical, stars Gene Kelly & Mitzi Gaynor.
The Philadelphia Story 1940 comedy classic starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn & James Stewart
A Star is Born Stars Judy Garland & James Mason, 1954
The Women 1939. Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell in brilliant comedy about divorce.
Directed by John Ford -
The Grapes of Wrath Henry Fonda stars in moving 1940 adaptation of the Steinbeck novel.
How Green Was My Valley 1941 Academy Award winning adaptation of Richard Llewellyn's novel.
The Informer 1935. A masterpiece in the study of human nature.
My Darling Clementine 1946, stars Henry Fonda.
The Quiet Man Nominated for 7 Oscars. Starring John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara in an Irish romance. 1952.
The Searchers A complex and beautiful western, 1956.
The Sun Shines Bright 1953. This was Ford’s favourite film, based on the "Judge Priest" stories.
Directed by Howard Hawks -
The Big Sleep (Director’s Cut) 1946. Classic adaptation by William Faulkner of Raymond Chandler novel with Bogart and Bacall.
Bringing Up Baby 1938, screwball comedy classic starring Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and "baby".
His Girl Friday 1940. Stars Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell
Scarface 1931. Epic gangster film stars Paul Muni, George Raft, Ann Dvorak & Boris Karloff.
To Have and Have Not 1944. The legendary Bogart & Bacall debut.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock -
The Birds 1963. Stars Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor & lots of birds.
Dial M For Murder 1954. Stars Ray Milland & Grace Kelly.
Foreign Correspondent 1940. Wartime spy drama.
Frenzy 1972. For one of his last tricks he returned to Covent Garden to deliver the necktie murderer.
I Confess 1953. Montgomery Clift stars as a priest caught by the sacred oath of the confessional.
The Lady Vanishes 1938. His last English film. A real gem.
Lifeboat 1944. Wartime drama of shipwreck survivors adrift
The Man Who Knew Too Much Original version made in England in 1934. Many believe this to be the better one.
The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956. Remake stars James Stewart & Doris Day.
Marnie 1964. Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery star.
North By Northwest 1959. Tense drama stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason.
Notorious 1946. Espionage in South America, stars Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Claude Rains.
The Paradine Case 1948. Classic courtroom drama starring Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Valli & Charles Laughton.
Psycho Tony Perkins stars in the 1960 landmark horror classic.
Rear Window 1954. Stars Grace Kelly and wheelchair-bound voyeur, James Stewart.
Rebecca 1940. Based on the chilling story by Daphne Du Maurier. Academy award winner stars Laurence Olivier & Joan Fontaine.
Rich and Strange 1932. With Henry Kendall, Joan Barry.
Rope 1948. His first colour film, stars James Stewart.
Sabotage 1936. An elaborately detailed thriller.
Shadow of a Doubt 1943. Joseph Cotton stars as the two-faced uncle.
Spellbound 1945. Psychiatric tale stars Ingrid Bergman & Gregory Peck, with a dream sequence by Salvador Dali.
Stage Fright 1950. Stars Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding & Richard Todd.
Strangers on a Train 1951. Based on a Patricia Highsmith novel.
The 39 Steps 1935. Based on the classic spy thriller by John Buchan.
To Catch a Thief 1955. Cary Grant as a reformed cat burglar.
The Trouble With Harry 1955. The comedy about a corpse that introduced Shirley MacLaine to the screen.
Vertigo 1958. Fascinating thriller with James Stewart & Kim Novak.
The Wrong Man 1956. Stars Henry Fonda.
Directed by John Huston -
see also - Annie (in CHILDREN)
The African Queen 1951 classic with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn bickering down the Congo.
Beat the Devil 1953. Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, & Gina Lollobrigida star in thriller set in the Mediterranean.
The Dead 1987. His final, and delightfully moving masterpiece, was based on a story by James Joyce.
Key Largo 1948, with Humphry Bogart and Lauren Bacall
The Maltese Falcon 1941 classic starring Humphrey Bogart & Mary Astor, based on Dashiell Hammett's story.
Prizzi's Honour 1985, stars Kathleen Turner, Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston.
The Treasure of Sierra Madre 1948. Triple Academy Award - winner stars Humphrey Bogart.
Under the Volcano 1984 adaptation of Malcolm Lowry novel, starring Albert Finney & Jacqueline Bisset.
Wise Blood 1979. Brilliant translation of Flannery O'Connor's hell and damnation first novel.
Directed by Elia Kazan -
East of Eden 1955, starring Julie Harris & James Dean
Gentleman's Agreement 1947, stars Gregory Peck
The Last Tycoon 1976, Robert De Niro stars in adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.
On The Waterfront 1954, stars Marlon Brando.
A Streetcar Named Desire 1951. Marlon Brando & Vivian Leigh star in a great Tennessee Williams play.
Viva Zapata 1952, stars Marlon Brando as the fiery Mexican revolutionary, Zapata.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick -
2001 A Space Odyssey 1968. A milestone sci-fi film.
Barry Lyndon 1975. Ryan O'Neal stars in this beautifully crafted 18th century romp.
§ A Clockwork Orange 1971. Finally, after nearly 30 years, now available on video. Stars Malcolm McDowell and Patrick Magee in adaptation of Anthony Burgess novel about social violence. Rated R.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964. Cold War comedy classic stars Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden.
§ Eyes Wide Shut 1999. His final and most controversial film, stars real life couple, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, as an affluent couple with sexual problems. Rated R.
Full Metal Jacket 1987. Powerful study of the dehumanising effect of training in US Marines. Rated R.
Killer's Kiss 1955. Interesting early film with a brooding sense of violence not unlike his later film, "The Shining"
The Killing 1956. The film that really made Kubrick’s name is a study of a racetrack robbery.
Lolita 1961. James Mason stars as Nabokov's paedophile.
Paths of Glory 1957, stars Kirk Douglas. Intense study of the insanity of war.
The Shining 1980. Stars a manic Jack Nicholson in an adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel.
Spartacus 1960. Oscar winning epic of early Rome with an all star cast.
Directed by David Lean -
Brief Encounter 1945. Written by Noel Coward.
Great Expectations 1946. Great adaptation of Dickens' novel, stars John Mills.
Lawrence of Arabia 1962. with Peter O'Toole (restored director's cut version).
Oliver Twist 1948. Adaptation of Dickens' novel
A Passage To India 1984. Stars Judy Davis, Peggy Ashcroft, based on E. M. Forster's novel.
Ryan's Daughter 1970. Set in Ireland in 1916.
This Happy Breed 1944. John Mills stars in adaptation of a Noel Coward play.
Directed by Joseph Losey -
The Go-Between 1971. Julie Christie & Alan Bates star in Harold Pinter's adaptation of the novel by L. P. Hartley.
King and Country 1964, stars Dirk Bogarde, Tom Courtenay, Leo McKern in WWI court-martial drama.
The Servant 1963, based on the Pinter play with Dirk Bogarde, James Fox and Sarah Miles.
Directed by Michael Powell -
A Canterbury Tale 1944, made with Emeric Pressburger
The Edge of the World 1937, newly restored version.
I Know Where I'm Going 1945, did she or didn't she?
Ill Met By Moonlight 1957, Dirk Bogarde stars in recreation of a wartime drama.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 1943, old soldiers never die....
A Matter of Life and Death 1946. David Niven stars as wartime flier who "dies" and goes to heaven.
Peeping Tom 1960, landmark psycho-sexual drama.
The Red Shoes 1948, remarkable for its seamless integration of dance and drama.
The Thief of Baghdad 1940. Delightful Arabian Nights tale that was a landmark for cinematography and special effects.
They're A Weird Mob 1966, from John O'Grady's best selling book comes an "Australian" comedy classic.
Directed by Nicholas Ray -
55 Days at Peking 1963, stars Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven.
In a Lonely Place 1950. Humphrey Bogart & Gloria Graham are excellent in this powerful "film noir" drama.
Johnny Guitar 1954, Ray plays havoc with the Western's conventions - stars Joan Crawford & Sterling Hayden
Rebel Without a Cause 1955 stars James Dean, Natalie Wood. Considered to be Dean's finest film, a story of troubled adolescence that has been much imitated since.
Directed by Robert Rossen -
All the King's Men 1949. Fine adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize winning novel about corruption in politics.
The Hustler 1961. Stars Paul Newman as Fast Eddie the pool hustler taking on the world.
Directed by George Stevens -
The Diary of Anne Frank 1959, based on the famous wartime diary of an adolescent Jewish girl in hiding with her family from the Nazis.
George Stevens, A Filmmakers Journey The biographical
documentary made by Stevens' son.
Giant 1956, epic of land, class, oil & lust, stars James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson.
Gunga Din 1939. One of the great adventure films, based on Kipling's poem, stars Cary Grant.
Shane 1953. Legendary rendition of the archetypal Western myth.
Woman of the Year 1942, stars Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.
Directed by Orson Welles —
See also Macbeth ( in Shakespeare)
Citizen Kane 1941. Stunning first film, broke many cinema conventions and invented some new ones.
Confidential Report (aka Mr. Arkadin) His second European film (1955).
The Lady From Shanghai 1948. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth star.
The Magnificent Ambersons Follow up to Citizen Kane. 1942.
The Trial 1962. The blackest of Welles’ work, stars Anthony Perkins and Jeanne Moreau.
Directed by Billy Wilder -
The Apartment Superb 1960 comedy-drama stars Jack Lemmon and Shirley McLaine.
Double Indemnity 1944. Fred McMurray & Barbara Stanwyck are superb in a crackling tale of murder and its just rewards.
The Fortune Cookie 1966, comic role-playing is even more extreme than in "Some Like it Hot". Stars Walter Mathau and Jack Lemmon
Irma La Douce 1963. Starring Jack Lemon & Shirley MacLaine.
One Two Three 1961. Cold War satire with James Cagney as the Coca Cola Man.
Sabrina 1954, stars Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden.
The Seven Year Itch 1955. Stars Marilyn Monroe.
Some Like it Hot 1959, comedy classic with Monroe, Curtis & Lemmon.
Sunset Boulevard 1950. Gloria Swanson & William Holden star in a dark tale of Hollywood.
Witness for the Prosecution 1957, stars Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton.
Directed by William Wyler -
The Best Years of Our Lives 1946. Academy award winner recounts the problems faced by second world war veterans returning home.
Dead End 1937. Humphrey Bogart stars in one of the most honoured crime films ever made.
Dodsworth 1936, adaptation of novel by Sinclair Lewis
Jezebel 1938. Stars Bette Davis & Henry Fonda. Davis scandalises 19th century Southern society.
The Little Foxes 1941. Bette Davis stars in brilliant adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play.
Roman Holiday 1953. Stars Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck.
These Three 1936. Based on Lillian Hellman's play "The Children's Hour".
Wuthering Heights 1939. Brilliant adaptation stars Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon and David Niven
42nd Street A 1933 Busby Berkeley musical, with Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels.
An Affair to Remember Dir. Leo McCarey, 1957, romantic drama stars Deborah Kerr, Carey Grant.
All About Eve Dir. Joseph L Mankiewicz, 1950. Bette Davis is superb as the ageing star who is duped by an adoring fan.
Anna Karenina Dir. Clarence Brown, 1935. Greta Garbo stars in adaptation of the Tolstoy classic.
Anne of the Thousand Days Dir. Charles Jarrott, 1969. Richard Burton & Genevieve Bujold star in historical drama about King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn.
Babes in Arms Dir. Busby Berkeley, 1946. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland star.
The Bad and the Beautiful Dir. Vincente Minnelli, 1952. Kirk Douglas & Lana Turner in Oscar winning tale of manipulative Hollywood producer.
The Beggar’s Opera Dir. Peter Brook, 1953. Celebrated stage director’s film debut is an energetic version of John Gay’s opera about a jailed highwayman.
Billy Liar Dir. John Schlessinger, 1963, Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie star.
The Blue Lamp Dir. Basil Dearden, 1954 classic British crime drama with Dirk Bogarde
Bonnie and Clyde Dir. Arthur Penn, a 1967 classic starring Faye Dunaway & Warren Beatty.
Breakfast at Tiffany's Dir. Blake Edwards, 1961. Audrey Hepburn stars in adaptation of Capote's story.
Broken Blossoms Dir. D.W. Griffith, 1919. Silent classic acclaimed as Lillian Gish's finest performance. Intro by Gish. Tinted, with musical soundtrack of the original score.
The Brothers Karamazov Dir. Richard Brooks, 1958. Acclaimed film version of Dostoyevsky novel.
Cape Fear Dir. J. Lee Thompson. Original 1961 version with Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum.
Casablanca Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1942. Classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Dir. Richard Brooks. Tennessee Williams' play, stars Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.
Caught Dir. Max Ophuls, 1949. James Mason and Barbara Bel Geddes star in a compelling tale of a young girl who marries a millionaire only to find her life is a living hell.
Charade Dir. Stanley Donen, 1963, stars Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant.
Christopher Strong Dir. Dorothy Azner, 1933. Azner was the only woman director in Hollywood in the 30s and this was Katherine Hepburn's first starring role.
Damn Yankees Musical by George Abbott & Stanley Donen. Has a wonderful dance number with Bob Fosse
Dark Passage Dir. Delmar Daves, 1947, stars Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall.
Dark Victory Dir. Edmund Golding, 1939. Bette Davis stars as wealthy society woman who discovers she has a brain tumour.
Darling Dir. John Schlessinger, 1965. Julie Christie & Dirk Bogarde.
Days of Wine and Roses Dir. Blake Edwards, 1962. Powerful drama stars Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick.
Dead Ringer Dir. Paul Henreid, 1964. Stars Bette Davis playing twin sisters.
Deception Dir. Irving Rapper, 1946. Bette Davis, Paul Henreid & Claude Rains star in dramatic love story.
Easter Parade Dir. Charles Walters, 1948. Fred Astaire & Judy Garland in an Irving Berlin musical.
Easy Rider Dir. Dennis Hopper, 1969. Looking for America with Peter Fonda, Hopper, Jack Nicholson & Phil Spector. A motorcycle and generation classic.
Far From the Madding Crowd Dir. John Schlesinger, Julie Christie and Alan Bates in great adaptation of Hardy.
A Farewell to Arms Dir. Frank Borzage, 1932. Gary Cooper in fine adaptation of Hemingway.
Fire Over England Dir. William K Howard, 1937. 16th century English drama with Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Flora Robeson.
From Here to Eternity Dir. Fred Zinnemann, 1953. Winner of 8 Academy Awards, stars Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift.
The Fugitive Kind Dir Sidney Lumet, 1959. Stars Marlon Brando, Anna Magnani. Based on Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams.
Funny Face Dir. Stanley Donen, 1956, stars Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire.
Gilda Dir. Charles Vidor, 1946. Rita Hayworth and Glen Ford star in film noir classic.
Girl With Green Eyes Dir. Desmond Davis, 1963. Moving drama of a young farm girl falling in love with a married writer. Stars Peter Finch, Lyn Redgrave and Rita Tushingham.
Gone With the Wind Dir. Victor Fleming, 1939, Civil War epic with Gable, Leigh, de Havilland & Howard.
The Good Earth Dir. Sidney Franklin, 1937. Adaptation of the novel by Pearl S. Buck about China.
Goodbye Mr. Chips Dir. Sam Wood, 1939. Stars Robert Donat & Greer Garson.
Guys and Dolls Dir. Joseph Mankiewicz, 1955. Based on the Broadway musical, stars Marlon Brando & Frank Sinatra.
The Harder They Fall Dir. Mark Robson, 1956, stars Humphrey Bogart & Rod Steiger
Harvey Dir. Henry Koster, 1950. James Stewart in award-winning comedy about an imaginary rabbit.
High Noon Dir. Fred Zinnemann, 1952. A retired marshal is forced to take up his badge. With Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly
High Sierra Dir. Raoul Walsh, 1940, stars Humphrey Bogart, Ida Lupino.
I Wake Up Screaming Dir. H. Bruce Humberstone. Acclaimed Film Noir stars Betty Grable and Victor Mature.
If.... Dir. Lindsay Anderson. 1969. Surreal tale of student revolution.
Inherit the Wind Dir. Stanley Kramer, 1960, stars Spencer Tracey in emotionally charged courtroom battle.
Intermezzo Dir. Gregory Ratoff, 1939. Ingrid Bergman's American screen debut with Leslie Howard.
Jane Eyre Dir. Robert Stevenson, stars Orson Welles.
Johnny Apollo Dir. Henry Hathaway, 1940, stars Tyrone Power, Dorothy Lamour.
Juarez Dir. William Dieterle, 1939, stars Paul Muni, Bette Davis.
A Kind of Loving Dir. John Schlessinger, 1962, stars Alan Bates
Kiss Me Kate Dir. George Sidney. Cole Porter musical.
Laura Dir. Otto Preminger. Classic tale of obsession that led to murder, stars Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews & Clifton Web.
A Letter to Three Wives Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1949. Stars Jean Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Southern.
The Lion in Winter Dir. Anthony Harvey, 1968. Oscar winner; Peter O’Toole & Katharine Hepburn star in this brilliant drama of King Henry II debating over his heir one fateful Christmas Eve.
Long Day's Journey Into Night Dir. Sidney Lumet, 1962. Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical play stars Katherine Hepburn & Sir Ralph Richardson.
The Long Hot Summer Dir. Martin Ritt, 1958. Steamy Freudian tale with Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward.
Lord of the Flies Dir. Peter Brook, 1963. Based on the disturbing novel by William Golding.
Madame Bovary Dir. Vincente Minnelli. Adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's novel starring Jennifer Jones.
A Man For All Seasons Dir. Fred Zinnemann, Robert Bolt screenplay
The Manchurian Candidate Dir. John Frankenheimer, 1962. Tingling political paranoia thriller.
Meet Me in St Louis Dir. Vincente Minnelli, 1944. Captivating Judy Garland musical.
Mildred Pierce Dir. Michael Curtiz., 1945. Oscar winner, Joan Crawford, stars in adaptation of James M. Cain’s dark novel.
Murder, My Sweet Dir. Edward Dmytryk, 1944. Adaptation of Chandler's "Farewell My Lovely".
My Favourite Wife Dir. Garson Kanin, 1940. Comedy with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.
The Night of the Hunter Dir. Charles Laughton's powerful 1955 melodrama stars Robert Mitchum as the crazed preacher.
Nothing Sacred Dir. William Wellman, 1937. Comedy with Carole Lombard & Frederic March.
Now Voyager Dir. Irving Rapper, 1942, stars Bette Davis as a repressed spinster
The Nun's Story Dir. Fred Zinnemann, 1958, stars Audrey Hepburn & Peter Finch.
The October Man Dir. Roy Baker, 1947. Classic British mystery starring John Mills, Joan Greenwood.
On the Beach Dir. Stanley Kramer, 1959, based on a novel about the end of the world by Nevil Shute, made appropriately in Melbourne. Gregory Peck & Ava Gardner.
Operation Petticoat Dir. Blake Edwards, 1959. Stars Cary Grant and Tony Curtis.
Out of the Past Dir. Jacques Tourneur, 1947. Robert Mitchum stars in quintessential 40s film noir.
Play Misty For Me Thriller, directed by Clint Eastwood
Portrait of Jennie Dir. William Dieterle, 1948, stars Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotton.
The Postman Always Rings Twice Dir. Tay Garnett, 1946. Lana Turner and John Garfield star in adaptation of the James M. Cain thriller.
Pride and Prejudice Greer Garson & Laurence Olivier star in 1940 version of Jane Austen's novel.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Dir. Ronald Neame. Maggie Smith won the 1969 Best Actress Oscar for her role as an eccentric teacher.
Pygmalion Dir. Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard, 1938. Brilliant screen version of Bernard Shaw's play.
Queen Christina Dir. Rouben Mamoulian, 1934. Greta Garbo's legendary performance as the 17th century Queen of Sweden who relinquished her throne for love.
Random Harvest Dir. Mervyn LeRoy, 1942. Stars Ronald Colman and Greer Garson in James Hilton story.
The Razor's Edge Dir. Edmund Goulding. Adaptation of Somerset Maugham's novel starring Tyrone Power
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Dir. Karel Reisz, 1960. Albert Finney stars in one of the first of the British "angry young man" dramas.
Scarlet Street Dir. Fritz Lang, stars Edward G. Robinson.
Second Chorus/Royal Wedding 2 Fred Astaire musicals
Seconds Dir. John Frankenheimer, 1966. Grim parable stars Rock Hudson in a most untypical role.
Separate Tables Dir. Delbert Mann, 1958, stars Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Burt Lancaster.
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers Musical directed by Stanley Donen, 1954. Starring Jane Powel & Howard Keel.
Since You Went Away Dir. John Cromwell, 1944. Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten & Monty Woolley star in very fine wartime tear-jerker.
Singin in the Rain Dir. Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen, 1952. One of the best-loved Hollywood musicals of all time.
Some Came Running Dir. Vincente Minnelli, 1959, stars Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.
The Spiral Staircase Dir. Robert Siodmak, 1946. Classic thriller starring Dorothy McGuire.
Stella Dallas Dir. King Vidor, 1937. Barbara Stanwyck's finest role as a social climbing mother.
Stormy Weather Dir. Andrew Stone, 1943 musical.
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Dir. Lewis Milestone, 1946. Gripping melodrama stars Barbara Stanwyck, was also Kirk Douglas' first film.
Suddenly, Last Summer Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1959. Written by Gore Vidal & Tennessee Williams, stars Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, Montgomery Clift.
The Sweet Smell of Success Dir. Alexander Mackendrick, 1957. Burt Lancaster & Tony Curtis star in a searing Clifford Odets script about the ruthlessness of the press.
A Taste of Honey Dir. Tony Richardson, 1961. In the tradition of the early 60s 'kitchen sink' British cinema.
The Third Man Dir. Carol Reed, 1949. Orson Welles & Joseph Cotton star in a Graham Greene story.
To Kill a Mockingbird Dir. Robert Mulligan, 1962. Gregory Peck stars in Oscar-winning adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee.
Town Without Pity Dir. Gottfried Reinhardt, 1961, stars Kirk Douglas.
Twelve Angry Men Dir. Sidney Lumet, 1957 jury classic
Ulysses Dir. Joseph Strick, 1967, adapted from the novel by James Joyce.
Unfaithfully Yours Dir. Preston Sturges, 1948. Marital farce stars Rex Harrison.
Walk on the Wild Side Dir. Edward Dmytrk, 1962, stars Jane Fonda.
West Side Story Dir. Robert Wise, 1961 musical milestone, starring Natalie Wood.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Dir. Mike Nichols, 1966. Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton star in adaptation of Edward Albee's play.
The Wild One Dir. Laslo Benedek. An angry young, Marlon Brando, in this 50's cult classic
Yankee Doodle Dandee In his Oscar winning Role, James Cagney stars as the "damnedest patriotic man in the country"
Zorba the Greek Dir. Michael Cacoyannis, 1964. Story of a Greek wanderer and his companion, stars Anthony Quinn.
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DRAMA
(Most Films Made After 1970)
Directed by Woody Allen -
Alice 1990, Mia Farrow plunges into mid-life crisis.
Annie Hall 1977, comedy starring Diane Keaton & Woody Allen
Another Woman 1988, stars Gena Rowlands, Mia Farrow, Gene Hackman.
Bananas 1971, his second, very comic, feature.
Broadway Danny Rose 1984, with Woody Allen & Mia Farrow
Bullets Over Broadway 1994
Comedy set in the 20s - a self-serious playwright sells out when he’s offered the chance to direct his latest play on Broadway - even if he has to have the gangster’s mole in the cast.
§ Celebrity 1998. A return to B&W photography isn’t the only thing he rehashes in the star encrusted piece.
Deconstructing Harry A writer uses his life as fodder for his work, infuriating his family, his lovers and his friends.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex .... But Were Afraid to Ask 1972, sex education comedy , rated R.
Hannah and her Sisters 1986, stars Mia Farrow, Carrie Fisher, Barbara Hershey
Interiors 1978. Stars Kristen Griffith, Diane Keaton.
Love and Death 1975. Comedy based on the great Russian novels.
Manhattan 1979, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep star.
Manhattan Murder Mystery 1993. A lighthearted "who done what".
A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy 1982. This is his parody of Swedish films/ Ingmar Bergman, it was also Mia Farrow’s first film with Woody Allen.
Mighty Aphrodite 1995. Entertaining fluff about "Woody’s" search for the mother of his adopted child.
Play It Again Sam 1972. His first comedy with Diane Keaton. Allen plays a neurotic film buff.
The Purple Rose of Cairo 1985, Comedy-fantasy about Depression-era movie fan, stars Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels.
Radio Days 1987, set at the start of WWII, with Mia Farrow becoming a radio celebrity.
September 1987, six people vent their angst during a weekend in the country.
Shadows and Fog 1992. His homage to German Expressionism.
Sleeper 1973, Allen's Rip Van Wynkle movie.
Stardust Memories 1980. Serious/ comic look at fame and success.
Take the Money and Run 1969, his first film.
Zelig 1983, a pseudo-doco of the effects of McCarthyism.
Directed By Robert Altman -
Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Stars Sandy Dennis, Cher & Karen Black.
Cookie’s Fortune Laid back but amusing Southern yarn about the events surrounding a mysterious death. Great cast and great music.
The Gingerbread Man Kenneth Branagh stars as a sleazy Savannah lawyer.
Images underrated film, stars Susannah York in a chilling investigation of loneliness and madness.
Kansas City A portrait of the home of both jazz & crime in 1934.
The Long Goodbye Elliot Gould in a Raymond Chandler story
McCabe and Mrs. Miller Warren Beatty & Julie Christie
M.A.S.H. The outrageously funny original, starring Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould
The Player Looks at the madness of the Hollywood system
Pret-a-Porter Altman’s most recent film looks at the weird world of the ready to wear fashion industry.
Quintet Paul Newman in futurist survival story.
Short Cuts Star studded adaptation from the quirky short stories of Robert Carver.
Thieves Like Us 1973. Stars Keith Carradine, Shelly Duvall
Directed by Michael Cimino -
The Deer Hunter Robert De Niro stars in 1978 Oscar-winning Vietnam war epic. Rated R.
Heaven's Gate 1980, epic western - the complete, uncut version 208 mins.
Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen -
Barton Fink Enormously amusing comedy of the underside of the Hollywood dream.
The Big Lebowski Jeff Bridges stars in a comic update of the world of Raymond Chandler.
Blood Simple Passion led to adultery. Adultery led to murder. It all seemed so simple.
Fargo The Coen brothers put their unique comic spin on a true-life Minnesota murder case. Rated R
The Hudsucker Proxy Corporate comedy stars Tim Robbins, Paul Newman & Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Miller's Crossing 'The Mob' meet 'The Mafia'.
Raising Arizona Great black comedy starring Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola -
Apocalypse Now Vietnam war epic, loosely based on Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", rated R
Bram Stoker's Dracula A visually stunning version.
The Conversation The conspiracy theory/ psycho-drama of the 70s, stars Gene Hackman as a surveillance expert.
The Cotton Club Homage to the days of colourful gangsters and Harlem nightlife.
The Godfather stars Marlon Brando in adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel of the Mafia. Rated R.
The Godfather II The epic story continues...
The Godfather III Stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton & Eli Wallach. Extended director's cut version.
The Outsiders Based on S.E. Hinton’s book about youth.
Peggy Sue Got Married A 50’s fantasy that stars Kathleen Turner.
Rumble Fish Stars Mat Dillon & Micky Rourke. Rated R
Tucker: The Man and His Dream Stars Jeff Bridges in stylish bio of Preston Tucker and his "car of the future".
Directed by Terence Davies -
Distant Voices Still Lives 1988. Evocative but unpatronising account of British working class life of the 40s and 50s.
The Long Day Closes 1992. Another poignant, painterly slice of life, follows similar autobiographical stream as above.
The Neon Bible 1995. Gena Rowlands stars in moving adaptation of John Kennedy Toole’s novel of life in small-town Georgia in the 40s.
Terence Davies Trilogy A trio of short works made between 1976 and 1983, they span the life of a troubled clerk from boyhood to deathbed. It's both moving and powerful.
Directed by Stephen Frears -
see also Saigon Year of the Cat (under THE BEST OF BRITISH TV DRAMA)
The Grifters Savagely funny version of Jim Thompson’s hardboiled crime novel.
Mary Reilly Julia Roberts stars in a clever reworking of the Jekyll & Hyde story from the point of view of one of the housemaids.
My Beautiful Laundrette Starring Saeed Jaffrey & Daniel Day Lewis, written by Hanif Kureishi.
Prick Up Your Ears Bio of homosexual playwright Joe Orton. Rated R.
The Snapper Wonderful adaptation of Roddy Doyle's novel about a working-class Irish family and a teenage pregnancy.
The Van Another very funny Roddy Doyle novel brought to life - the story of two low-lives who hope to cash in on the 1990 World Cup in Ireland with a very sleazy fast food van.
Directed by Peter Greenaway -
The Baby of Macon Set in the mid 17th century, it’s an elaborate desecration of Catholic iconography.
The Belly of an Architect Architecture, art & obsession
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Graphic tale of adultery, jealousy and revenge. Rated R
The Draughtsman's Contract A 17th century version of "Blow Up"
Drowning by Numbers Story of an obsessive coroner
The Falls 1980. A Pivotal film in his career. Shot as a fake documentary it is inventive, witty and absurd.
Peter Greenaway the Early Works Some early shorts -"Dear Phone", "Water Wrackets" & "A Walk Through H".
The Pillow Book 1995. Defiantly esoteric subject matter and yet ravishingly gorgeous to watch.
A TV Dante: The Inferno Cantos I - VIII Made in 1989.
Directed by Hal Hartley -
Amateur 1994. Typically quirky tale about an ex-nun who writes pornography and hooks up with a seemingly harmless amnesiac.
Flirt 1995. Unusual three-parter in which the same story is retold in different ways.
Henry Fool A bashful garbageman is encouraged to write poetry.
Simple Men 1992. Tale of brothers in search of their fugitive anarchist father, with Robert Burke & William Sage.
Three Shorts by Hal Hartley compilation of his short works.
Trust 1990. It's funny, stylish & challenging.
Directed by James Ivory -
The Bostonians Adaptation of Henry James' novel, starring Christopher Reeve & Vanessa Redgrave.
Heat and Dust Julie Christie and Greta Scacchi star.
The Householder Indian comedy of manners and class
Howard’s End Stars Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave. Based on the E.M. Forster novel.
Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures Stars Peggy Ashcroft, Victor Banerjee, Aparna Sen, Saeed Jaffrey.
Jane Austen in Manhattan Anne Baxter and Robert Powell in dramatic struggle.
Jefferson in Paris Nick Nolte and Greta Scacchi star in tale about the 18th century American president.
Maurice Stars Hugh Grant, James Wilby, Rupert Graves & Ben Kingsly in adaptation of EM Forster.
Mr and Mrs Bridge Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward star.
The Remains of the Day Anthony Hopkins & Emma Thompson star in adaptation of Ishiguro's novel.
Roseland Stars Christopher Walken, Geraldine Chaplin.
§ A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries Stars Kris Kristofferson in tale of expatriot novelist’s return home.
Directed by Jim Jarmusch -
Dead Man A one of a kind, star studded, eccentric western. Rated R.
§ Ghost Dog — the Way of the Samurai 1999. Forest Whitaker stars as a solitary hitman who lives by the code of the samurai.
Mystery Train One Tuesday Night in Memphis...
Night on Earth Cleverly plays upon seemingly inconsequential encounters with taxi drivers.
Stranger than Paradise 1984, critically acclaimed comedy-road movie with John Lurie, Eszter Balint and Richard Edson
Year of the Horse Documentary tribute to the musician Neil Young.
Directed by Spike Lee -
Clockers 1995. Based on Richard Price’s bestseller about a murder in the New York "projects". Rated R.
Do The Right Thing Pacy punchy ensemble piece.
Get on the Bus 1996. Vibrant, highly energised piece about a busload of African-American men travelling to the Million Man March in Washington DC in 1995.
Jungle Fever Explores the provocative consequences of interracial relationships.
Malcolm X Lee's tribute to the extraordinary black radical stars Denzel Washington.
Mo Better Blues Breathtaking film on music and love stars Denzel Washington.
School Daze His satire on "Animal House".
She's Gotta Have It His first feature, 1986
§ Summer of Sam 1999. Less about the infamous NY killer in the summer of ‘77 and more about the complexities of life in the ‘hood.
Directed by Mike Leigh -
Abigail's Party Early drama made for the BBC.
Bleak Moments (1971) A girl left at home with her mentally retarded sister tries to work out her own communication problems.
Career Girls 1997. Comedy about old flatmates renewing their friendship.
High Hopes (1988) Winner, International Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival.
Naked 1993. Bleak, often brutal and sometimes hilarious view of social alienation. Rated R
Secrets & Lies 1995. Spellbinding tale of an adopted woman’s encounter with her natural mother.
§ Topsy Turvey Uncharacteristic but delightful award winning bio of Gilbert & Sullivan and their making of "The Mikado".
Directed by Ken Loach -
see also Kes in Children’s films
Carla’s Song Stars Robert Carlyle as a Scottish bus conductor who falls for a Nicaraguan political refugee.
Land and Freedom 1995. Charts the Spanish Civil War through the conflicts and experience of one British volunteer.
Ladybird, Ladybird Inspired by a true event, a powerful story of human resilience.
§ My Name is Joe 1998. Funny, insightful and emotionally devastating drama.
Raining Stones Winner of Jury Prize, Cannes 1993.
Riff Raff Comic expose of British working class life.
Directed by David Lynch -
see also Pretty as a Picture: the art of David Lynch in Documentaries
Blue Velvet Underside of middle American life. Rated R
Dune His science fiction film.
The Elephant Man Stars Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt.
Eraserhead 1976. Lynch’s first feature - it’s surreal, extraordinary!
Lost Highway 1997. Very bizarre Lynchian story that makes "Twin Peaks" seem as easy to follow as "Sesame Street". One for the buffs.
§ The Straight Story Sissy Spacek and Richard Farnsworth are brilliant in this little humanist gem, an unusual but successful move for Lynch.
Twin Peaks Original pilot film for the bizarre television series about the murder of Laura Palmer.
Twin Peaks - The Complete Series in 10 volumes.
Directed by Roman Polanski -
see also Macbeth ( in SHAKESPEARE)
Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.
Cul De Sac 1966. Macabre comedy
Death and the Maiden Stars Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley & Stuart Wilson. Rated R.
Knife in the Water His extraordinary first feature made in Poland, 1962. In Polish/ English subtitles.
§ The Ninth Gate Johnny Depp is terrific in his Odyssean search for the devil.
Pirates Swashbuckling comedy with Walter Matthau.
Repulsion psychological shocker with Catherine Deneuve. Rated R
The Tenant Always be wary of renting!
Tess Adaptation of the novel by Thomas Hardy, starring Natassia Kinski.
Directed by Nicholas Roeg —
(see also Walkabout in Australia)
Bad Timing Art Garfunkel & Theresa Russell star in a complex tale of destructive passions. Rated R.
Don't Look Now Superbly chilling essay in the supernatural adapted from a Daphne Du Maurier story.
Eureka Stars Gene Hackman & Theresa Russell.
Heart of Darkness Tim Roth & John Malkovich star in new adaptation of the Conrad story.
Insignificance What happens when Monroe, DiMaggio, Einstein and McCarthy share a film?
Directed by Ken Russell -
see also Delius & Elgar (both in BRITISH TV)
Altered States Sci-fi flick stars William Hurt.
Crimes of Passion Stars Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins (Rated R)
The Devils With Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave.
Lair of the White Worm Hoot of a horror film (R)
Mahler Stars Robert Powell, 1974. "The best film I have ever made about an artist" - Ken Russell.
The Music Lovers 1971, stars Richard Chamberlain, Glenda Jackson, rated R.
The Rainbow Based on the book by D. H. Lawrence.
Tommy 1975. The Who's rock opera.
Women in Love 1969. Glenda Jackson, Alan Bates, Oliver Reed in adaptation of D.H Lawrence book. Rated R
Whore Theresa Russell stars, R - Rated
Directed by John Sayles -
The Brother From Another Planet Parable of modern society
City of Hope Ambitious multi-character drama about a strife-torn inner city and the people whose lives intersect within it.
§ Limbo Set in modern day Alaska, an odd assortment of characters find themselves at an emotional crossroad.
Lone Star Drama set in a remote Texas border town where the memory of a former sheriff looms large.
Matewan Splendid retelling of a strike by West Virginian miners in the 1920s.
Men With Guns An odyssey of socio-political discovery for an affluent but naïve Central American doctor. Made in Spanish.
Passion Fish Offbeat Bayou drama stars Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodard.
The Secret of Roan Inish Magical tale for all ages, set in a remote part of Ireland.
Directed by Martin Scorsese -
After Hours Comedy starring Rosanna Arquette.
The Age of Innocence 1993. Daniel Day Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder star in adaptation of Edith Wharton's Pulitzer Prize winning novel.
Boxcar Bertha Set in the Depression, stars David Carradine and Barbara Hershey.
§ Bringing Out the Dead 1999. Nicholas Cage & Patricia Arquette star in a tough drama about life on the NY streets from the point of view of a paramedic. Rated R.
Cape Fear Remake of the classic psycho-thriller with De Niro in the psycho's seat.
Casino Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone star in epic tale about the evolution of Las Vegas. Rated R.
The Color of Money Stars Tom Cruise & Paul Newman
Goodfellas Fascinating - the allure of the Mafia. Rated R
The King of Comedy 1983. Stars Robert De Niro & Jerry Lewis.
Kundun Fascinating biopic about the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
The Last Temptation of Christ The controversial adaptation of Kazantzakis' controversial novel.
Mean Streets 1973. Often cited as a cinematic landmark, this was the film that launched the careers of Robert De Niro & Harvey Keitel. Rated R
Raging Bull Robert De Niro stars as boxer Jake La Motta.
Scorsese X 4 A compilation of 4 of his early short films.
Taxi Driver Starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster & Cybill Shepherd. Rated R.
Directed by Ridley Scott -
1492 Gerard Depardieu stars in epic story of Columbus.
Blade Runner Harrison Ford stars in ambitious adaptation of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".
The Duellists Based on Joseph Conrad's story. Awarded Best Debut Film at Cannes, 1977.
§ Gladiator 2000. Russell Crowe, Derek Jacobi & Oliver Reed star in this impressive spectacle of Ancient Rome.
Thelma and Louise Female buddy movie with a twist.
Directed by Wayne Wang -
§ Anywhere But Here Susan Sarandon stars in story of a single mother and her teenage daughter seeking a better life.
Blue in the Face A star-studded sequel to "Smoke".
Chinese Box Jeremy Irons & Gong Li star in a drama about the end of British rule in Hong Kong.
Dim Sum, A Little Bit of Heart A Chinese family adjusting to a western lifestyle in America.
Eat a Bowl of Tea Deals with the problems faced by young lovers in a displaced and oppressively watchful society.
The Joy Luck Club. Based on the bestselling novel about Chinese Americans by Amy Tan.
Life is Cheap.... But Toilet Paper is Expensive A turbo-charged blast into post-colonial, pre-1997 Hong Kong.
Smoke A tapestry of lives that intertwine around a Brooklyn smoke shop. Developed with writer Paul Auster.
Strangers Composite of offbeat short films, Wang’s segment stars Joan Chen (of Twin Peaks fame)
Directed by Michael Winterbottom
Go Now Robert Carlyle stars in a moving drama about a man’s struggle with multiple sclerosis.
Jude Fine adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s harrowing novel.
Welcome to Sarajevo A powerful and moving thriller of a city under siege.
§ Wonderland 1999. A totally engrossing panorama of contemporary suburban London life.
2 Days in the Valley Dir. John Herzfeld. Wry crime thriller with an exceedingly gnarled plot but entertaining and stylish.
54 Dir. Mark Christopher. Mike Meyers stars in story about Studio 54 and its inhabitants’ glory days in the 70s.
Absence of Malice Dir. Sydney Pollack, stars Paul Newman in thought provoking film about "justice".
The Acid House Dir. Paul McGuigan, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.
The Accidental Tourist Dir. Lawrence Kasdan. William Hurt, Kathleen Turner star in great adaptation of the novel by Anne Tyler.
The Addiction Dir. Abel Ferrara. Intelligent, allegorical vampire movie, shot in B&W, stars Lili Taylor. Rated R.
The Adjuster Dir. Atom Egoyan. Engrossing dead-pan comedy about an obsessive insurance adjuster and his clients. Rated R
All Over Me Dir. Alex Sichel. Brooding coming of age drama about two girls (one straight, one gay) whose friendship unravels after a gay bashing in their neighbourhood.
§ American Beauty Dir. Sam Mendes. Exceptional portrait of the American Dream gone sour stars Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening.
American Friends Dir. Tristram Powell. Michael Palin stars in 19th century romance inspired by true family story.
Amadeus Dir. Milos Forman - a Life of Mozart, what a life.
Amistad Dir. Stephen Spielberg. Morgan Freeman stars in an epic tale about slavery.
And the Band Played On Dir. Roger Spottiswoode. All star cast in powerful and engrossing story about the spread of AIDS.
Angel Heart Dir. Alan Parker stars Mickey Rourke Rated R
§ Angela’s Ashes Dir. Alan Parker. Adaptation of Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer prize-winning memoir about growing up in dire poverty in the Dublin of the 1930s and 40s.
Angels and Insects Dir. Philip Haas. Adaptation of the novel about love & incest by A.S. Byatt. Rated R.
§ Anna and the King Dir. Andy Tenant. Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat star in the remake of an English governess and the King of Siam.
Anna Karenina Dir. Bernard Rose. Sophie Marceau stars in 1997 remake of the Tolstoy classic. Filmed in Russia.
Another Time Another Place Dir. Michael Radford. Prisoners of war, amidst prisoners of culture.
Antonia and Jane Dir. Beban Kidron, comic story of two best friends who would rather not be.
The Apostle Dir. Robert Duvall. In his Oscar nominated role as a charismatic Southern preacher on the run.
Arlington Road Dir. Mark Pellington. Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins star in the ultimate conspiracy theory thriller.
As Good As It Gets Dir. James L. Brooks. Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson make sparkling sparring partners.
The Assam Garden Dir. Mary McMurray. Drama of loss, friendship & gardening, stars Deborah Kerr, Madhur Jaffrey.
Atlantic City USA Dir. Louis Malle, stars Burt Lancaster & Susan Sarandon.
August Dir. Anthony Hopkins. Adaptation of Chekhov’s "Uncle Vanya" set in Wales.
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter Dir. John Amiel. Barbara Hershey, Keanu Reeves, Peter Falk star in adaptation of Vargas Llosa’s novel.
An Awfully Big Adventure Dir. Mike Newell, stars Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman.
Backbeat Dir. Iain Soflty. Story of the 5th Beatle - Stuart Sutcliffe.
Barfly Dir. Barbet Schroeder. Based on autobiographical writings by Charles Bukowski, stars Mickey Rourke & Faye Dunaway.
The Basketball Diaries Dir. Scott Kalvert. Based on Jim Carrol’s books about heroin abuse in the 60s. Rated R.
Basquiat Dir. Julian Schnabel. Great dramatisation of the short life of celebrated ‘80s NY street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Bastard Out of Carolina Dir. Angelica Huston. Her directorial debut is a tough look at child abuse. Rated R.
§ The Beach Dir. Danny Boyle. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tilda Swinton star in adaptation of popular novel by Alex Garland.
Beautiful Thing Dir. Hettie McDonald. Delightful gay urban fairytale. Great soundtrack.
§ Beautiful People Dir. Jasmin Dizdar. Written & directed by a Bosnian, this black comedy about the encounters of assorted Londoners with various Bosnian exiles is quite unlike any other British film.
§ Bedrooms & Hallways Dir. Rose Troche. Likeable drama plays with the notion that sexuality is never cut and dried.
Before Sunrise Dir. Richard Linklater. Romance between a young American & French student.
§ Being John Malkovich Dir. Spike Jonze. Quirky and highly original black comedy/ fantasy, stars John Cusack and Cameron Diaz and of course, John M.
Beloved Dir. Jonathan Demme. Oprah Winfrey stars in fine adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a woman’s transition (and the cost) from slavery to freedom.
Bhaji on the Beach Dir. Gurinder Chadha. A group of Asian women go on a day trip to the beach only to be pursued and confronted by their menfolk.
Big Night Dir. Stanley Tucci & Campbell Scott. Not since "Babette’s Feast" has cooking and eating been so enjoyable on film.
The Birthday Party Dir. William Friedkin. Robert Shaw stars in Harold Pinter's play.
§ Black & White Dir. James Toback 2000. Edgey NY slice of life about social and sexual interaction of black and white people of various backgrounds.
Blue Sky Dir. Tony Richardson. Jessica Lange in Oscar winning role.
Bob Roberts Directed by & stars Tim Robbins - does for politics what "Spinal Tap" did for rock 'n' roll.
§ Boys Don’t Cry Dir. Kimberley Peirce. Searing drama based on true story of a girl (Hilary Swank) who passes herself off as a boy in rural Nebraska. Rated R.
Brassed Off Dir. Mark Herman. Set during the devastating pit closures of British coal mines in the early ‘80s, this feel-good movie has put a left-wing spin on brass band music for a whole new generation.
Breaking the Waves Dir. Lars Von Trier. An epic melodrama about love, faith, suffering & redemption. Rated R.
Brothers in Trouble Dir. Udayan Prasad. Tale of illegal Pakistani immigrants in London in the 60s.
The Browning Version Dir. Mike Figgis. Great update of the play, stars Albert Finney.
Buffalo 66 Dir. Vincent Gallo. An ex-convict kidnaps a teenage girl and demands she pose as his wife to impress his parents.
Bulworth Dir. Warren Beatty. Bold political satire about a US senator resolving a crisis of conscience by doing the unthinkable and telling the truth.
Carrington Dir. Christopher Hampton. Emma Thompson stars in biographical film about Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington.
Chaplin Dir. Richard Attenborough. Robert Downey Jr stars in biography of the cinema legend.
§ The Cider House Rules Dir. Lasse Hallstrom. Multiple award-winning adaptation of the novel by John Irving, starring Michael Caine.
Circle of Friends Dir. Pat O’Connor. Adaptation of Maeve Binchy’s romantic novel.
Claire of the Moon Dir. Nicole Conn, 1992. Popular film festival circuit film - a lesbian romance deemed better than "Desert Hearts".
Class Action Dir. Michael Apted, stars Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio & Australian Colin Friels.
Close My Eyes Dir. Stephen Poliakoff, stars Alan Rickman & Saskia Reeves
The Color Purple Dir. Steven Spielberg, with Whoopi Golberg.
Comfort and Joy Dir. Bill Forsyth - a gentle comedy.
The Comfort of Strangers Dir. Paul Schrader, based on the novel by Ian McEwan. Rated R.
The Commitments Dir. Alan Parker. Irish musical success story.
The Company of Strangers Dir. Cynthia Scott. Poignant story of a stranded group of elderly women.
Corrina Corrina Dir. Jessie Nelson, Whoopi Golberg stars in a quirky romantic comedy set in the 60s.
A Couch in New York Dir. Chantal Akerman. Juliette Binoche & William Hurt star
Crash Dir. David Cronenberg. The controversial adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel. Rated R.
The Crucible Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Intelligent screen version of Arthur Miller’s McCarthy era play.
Cruising Dir. William Friedkin. Controversial 1980 depiction of gay sub-culture, stars Al Pacino. Rated R
Cry the Beloved Country Dir. Darrell James Roodt. Adaptation of the classic South African novel about apartheid by Alan Paton.
Cry Freedom Dir. Richard Attenborough, the dramatic story of black activist Steve Biko (Denzel Washington).
Damage Dir. Louis Malle. Stars Jeremy Irons & Miranda Richardson in cautionary tale about amour fou. Rated R.
Dances With Wolves The Director's cut -written, directed and Starring Kevin Costner. Winner of 7 Academy Awards.
Dancing at Lughansa Dir. Pat O’Connor. Meryl Streep stars in adaptation of the play about a close-knit rural Irish family by Brian Friel.
Days of Heaven Dir. Terence Malick, stars Richard Gere, Brooke Adams & Sam Shepherd. A visual delight.
Dead Man Walking Dir. Tim Robbins. Susan Sarandon’s Academy Award performance as a nun who became a spiritual advisor to a death row inmate (Sean Penn).
§ The Debt Collector Dir. Anthony Nielson. Stars Billy Connolly as a reformed criminal harassed by a vengeful policeman.
The Delta of Venus Dir. Zalaman King. Adaptation of Anais Nin’s novel, Rated R.
Delusion Dir. Carl Colpaert. Off-beat thriller stars Jennifer Rubin.
A Destiny of Her Own Dir. Marshall Herskovitz.
Devil in a Blue Dress Dir. Carl Franklin. Great adaptation of a Walter Mosley novel, stars Denzel Washington.
Dirty Harry Dir. Don Siegel, 1972. A Classic Clint Eastwood film.
Don Juan De Marco Dir. Jeremy Leven, with Marlon Brando & Johnny Depp.
Donnie Brasco Dir. Mike Newell. Al Pacino stars in an intelligent Mafia movie made, unusually, by a British director.
The Doom Generation Dir. Greg Araki. An extremely bleak view of the younger generation. Rated R.
Down Came a Blackbird Dir. Jonathan Sanger, Laura Dern, Raul Julia & Vanessa Redgrave star.
Downtime Dir. Bharat Nalluri. UK thriller.
The Dresser Dir. Peter Yates, stars Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay & Edward Fox in excellent adaptation of the play by Ronald Harwood.
Eclipse Dir. Jeremy Podeswa. An examination of the acts and consequences of contemporary sex from many points of view and inclinations. Rated R.
Educating Rita Dir. Lewis Gilbert, 1983. Michael Caine and Julie Walters star in adaptation of Willy Russell’s stage play.
Elizabeth Dir. Shekar Kapur. Cate Blanchett & Geoffrey Rush star in fine Elizabethan drama.
Emma Dir. Douglas McGrath. Another Austen adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, Alan Cumming & Ewan McGregor.
Enchanted April Dir. Mike Newell, splendid adaptation of the "romantic" novel by Elizabeth Von Arnim.
§ The End of the Affair Dir. Neil Jordan. Ralph Fiennes & Julianne Moore in great rendition of the Graham Greene novel.
The English Patient Dir. Anthony Minghella. Lavish adaptation of the novel set during WWII, by Michael Ondaatje, that swept the pool at the 1997 Oscars. Stars Juliette Binoche.
Equus Dir. Sidney Lumet, adaptation of the play by Peter Shaffer. Rated R
Erotique Dirs. Lizzie Borden, Monika Treut...Three erotic stories from a female perspective. Rated R.
Ethan Frome Dir. John Madden. Based on novel by Edith Wharton.
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Dir. Gus Van Sant. Adaptation of the cult novel by Tom Robbins. Music by K.D. Lang.
Evita Dir. Alan Parker. Madonna stars as Eva Peron in film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Exotica Dir. Atom Egoyan. Five disparate characters become linked to each other’s destinies, with a strip club called Exotica as the focal point. Rated R.
The Fabulous Baker Boys Dir. Steve Kloves. Starring Jeff & Beau Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer
Family Viewing Dir. Atom Egoyan, a rare blend of black comedy and emotive drama. Canada 1988.
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas Dir. Terry Gilliam. Adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s cult novel. Rated R.
The Feast of July Dir. Christopher Menaul. Victorian era "Hardy-esque" sex drama.
Female Perversions Dir. Susan Streitfeld. Tilda Swinton stars in intelligent film about "femininity" and sexuality. Rated R.
The Field Dir. Jim Sheridan. Richard Harris and John Hurt star in Irish drama.
§ Fight Club Dir. David Fincher. Brad Pitt stars in elaborate male ritual bonding drama. Rated R.
For Roseanna Dir. Paul Weiland.
Black comedy about a man trying to keep a town alive so that his dying wife, who wishes to be buried in the town’s almost-full cemetery, may have her last wish.
Forrest Gump Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Tom Hanks in Oscar winning role of the wise simpleton.
The French Lieutenant's Woman Adaptation of John Fowles' novel with Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Dir. John Avnet, based on a novel by Fannie Flagg
Gandhi Dir. Richard Attenborough. Indian biographical epic stars Ben Kingsley.
Gas Food Lodging Dir. Alison Anders, with Ione Skye and Brooke Adams in a mother & daughters drama.
The General Dir. John Boorman. Based on the life of a Dublin working class criminal who evaded police capture for years.
Georgia Dir. Ulu Grosbard, stars Jennifer Jason Leigh & Mare Winningham. Self-destructive young woman (Leigh) lives in the shadow of her successful older sister.
§ Get Real Dir. Simon Shore. Endearing British teenage "coming out" drama.
Gia Dir. Michael Cristofer. Biopic of 1970s supermodel Gia Carangi who died at 26.
Gloria Dir. John Cassavetes, stars Gina Rowlands.
Glory Dir. Edward Zwick. Academy award winning epic of the first black fighting unit in the American Civil War.
Gods and Monsters Dir. Bill Condon. Ian McKellen stars in an exceptional character study of a filmmaker alone at the end of his life.
Good Will Hunting Dir. Gus Van Sant. Stars Matt Damon, Ben Afflick & Robin Williams.
The Governess Dir. Sandra Goldbacher. Minnie Driver stars in a period piece about a governess who develops an unusual relationship with the master of the house.
Grace of My Heart Dir. Allison Anderson. Great music bio-pic loosely based on the life of popular songwriter, Carol King.
The Grass Harp Dir. Charles Matthau. Delightful rendition of the story by Truman Capote.
The Grass is Singing Dir. Michael Raeburn. Filmed in Zambia, based on a story by Doris Lessing, stars Karen Black
The Great Gatsby Dir. Jack Clayton, stars Robert Redford, Mia Farrow in adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel.
Gregory's Girl Dir. Bill Forsyth. Bright winning comedy of teenage love.
Gridlock’d Dir. Vondie Curtis Hall. Gritty detox comedy stars Tim Roth. Rated R.
Guilty By Suspicion Dir. Irwin Winkler, stars Robert De Niro in McCarthy era witch hunt drama
A Handful of Dust Dir. Charles Sturidge. Based on story by Evelyn Waugh.
The Hanging Garden Dir. Thom Fitzgerald. Striking multi layered psychological drama about a man returning home after long absence.
Happiness Dir. Todd Solondz. Confronting series of portraits of the members of an unhappy family. Rated R.
The Harder They Come Dir. Perry Henzell, 1972. Jimmy Cliff stars in this long unavailable cult Jamaican reggae crime caper.
Heavy Dir. James Mangold. Sad small town drama stars Liv Tyler.
Her Majesty Mrs Brown Dir. John Madden. Judy Dench and Billy Connolly star in much lauded royal Victorian drama.
Hideous Kinky Dir. Gillies Mackinnon. Kate Winslet stars in a well-observed study of early 70s selfishness, spontaneity and social mores set in Morocco.
High Art Dir. Lisa Cholodenko. Ally Sheedy stars as a naïve young woman caught up the world of ‘high art’.
Hilary and Jackie Dir. Anand Tucker. Biopic of famous cellist, Jacqueline du Pre, and her family.
Hollow Reed Dir. Angela Pope. Sensitive & intelligent portrayal of a gay father’s battle for custody of his possibly abused child.
The Horse Whisperer Dir. Robert Redford. Based on the best-seller about a teenage girl and her horse both traumatised by a dreadful accident.
The Hours and Times Dir. Christopher Munch. In 1963, John Lennon & Brian Epstein spent four days together in Barcelona this is a fictionalised account of those days.
The House of Spirits Dir. Bille August. Adaptation of the novel by Isabelle Allende.
Household Saints Dir. Nancy Savoca. Quirky story of an Italian-American family.
Housekeeping Dir. Bill Forsyth. Wonderfully eccentric tale of two orphaned teenage girls and their strange aunt.
How to Make an American Quilt Dir. Jocelyn Moorhouse, stars Winona Ryder. Based on Whitney Otto’s novel.
Hurlyburly Dir. Anthony Drazan. Based on the play by David Rabe about a group of LA friends looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
Hush Dir. Jonathan Darby, stars Gwyneth Paltrow & Jessica Lange.
I Shot Andy Warhol Dir. Mary Harron. In 1968 Valerie Solanas shot & seriously wounded pop art icon, Andy Warhol. This film traces her bizarre life leading up to that moment as well as her "SCUM Manifesto".
The Ice Storm Dir. Ang Lee. Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver in terrific adaptation of Rick Moody’s much-praised novel of America in the 70s.
Immortal Beloved Dir. Bernard Rose. Gary Oldman as Beethoven?
The Impostors Dir. Stanley Tucci. Delightful old fashioned farce.
Impromptu Dir. James Lapine. Judy Davis stars as flamboyant French novelist Georges Sand.
In Love and War Dir. Richard Attenborough, 1996. Chronicles Ernest Hemingway’s WWI affair with a Red Cross nurse, who was eight years his senior, which then became the inspiration for his book "A Farewell to Arms".
In the Company of Men Dir. Neil LaBute. Impressive debut about the depths of corporate misogyny from playwright LaBute.
In the Name of the Father Dir. Jim Sheridan & Daniel Day Lewis star in drama of English/Irish injustice.
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love Dir. Maria Maggenti. Adolescent lesbian romance.
§ The Insider Dir. Michael Mann. Stars Russell Crowe and Al Pacino in gutsy drama about a whistle blower in the tobacco industry.
Jackie Brown Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Based on the crime novel, "Rum Punch", by Elmore Leonard.
Jane Eyre Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Unremarkable but star studded remake of the Bronte classic.
§ Jesus’ Son Dir. Alison MacLean. Based on Denis Johnson’s acclaimed short stories, this is a stream of consciousness reminiscence of one young man who was swallowed up by the drug culture of the ‘70s. Rated R.
JFK Dir. Oliver Stone, stars Kevin Costner, based on the books "On the Trail of the Assassins" & "Crossfire: the plot that killed Kennedy".
Joe Hill Dir. Bo Widerberg. Saga of the labour struggles in America during the early part of this century.
Kalifornia Dir. Dominic Sena, psychological thriller, stars Brad Pitt & Juliette Lewis.
Kids Dir. Larry Clark. Confronting cinema verité look at contemporary teenage sexuality. Rated R.
Kiss of the Spider Woman Dir. Hector Babenco, Brazil. William Hurt & Raul Julia star in adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel. Made in English.
Kissed Dir. Lynne Stopkewich. Drama about emerging sexuality with more than a hint of necrophilia. Rated R.
Koyaanisqatsi Dir. Godfrey Reggio, mind-blowing cult film, with music by Philip Glass.
Lady Chatterley's Lover Dir. Just Jaeckin. Based on D.H. Lawrence’s erotic novel.
The Last Picture Show Dir. Peter Bogdanovich, 1971. Great film adapted from Larry McMurty's novel of the problems of adolescence in a small Texas town of the 1950s.
The Last Supper Dir. Stacy Title. Five grad students decide to rid the world of extremists who don’t conform to their political world view.
Lawn Dogs Dir. John Duigan. A little gem.
Leaving Las Vegas Dir. Mike Figgis, stars Nicolas Cage. Rated R
Letter To Brezhnev Inner-city problems, about the frustration of unemployment and people desperate for change.
A Life Less Ordinary Dir. Danny Boyle. Ewan McGregor stars in black comedy about a janitor who kidnaps his ex-boss’ daughter — but she turns out to know more about committing crime!
Limited Edition Dir. Bernard Rapp. Literary drama starring Terrence Stamp.
Little Voice Dir. Mark Herman. Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine & Brenda Bethlyn are all sensational in story of attempt to exploit a reclusive girl with the uncanny ability to sing like Judy Garland.
Living in Oblivion Dir. Tom Dicillo. Clever, amusing look at a low budget movie in progress.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Dir. Guy Ritchie. This is "Pulp Fiction" British style.
Lolita Dir. Adrian Lyne. Jeremy Irons stars in controversial remake of novel by Nabokov. Rated R.
Longtime Companion Dir. Norman Rene. Bruce Davidson stars in moving drama about A.I.D.S.
Looking for Richard Dir. Al Pacino. Fascinating semi-documentary about Pacino’s staging of the Shakespearean play.
§ The Lost Son Dir. Chris Menges. Daniel Auteuil and Nastassja Kinski star in psychological thriller.
Love and Death on Long Island Dir. Richard Kwietniowski. John Hurt stars as an eccentric British writer who flies to Long Island in the hope of meeting/ consummating his fantasy relationship with a B-grade male film star.
Love and Human Remains Dir. Denys Arcand. His first English language film adapts Brad Fraser’s successful stage play. Rated R.
Love is the Devil Dir. John Maybury. Derek Jacobi stars in this life of British artist, Francis Bacon.
Love! Valour! Compassion! Dir. Joe Mantello. Adaptation of Terrence McNally’s award-winning play about a group of gay men.
§ Lulu on the Bridge Dir. Paul Auster. Harvey Keitel stars.
M Butterfly Dir. David Cronenberg, stars Jeremy Irons.
The Madness of King George Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Nigel Hawthorn & Helen Mirren in witty adaptation of Allan Bennett’s play.
Mandela and De Klerk Dir. Joseph Sargent. Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine star in biopic of the two major players in modern South African history
§ Mansfield Park Dir. Patricia Rozema 1999. A fresh and highly successful interpretation of Jane Austen, starring Frances O’Connor as Fanny Price.
Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Reworking of the gothic tale.
The Member of the Wedding Dir. Fielder Cook. Based on the novel and play of life in the Deep South by Carson McCullers
Midnight Cowboy Dir. John Schlesinger. Dustin Hofman and Jon Voight star in Academy award winner.
The Mill on the Floss Dir. Graham Theakston. Adaptation of the novel by George Eliot.
Les Miserables Dir. Billie August. Robust but non-musical version of Hugo's classic stars Uma Thurmin and Leam Neeson.
Missing Dir. Costa-Gavras, 1982. Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek star in political thriller.
The Mission Dir. Roland Joffe. Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in 18th century drama of the Jesuits in Brazil.
Mississippi Burning Dir. Alan Parker. Southern US racial drama stars Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe.
Moll Flanders Dir. Pen Densham. Morgan Freeman & Stockard Channing star in this version of the 18th century novel by Daniel Defoe
Mona Lisa Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Cain. Small-time loser just out of prison falls in love with a prostitute
A Month By the Lake Dir. John Irvin, stars Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox and Uma Thurman.
Mrs Dalloway Dir. Marlene Gorris. Adaptation of the novel by Virginia Woolf, starring Vanessa Redgrave.
Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle Dir. Alan Rudolph. Story of the acerbic writer Dorothy Parker, stars Jennifer Jason Leigh as Mrs P.
Murder in the First Dir. Mark Rocco. Based on the trial that eventually closed Alcatraz prison.
The Music Box Dir. Costa Gavras, emotional drama stars Jessica Lange as a lawyer defending her war criminal father.
Mute Witness Dir. Anthony Waller. Impressive debut thriller laced with cinematic references. Rated R.
My Dinner With Andre Dir. Louis Malle, riveting comedy about the iliad and odyssey of psychoanalysis.
My Left Foot Dir. Jim Sheridan. Academy award winning performance by Daniel Day Lewis
§ My Life So Far Dir. Hugh Hudson. Stars Colin Firth in delightful memoir of growing up in an eccentric family in the Scottish Highlands of the 1920s.
My Own Private Idaho Dir. Gus Van Sant, stars River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
The Myth of Fingerprints Dir. Bart Freundlich. A dysfunctional family reunion at Thanksgiving reveals lots of WASP angst just below the surface.
The Naked Lunch Dir. David Cronenberg, stars Peter Weller, Roy Scheider, Judy Davis in extraordinary adaptation of William Burrough's novel.
Nell Dir. Michael Apted. Jodie Foster & Liam Neeson star in a moving drama about a woman who grew up in total social isolation.
New York Stories Four short films - Dir. Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese
Nil By Mouth Dir. Gary Oldman. First time director he also scripted this gritty portrait of a dysfunctional South London family.
Nixon Dir. Oliver Stone. Anthony Hopkins stars in Stone’s second major political/biographical piece
Of Love and Shadows Dir. Betty Kaplan, based on the novel by Isabel Allende.
Of Mice and Men Dir. Gary Sinise. John Malkovich stars in adaptation of the novel by John Steinbeck.
The Old Curiosity Shop Dir. Kevin Connor. Peter Ustinov stars in this adaptation of the Dickens novel.
Oleanna Dir. David Mamet. Brilliant film version of his play about pedagogy & sexual power.
Oliver Twist Dir. Tony Bill. This version stars Richard Dreyfuss.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Dir. Milos Forman, 1975. Jack Nicholson stars in the Oscar winning adaptation of the psychiatric novel by Ken Kesey.
§ Onegin Dir. Martha Fiennes. Something of a family affair for the Fiennes in this epic interpretation of the Pushkin classic.
One Night Stand Dir. Mike Figgis. Star studded flashy drama about empty relationships and easy sex.
Ordinary People Dir. Robert Redford. Stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Timothy Hutton.
Orlando Dir. Sally Potter. Striking adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel. Tilda Swinton stars.
Out of Africa Dir. Sydney Pollack. Meryl Streep & Robert Redford in drama based on the life of the author Karen Blixen.
Paris Trout Dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal. Chilling drama.
The People Vs Larry Flint Dir. Milos Forman. Engrossing saga of an unlikely American hero, the founding editor of the soft porn magazine, "Hustler".
Perdita Durango Dir. Alex De La Iglesia. Rosie Perez stars in a savage comic strip for the 90s. Rated R.
Persuasion Dir Roger Michel. Amanda Root stars in this superb adaptation of the Jane Austen classic.
Philadelphia Dir. Jonathan Demme. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his role as a lawyer with AIDS unjustly dismissed by his firm.
Pink Floyd The Wall Dir. Alan Parker. Pink Floyd's landmark album comes to life in a truly original rock movie.
The Plague Dir. Luis Puenzo. Adaptation of Camus’ book stars William Hurt & Raul Julia.
§ Playing By Heart Dir. Willard Carroll. Star-studded snapshot of LA society.
The Ploughman's Lunch Dir. Richard Eyre, written by Ian McEwan. A film that reveals personal, political and historical deceit in contemporary Britain.
The Postman Always Rings Twice Dir. Bob Rafelson. Remake of James M. Cain’s steamy noir crime classic, stars Jessica Lange & Jack Nicholson. Rated R.
The Power of One Dir. John G. Avildsen, based on the Bryce Courtenay novel about growing up in South Africa.
Preaching to the Perverted Dir. Stuart Urban. Suprising first feature from a BBC man! Rated R
Priest Dir. Antonia Bird. An intelligent and moving drama about profound personal, sexual and social conflicts in the Catholic priesthood.
Primary Colors Dir. Mike Nichols. John Travolta and Emma Thompson star in this unzipped political drama.
Psycho Dir. Gus Van Sant. Direct remake in homage to Hitchcock.
Pulp Fiction Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Pulp along with John Travolta. Rated R.
Quadrophrenia The Who presents a film that takes you back to the mod days of the 60s.
Queen of Hearts Dir. Jon Amiel. Charming film about Italians living in London in the 1950s
Rapa Nui Dir. Kevin Reynolds. Romantic Easter Island epic produced by Kevin Costner.
Rasputin Dir. Uli Edel. Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi & Ian McKellan star in an opulent revisionist retelling of the mad monk who advised the last Tsar.
Reality Bites Dir. Ben Stiller. Fresh comedy about life and love for the post-Baby Boomer generation.
Red Rock West Dir. John Dahl, engaging thriller stars Lara Flynn Boyle, Nicolas Cage & Dennis Hopper.
Reservoir Dogs Dir. Quentin Tarantino, a violent thriller & cinematic homage to Scorsese & Kubrick. Rated R
Revolution Dir. Hugh Hudson, sweeping saga of the American Revolution with Al Pacino, Nastassja Kinski.
Roadkill Dir. Bruce McDonald. A rock’n’roll road movie.
§ Robinson Crusoe Dir. George Miller. Pierce Brosnan stars as a handsomely stranded Crusoe.
§ Rogue Trader Dir. James Dearden. Ewan McGregor gives good performance as Nick Leeson the man who broke Barings Bank.
Romeo is Bleeding Dir. Peter Medek. Thriller in which Gary Oldman plays a double-dealing cop.
Rosencrantz and Guildernstern are Dead Dir. Tom Stoppard, film version of his amusing 1967 play.
Running on Empty Dir. Sidney Lumet. River Phoenix stars.
Saint-Ex Dir. Anand Tucker. Bruno Ganz and Miranda Richardson star in surreal dramatisation of the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Salmonberries Dir. Percy Adlon. Singer K.D. Lang makes her film debut in a haunting story of an uncommon & curious bond between two women.
Salvation Sex, power, money and rock'n'roll all in the name of god. Written, prod & dir. by Beth B. Rated R
Scandal Dir. Michael Caton-Jones. The Profumo case was the British sex and politics scandal of the 60s.
The Scarlet Letter Dir. Roland Joffe. Confused but star-studded adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorn’s Puritan classic.
Schindler’s List Dir. Steven Spielberg. Academy Award Winning adaptation of Thomas Keneally story
Sense and Sensibility Dir. Ang Lee. Emma Thompson stars in and wrote the screenplay for this fine Austen adaptation.
Serving in Silence Dir. Jeff Bleckner. Judy Davis & Glenn Close star in a lesbian military drama produced by Barbra Streisand.
Seven Years in Tibet Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud. Brad Pitt stars as an Austrian mountaineer stranded in Tibet during WWII who was befriended by the young Dalai Lama.
Shadowlands Dir. Richard Attenborough. New version of the C.S. Lewis biopic stars Anthony Hopkins & Debra Winger.
Shakespeare in Love Dir. John Madden. Witty multiple Oscar winner about a Bard with writer’s block.
Shallow Grave Dir. Danny Boyle. Very black cult comedy about share accommodation with a macabre twist, stars NZ’s Kerry Fox.
She’s So Lovely Dir. Nick Cassavetes. Based on a script by Cassavetes’ late father, it stars Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn, John Travolta & Harry Dean Stanton.
Shopping Dir. Paul Anderson. A high octane, unsentimental look at the nihilism of joyriding and ram-raiding.
Silence of the Lambs Dir. Jonathan Demme. Multiple 1992 Academy award winner, starring Anthony Hopkins & Jodie Foster.
§ The Sixth Sense Dir. M. Night Shyamalan. Bruce Willis , Toni Collette and Haley Joel Osment star in slick supernatural thriller.
Sling Blade Dir. Billy Bob Thornton. Fascinating portrait of a mentally deficient man released from prison 20 years after killing his mother & her lover and his attempts to re-enter society.
Small Faces Dir. Gillies MacKinnon. Tough quasi-autobiographical rites of passage movie set in Glasgow in 1968.
Smilla’s Feeling For Snow Dir. Billie August. Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne, Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave star in adaptation of Peter Hoeg’s bestseller.
§ Snow Falling on Cedars Dir. Scott Hicks. Dazzling adaptation of the bestselling novel by David Guterson.
Somebody to Love Dir. Alexander Rockwell, stars Rosie Perez and Harvey Keitel.
Someone Else’s America Dir. Goran Paskaljevic. A Spanish immigrant moves his blind mother to NY in the hopes of pursuing the American Dream.
Something Wild Dir. Jonathan Demme, Melanie Griffith stars as a "wild thing".
Sophie's Choice Dir. Alan Pakula, stars Meryl Streep.
The Spanish Prisoner Dir. David Mamet. Ice cold but intriguingly serpentine plot.
Spanking the Monkey Dir. David O. Russell. An astonishing debut feature.
Speaking Parts Dir. Atom Egoyan. Perceptive look at how technology has invaded modern life.
The Spitfire Grill Dir. Lee David Zlotoff. An ex-convict tries to rebuild her life by working in a small town cafe.
Stella Does Tricks Dir. Coky Giedroyc. British kitchen sink study of teenage prostitution. Rated R.
Stepmom Dir. Chris Columbus. Poignant tale of ex-wife and new wife coming to terms over the children.
Still Crazy Dir. Brian Gibson. Likeable film about the reunion of a 70s British rock group in the 90s.
Strapless Dir. David Hare. A dissection of "romance".
Suburbia Dir. Richard Linklater. Collectively well acted and pungently scripted drama of youth alienation.
Suture Dir. Scott McGhee & David Siegal. Novel and perceptive film about identity, shot in B&W.
Swann Dir. Anna Benson Gyles. Brenda Fricker and Miranda Richardson star in adaptation of the Carol Shields novel about a minor Canadian poet.
Sweeney Todd Dir. John Schlesinger. Stars Ben Kingsley & Joanna Lumley as the evil barber and baker.
The Sweet Hereafter Dir. Atom Egoyan. Profoundly moving eliptical tale about the loss of children.
Swept From the Sea Dir. Beeban Kidron. Based on the Joseph Conrad story about a Cornish servant girl.
§ Swing Dir. Nick Mead. A group of Liverpool losers try to form a successful swing band. Great music track.
Swoon Dir. Tom Kalin. Infamous gay murder case. Rated R
§ The Talented Mr Ripley Dir. Anthony Minghella. Good adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow.
§ Talk of Angels Dir. Nick Hamm, stars Polly Walker as the Irish governess to a troubled Latin American family.
The Tango Lesson Dir. Sally Potter. Unusual personal film about dance and the desire to dance.
Testimony Dir. Tony Palmer. Ben Kingsley stars as Shostakovich.
The Thin Red Line Dir. Terrence Malick. Powerful remake of James Jones’ novel about the bloody attack of Guadelcanal during WWII.
A Thousand Acres Dir. Jocelyn Moorehouse. Adaptation of Jane Smiley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Titanic Dir. James Cameron. Winner of all the glittering prizes notable only for its length and special effects.
To Die For Dir. Gus Van Sant. Nicole Kidman stars as totally immoral overly-ambitious reporter.
Together Alone Dir. P. J. Castellaneta. Innovative Gay drama, Rated R.
Tom and Viv Dir. Brian Gilbert. Willem Dafoe & Miranda Richardson star in moving drama about T.S. Eliot and his first wife.
Total Eclipse Dir. Agnieszka Holland. Dramatisation of the relationship between the French literary figures Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine.
Trainspotting Dir. Danny Boyle. From the makers of "Shallow Grave" comes a bleakly comic look at Edinburgh’s drug culture. Based on the cult novel by Irvine Welsh, Rated R.
The Trial Dir. David Jones. Kyle Maclachlan and Anthony Hopkins star in a Harold Pinter adaptation of the Kafka novel.
Trigger Happy Dir. Larry Bishop. Intelligent, stylish & star-studded creation of a world where gangsters rule supreme.
The Truce Dir. Francesco Rosi. John Turturro & Rade Serbedzija star in Primo Levi’s moving Auschwitz memoir.
True Romance Dir. Tony Scott. Quentin Tarantino script. Rated R.
Truly Madly Deeply Dir. Anthony Minghella. Madly funny & deeply moving story of love, loss & letting go.
Twentyfourseven Dir. Shane Meadows. Bob Hoskins stars as a likeable boxing trainer of local layabouts.
Twin Town Dir. Kevin Allen. Black Welsh comedy about two brothers seeking revenge for their father.
200 Cigarettes Dir. Risa Bramon Garcia. Cult flick about a group of people trying to get to a New York New Years Eve party.
Ulee’s Gold Dir. Victor Nunez, stars Peter Fonda in a small gem about a taciturn beekeeper and his family.
Under the Skin Dir. Carine Adler. Complex and compelling drama about the twists and turns of an unusual mother/daughter relationship. Rated R.
The Usual Suspects Dir. Bryan Singer. Labyrinthine and extremely well-played thriller, stars Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postlethwaite.
Vanya on 42nd Street Dir. Louis Malle, adapted by David Mamet. His final film is a riveting, highly cinematic piece of "filmed theatre" -"Uncle Vanya" in rehearsal.
Velvet Goldmine Dir. Todd Haynes. Opulent tribute to 70s glam rock is a triumph of style and excess.
Wag the Dog Dir. Barry Levinson. Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman star in an astonishingly familiar tale of political spin-doctoring.
§ The War Zone Dir. Tim Roth. Roth’s directorial debut is a tough uncompromising exploration of a family at war with itself. Rated R.
Washington Square Dir. Agnieszka Holland. Adaptation of the novel by Henry James.
Waterland Dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal. Jeremy Irons stars in adaptation of the novel by Graham Swift.
Welcome to the Dollhouse Dir. Todd Solondz. The pain of puberty has never been realised so unflinchingly as in this satire.
Wetherby Dir. David Hare. Berlin Festival Award winner with Ian Holm, Judi Dench.
What Dreams May Come Dir. Vincent Ward. NZ director now playing in the big league - not only Hollywood but the question of life after death — with stunning visual effects
What Happened Was.... Dir. Tom Noonan. Revealing two-handed drama about two co-workers on their first date.
When Night is Falling Dir. Patricia Rozema. Multi-layered exploration of female desire and sensuality. Rated R.
Wilde Dir. Brian Gilbert. Stephen Fry is utterly compelling as Oscar Wilde.
Winchell Dir. Paul Mazursky. Stanley Tucci stars in bio of US columnist who ultimately crossed swords with Joe McCarthy.
The Wings of the Dove Dir. Iain Softley. Helena Bonham Carter stars in dramatisation of Henry James’ novel.
§ The Winslow Boy Dir. David Mamet. Nigel Hawthorne stars in absorbing remake of the Terrence Rattigan play.
The Winter Guest Dir. Alan Rickman, stars real life mother and daughter Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law.
The Woman in Black Dir. Herbert Wise. A spine chilling ghost story from the makers of "Reilly, Ace of Spies".
§ Wonder Boys Dir. Curtis Hanson. Stars Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire and Frances McDormand. A college professor whose personal and professional life is foundering and his strange but gifted student.
The Woodlanders Dir. Phil Agland. Based on the novel by Thomas Hardy.
Wuthering Heights Dir. Peter Kosminsky, stars Juliet Binoche.
Young Soul Rebels Dir. Isaak Julien. A must-see black-white, straight-gay, punk-soul hit.
§ Your Friends and Neighbours Dir. Neil LaBute. A harsh drama of two socially & sexually dysfunctional couples and their friends.
Ascendancy Dir. Edward Bennett. Drama set in Ireland during the Rebellion of 1920.
Broken Harvest Dir. Maurice O’Callaghan. Strong drama set in the 50s in an Irish village.
December Bride Dir. Thaddeus O'Sullivan. A stunning film likened to a "Sean De Florette"
Hush-a-Bye Baby Dir. Margo Harkin. Deals with the controversial topic of unwanted pregnancy and features Sinead O'Connor.
I Went Down Dir. Paddy Breathnach. Irish comedy of dis-Organised crime.
The Last of the High Kings Dir. David Keating. Gabriel Byrne stars.
Michael Collins Dir. Neil Jordan. Liam Neeson stars as the charismatic Irish rebel leader.
My Childhood/ My Ain Folk Dir. Bill Douglas, 1972/73. The first 2 parts of the remarkable Trilogy about childhood and youth by the famous Scots director.
My Way Home Dir. Bill Douglas, 1978. Concluding film in his Trilogy about childhood and youth.
The Quare Fellow Dir. Arthur Dreifuss (1962). Adaptation of Brendan Behan's play about capital punishment
Run of the Country Dir. Peter Yates. Albert Finney stars as a widowed Irish cop having trouble with his University age son.
Some Mother’s Son Dir. Terry George. Helen Mirren is outstanding as the mother of an IRA prisoner during the prison hunger strikes of the 1980s.
Waking Ned Devine Dir. Kirk Jones. Engaging Irish comedy about life, death and other lotteries.
The UNUSUAL....
From ANIMATION To The AVANT-GARDE
Directed by Derek Jarman -
see also The Tempest (in SHAKESPEARE)
Blue His most radical film - a daring masterpiece.
Caravaggio A most unusual life of an unusual artist, starring Nigel Terry & Tilda Swinton.
Edward II Modern dress adaptation of Marlowe
Jubilee Celebrations of a queen's jubilee. Rated R
Projections/ Pet Shop Boys Films from the Pet Shop Boys' first tour.
Sebastiane Tackles the complex relationships between sex and power & the destructive force of unrequited passion. Rated R.
Time Zones Compilation of three short films: "Sloan Square: A Room of One's Own", "Pirate Tape", "TG Psychic Rally in Heaven". Rated R
Wittgenstein Unusual study of the eccentric philosopher, features Tilda Swinton.
Directed by Jan Svankmajer -
Alice The famous Czech animator's interpretation of Lewis Carol just has to be seen.
Svankmajer Vol 1 Includes his animated films 'Dimensions of Dialogue', 'The Flat', 'Virile Games', 'Down to the Cellar' & 'The Last Trick'.
Svankmajer Vol 2 More of his best animated films - 'The Death of Stalinism in Bohemia', 'Leonardo's Diary', 'The Ossuary', 'Jabberwocky', 'Punch and Judy', 'Johann Sebastian Bach'.
Aardman Animation Volume 1 Plasticine and model animation, includes Oscar winner "Creature Comforts".
Akira Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, 1989. Japanese Manga animation. English language version.
Andy Warhol Classics: Lonesome Cowboys Dir. Paul Morrissey. Rated R
Animation on 4 , Volume 1 A British TV collection that brings the best of world animation to home video.
Avant-Garde Cinema Vol.1 - classic shorts - "Un Chien Andalou" Bunuel and Dali, 1929; "Entr'acte" Rene Clair,1924; "A Propos de Nice" Jean Vigo,1929.
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Dir. Russ Meyer, 1970 cult classic.
§ Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss Dir. Tommy O’Haver. Humorous and sensitive gay tale.
Boys Life A collection of three short films on gay themes. Rated R.
The Brothers Quay Vol 1 Designed, Animated and Photographed by the extraordinary Quay brothers.
The Bruce Petty Collection A unique collection of films by Academy Award winning cartoonist Bruce Petty.
David Anderson: Works on Film A collection of short works from one of Britain’s leading animators.
Fritz the Cat Dir. Ralph Bashki. Cult classic animation, rated R.
Gas.s.s.s. Dir. Roger Corman
Gay Classics: Un Chant D'Amour, Looking for Langston, Flames of Passion Dirs. Jean Genet, Isaac Julien, Richard Kwietniowski. Rated R.
Kenneth Anger Magik Lantern Cycle Vol.1:
Fireworks The cycle includes rarely seen experimental works by Kenneth Anger made between 1947 and 1980
Kenneth Anger's Magik Lantern Cycle Vol.2:
The Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
Kenneth Anger's Magik Lantern Cycle Vol.3:
Scorpio Rising (Rated R)
Latin Boys Go to Hell Dir. Ela Troyano. Steamy gay sex comedy, rated R.
Lensman Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajir & Kazuyuki Hirokawa. Japanese animation based on the novels of E.E."Doc" Smith.
Lesbian Leather Shorts More short films by women.
Lesbian Lykra Shorts Dirs. Chamberlain, Dunn, Dunye, Van Gool. Diverse selection of short films by women.
§ Like It Is Dir. Paul Ormeland. Gritty gay drama set in London.
My Life Without Steve Dir. Gillian Leahy, much awarded Aust short examines the nature of love through the cultural expressions of lost love.
Nighthawks / What Can I Do With a Male Nude? Dir. Ron Peck, 1978/ 1985. Nighthawks was one of the first gay feature films to come out of England.
Oz Animation - The New Wave A collection of films from the most talented of Australia's New Wave animators
Pink Narcissus Dir. Anonymous. Gay cult film, Rated R
Poison Dir. Todd Haynes. Disturbing film about what it means to be different and to be alienated from the mainstream. Rated R
Rock Hudson’s Home Movies Dir. Mark Rappaport. This was the side of Rock that Doris Day never saw!
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb Dir. Dave Borthwick. A filmic netherworld where Eraserhead and Pinocchio meet.
Thee Films 1950's-1960's Dir. W.S.Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Ian Somerville. Rarely seen films from the Beat Generation.
Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave The latest animated instalment from Nick Park.
Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out Nick Park/ Aardman Animation
Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Nick Park/ Aardman Animation
Wayward Girls & Wicked Women (Vols 2& 3 only) Compilations which highlight the outstanding work of women animators from around the world.
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: A Murder is Announced Popular adaptation of Christie crime novel.
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4.50 From Paddington BBC series stars Joan Hickson
Anna Karenina ( in 2 Parts) Adaptation of the Tolstoy novel, directed by Basil Coleman, starring Nicola Pagett.
Blakes 7 (in 26 volumes) The cult BBC science fiction series: with two complete episodes per tape.
Brideshead Revisited (in 6 Volumes) Acclaimed dramatisation of Evelyn Waugh's novel, stars Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews.
Boys from the Blackstuff Part 1: Jobs for the Boys, Moonlighter & Shop Thy Neighbour. BBC Production, Dir. Philip Saville.
The Buccaneers Dir. Philip Saville. Based on the book by Edith Wharton.
Cadfael (7 titles available rented separately - The Leper of St. Giles - One Corpse Too Many - Sanctuary Sparrow - Monk’s Hood — The Virgin in the Ice — St. Peter’s Fair — The Devil’s Novice) Dir. Graham Theakston for Central Independent TV. Derek Jacobi stars in great adaptations of the Ellis Peters stories.
The Camomile Lawn Dir. Peter Hall. Channel 4 adaptation of Mary Wesley novel, stars Felicity Kendall & Paul Eddington.
A Christmas Carol BBC adaptation of the immortal Charles Dickens Christmas fable. Stars Michael Hordern as Scrooge.
Cold Comfort Farm Dir. John Schlesinger. Uplifting comedy about high and low society, love, Hollywood dreams and something nasty in the woodshed.
The Darling Buds of May Yorkshire Television adaptation of the popular novels by H.E. Bates.
Darling Buds of May - Series 2 Yorkshire Television production starring David Jason.
Delius: A Song of Summer A Ken Russell Film based on Fenby 's book "Delius as I Knew Him", starring Max Adrian.
The Duchess of Duke Street (in 5 volumes) BBC Edwardian period drama series set in an hotel. Stars Gemma Jones.
Edge of Darkness (in 2 parts) The story of one man's journey into the secret and psychotic world of the nuclear state. Winner of 6 BAFTA Awards.
Edward and Mrs. Simpson (in 2 parts) Award-winning Thames TV production, starring Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris.
Elizabeth R (in 3 volumes) Prod. Roderick Graham. Glenda Jackson stars in this great historical drama.
Elgar A film biography written and directed by Ken Russell.
Emma BBC dramatisation of the Jane Austen novel.
An Englishman Abroad Dir. John Schlesinger, stars Alan Bates, Coral Browne.
The Final Cut Completes the story of compelling political intrigue started in "The House of Cards" & "To Play the King".
The Forsyte Saga (rents in 12 parts) Classic b&w tv drama series based on John Galsworthy's epic masterpiece, spans 50 years.
Great Expectations (rents in 2 parts) Adaptation of the book by Charles Dickens.
Gulliver in Lilliput Stunning adaptation of Swift's novel directed by Barry Letts.
The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (rents in 2 parts) BBC series based on the popular science fiction trilogy by Douglas Adams.
House of Cards Dir. Paul Seed, gripping BBC political drama stars Ian Richardson, Susannah Harker.
I Claudius (rents in 2 parts) Brilliant BBC adaptation of Robert Graves' novels of Ancient Rome, stars Derek Jacobi.
Jeeves & Wooster (four complete series available), hilarious adaptation, stars Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster and Stephen Fry as Jeeves.
Jude the Obscure Adaptation of novel by Thomas Hardy, starring Robert Powell. Dramatised by Harry Green .
Little Dorrit (rents in 2 parts) Dir. Christine Edzard. Adaptation of the story by Charles Dickens, stars Derek Jacobi, Alec Guinness.
Little Women BBC dramatisation of the timeless classic by Louisa May Alcott.
The Legend of King Arthur Dramatisation of the Arthurian legend. Dir. Rodney Bennett.
The Mahabharata (rents in 3 parts) Peter Brook's epic theatrical performance based on Indian legend.
Man Friday Dir. Jack Gold, 1975. Stars Peter O'Toole as Crusoe in Daniel Defoe's classic story.
Mansfield Park Adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
Martin Chuzzlewit Recent BBC adaptation of the Dickens story.
Middlemarch BBC 1994 version of George Eliot's classic. Dir: Anthony Page, Screenplay by Andrew Davies.
Monsignor Quixote Alec Guinness & Leo McKern star in splendid adaptation of Graham Greene story.
The Naked Civil Servant John Hurt stars in award winning Thames TV autobiography of Quentin Crisp.
Northanger Abbey Fine adaptation of Jane Austen novel.
Nostromo Dir. Alastair Reid.
Good adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novel set around a silver mine in South America in the 1880s.
Oliver Twist (in 2 parts) Adaptation of the novel by Charles Dickens.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Dir. Beeban Kidron. Great BBC adaptation of the novel by Jeanette Winterson.
Persuasion Dir. Howard Baker, excellent 1971 Granada adaptation of Jane Austen
The Portrait of a Lady Adaptation of Henry James' novel.
Pride and Prejudice (in 2 parts) Dramatisation by Fay Weldon of Jane Austen's most popular novel.
Pride and Prejudice Dir. Simon Langton, 1995. New dramatisation of Jane Austen’s classic, stars Colin Firth & Jennifer Rule.
The Prisoner (In 5 Volumes) The entire 60s cult sci-fi series, starring Patrick McGoohan.
Quatermass and the Pit An adventure into the unknown from the classic television serial of the fifties.
Reilly Ace of Spies Thames TV drama stars Sam Neill & Leo McKern. Dir. Jim Goddard.
Saigon Year of the Cat Dir. Stephen Frears. David Hare script, stars Judi Dench, Frederic Forrest
Sense and Sensibility Based on the novel by Jane Austin. Dramatised by Alexander Baron.
Shadowlands Dir. Norman Stone. An account of the romantic life of English Don and famous writer, C.S. Lewis.
Silas Marner Based on George Eliot's classic tragedy of intrigue and human tenderness. Starring Ben Kingsley.
The Singing Detective (in 2 parts) Dennis Potter’s highly acclaimed and quirky series.
Smiley's People Adaptation of Le Carre's book. BBC
A Tale of Two Cities Based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Stars Paul Shelley & dramatised by Pieter Harding.
Tales of the City Dir. Alistair Reid. Brilliant adaptation of Armistead Maupin's story set in '70s San Francisco.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Dir. Mike Barker. BBC adaptation of the novel by Anne Bronte.
Tender is the Night Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Screenplay by Dennis Potter.
To Play the King Complete dramatisation of Michael Dobb’s novel, sequel to "House of Cards"
Upstairs Downstairs (rents in two volumes) Was the first major costume drama series written especially for British television: a story of a wealthy London family and its servants during the early years of the 20th century.
A Very British Coup A brilliant drama about an attempt to overthrow an elected British government in the not-too- distant future.
A Voyage Round My Father Laurence Olivier and Alan Bates star in Thames TV production of John Mortimer's story.
War and Peace (rents in 6 parts) Dir. John Davies. Widely acclaimed BBC adaptation of Tolstoy's epic novel, stars Anthony Hopkins as Pierre.
Who Pays the Ferryman? Dir. William Slater, BBC . Romantic thriller in which a man returns to Greece thirty years after the war in which he was hailed as a hero by the Greek Resistance.
see also King Lear (in RUSSIA)
BBC Shakespeare: King Lear Dir. Jonathan Miller
BBC Shakespeare: Macbeth Dir. Jack Gold
BBC Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream Dir. Elijah Moshinsky
BBC Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet Dir. Alvin Rakoff
BBC Shakespeare: The Tempest Dir. John Gorrie
A Doll’s House Dir. Patrick Garland, 1974. Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins star in Ibsen’s play.
Hamlet - the Director’s Cut Dir. Kenneth Branagh. This much lauded full-length version is well worth its four hours in the telling.
Hamlet Dir. Franco Zeffirelli, starring Mel Gibson and Glenn Close.
Hamlet Dir. Laurence Olivier, 1948. Winner of 5 Academy Awards.
Henry V Dir. Laurence Olivier, 1978.
Henry V Dir. and starring Kenneth Branagh, 1989.
Julius Caesar Dir. Joseph Mankiewicz, with Brando and Gielgud
starring Laurence Olivier.
Macbeth Dir. Orson Welles, 1948. Made in B&W.
Macbeth Dir. Roman Polanski. Famous 1971 version, starring Jon Finch.
The Merchant of Venice. Dir. John Sichel. Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright head the cast of this 1974 National Theatre Company production.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Dir. Michael Hoffman, 1999. Enjoyable star studded version set in late 19th Century Italy.
A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Lindsay Kemp company performing Shakespeare's classic.
Much Ado About Nothing Dir. Kenneth Branagh, 1993. Delightful version filmed in and around a Tuscan villa.
Othello Dir. Stuart Burge. Laurence Olivier , Maggie Smith & Frank Finlay star in acclaimed production.
Othello Dir. Orson Welles, winner of the 1952 Cannes Best Film Award
Othello Dir. Trevor Nunn. RSC version starring Ian McKellen.
Othello Dir. Oliver Parker. Accessible new version stars Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh and Irène Jacob.
Richard II Dir. Michael Bogdanov. English Shakespeare Company production, 1990.
Richard III Dir. Laurence Olivier’s 1955 film version.
Richard III Dir. Michael Bogdanov and the English Shakespeare Company
Richard III Dir. Richard Loncraine. Ingenious resetting of this tale of murder and political intrigue to 1930s England during a Fascist coup
Romeo and Juliet Dir. Baz Luhrmann, this new high energy version stars Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes.
Romeo and Juliet Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Olivia Hussey stars in famous 1968 adaptation.
The Taming of the Shrew Dir. Franco Zeffirelli, stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Tempest Dir. Paul Mazursky. Shakespeare's play in a modern setting.
The Tempest Dir. Derek Jarman, 1979.
The Three Sisters Dir. Laurence Olivier, 1970. Splendid National Theatre Company screen version of Chekhov's play.
Twelfth Night Dir. Kenneth Branagh. A Renaissance Theatre Production.
Twelfth Night Dir. Trevor Nunn. Shakespeare’s comedy set in the 1890s, stars Helena Bonham Carter, Imogen Stubbs, Nigel Hawthorn, Ben Kingsley, Mel Smith, Richard E Grant.
Uncle Vanya Dir. Laurence Olivier. Acclaimed 1962 Chichester Festival production of Chekhov play.
OPERA
(Unless specifically mentioned operas are not subtitled)
Aida Giuseppe Verdi's opera sung at Arena Di Verona. With Maria Chiara, Nicola Martinucci.
Andrea Chenier Giordano's opera stars Jose Carreras, Eva Marton, Piero Cappucilli. Conductor Riccardo Chailly. With English subtitles. Libretto included.
La Boheme Puccini opera directed by Franco Zeffirelli, with Mirella Freni & Gianni Raimondi. Conductor - Herbert Von Karajan.
Cavalleria Rusticana Mascagni's opera filmed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Placido Domingo. Sung in Italian.
Les Contes d'Hoffmann The Royal Opera Covent Garden performs Offenbach's opera with Placido Domingo, Luciana Serra, Agnes Baltsa, Ileana Cotrubas. Conductor Georges Pretre. Libretto included.
Don Giovanni Dir. Joseph Losey with Kiri Te Kanawa, Ruggero Raimondi.
Die Fledermaus Strauss performed by Kiri te Kanawa, Hermann Prey, Hildegard Heichele & Benjamin Luxon. Conductor Placido Domingo. Libretto included.
Madame Butterfly France 1995, Dir. Frédéric Mitterrand. Stunning new film version of the Puccini classic stars Ying Huang, Richard Troxell, Ning Kiang, Richard Cowan & Jing Ma Fan.
The Mikado Dir. Rodney Greenberg. Gilbert & Sullivan operetta.
Le Nozze Di Figaro Mozart opera performed by Mirella Freni, Kiri te Kanawa, Maria Ewing, Herman Prey. Conductor - Karl Bohm.
Das Rheingold Part one of Wagner's "Der Ring Des Nibelungen". Conductor Pierre Boulez. Sung in German.
Siegfried Wagner performed by Manfred Jung, Heinz Zednik, Donald McIntyre, Herman Becht. Conductor Pierre Boulez. Sung in German."
Tosca Puccini's opera, filmed on location in Rome, stars Raina Kabaivanska & Placido Domingo.
Tristan und Isolde Wagner opera conducted by Daniel Barenboim, with Kollo, Meier, Scwarz, Salminen & Becht.
Il Trovatore Verdi performed by Eva Marton, Dolora Zajick, Luciano Pavarotti, with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra conducted by James Levine.
Turandot Puccini's last opera performed by the chorus and orchestra of the Arena di Verona, conducted by Maurizio Arena. Libretto included.
Die Walkure Wagner's epic with Hildegard Behrens, Jessye Norman, Christa Ludwig & the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, conducted by James Levin.
Marx Brothers movies:
Animal Crackers Dir. Victori Heerman, 1930.
At the Circus Dir. Edward Buzzell, 1939.
The Big Store Dir. Charles Riesner, 1941
The Coconuts Dir. Joseph Stanley, 1929.
A Day at the Races Dir. Sam Wood, 1937
Duck Soup Dir. Leo McCarey, 1933.
Go West Dir. Edward Buzzell, 1940
Horse Feathers Dir. Norman McLeod, 1932.
Love Happy Dir. David Miller, 1949, includes famous early "walk-on" by Marilyn Monroe.
Monkey Business Dir. Norman McLeod, 1931.
Room Service Dir. William A. Seiter, 1938.
Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) videos:
The Exciting Escapades of Mr. Bean
The Amazing Adventures of Mr Bean
The Terrible Tales of Mr. Bean
The Merry Mishaps of Mr. Bean
Monty Python films -
The Life of Brian 1979. Monty Python does Christianity.
The Meaning of Life Dir. Terry Jones, classic Monty Python.
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1974 Python stage show.
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Monty Python does King Arthur
Directed by Kevin Smith —
Chasing Amy Original comedy-drama about a man, already in a relationship, who falls for another woman - who is gay.
Clerks They might serve you but they sure don’t have to like you! Rated R.
§ Dogma Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Alan Rickman star in spoof of middle American Biblical righteousness.
Directed by John Waters -
Desperate Living A monstrous fairy tale, rated R.
Hairspray 60s aerosol satire.
Multiple Maniacs 1971, celluloid atrocity. Rated R
Pink Flamingos 1972. Divine stars in another extraordinary "exercise in bad taste." Rated R.
Polyester cult comedy stars Tab Hunter & Divine.
Serial Mom His latest crazy comedy stars Kathleen Turner as the mother with a mission.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen A Terry Gilliam Film.
Agatha Christie’s Murder at the Gallop Dir. George Pollock 1963, Margaret Rutherford stars.
Bad Taste Dir. Peter Jackson. Monty Python meets the Evil Dead. Rated R.
Bagdad Cafe Dir. Percy Adlon, offbeat cross-cultural comedy starring Marianne Sagebrecht.
The Bandwagon Dir. John Schulz. The only thing that brought them together was the music…and the fact that they couldn’t think of anything better to do!
Barcelona Dir. Walt Stillman. Droll account of two young American cousins at large.
The Big Chill The movie probes the lives of seven college housemates who reunite at the funeral of a friend
The Blues Brothers Dir. John Landis, cult comedy starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
Braindead Dir. Peter Jackson, very twisted sense of humour. Rated R.
Britannia Hospital Dir. Lindsay Anderson, absurdist comedy about a beleaguered hospital
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? Dir. Henry Jaglom, stars Karen Black.
The Court Jester Dir. Norman Panama 1956. Danny Kaye and Glynis Johns in delightful "historic" comedy.
The Daytrippers Dir. Greg Mottola. Likeable low budget comedy.
Divorcing Jack Dir. David Gafrey. Very black Irish comedy about a journalist with more than marital problems.
Eat the Rich Outrageous off-beat comedy by the makers of The Young Ones
Ed Wood Dir. Tim Burton. Amusing biopic about the great schlock filmmaker who could really put the shake into flying saucers.
§ Election Dir. Alexander Payne, stars Matthew Broderick & Reese Witherspoon. Amusing high school/ social satire.
Erik The Viking Dir. Terry Jones - retelling the Nordic saga as you've never imagined it before.
The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish Dir. Ben Lewin. Offbeat comedy with Bob Hoskins as a photographer of religious subjects.
Fever Pitch Dir. David Evans. Amusing dramatisation of the Nick Hornby novel about the love life of a soccer-obsessed man.
Four Weddings and a Funeral Dir. Mike Newell. Written by Richard Curtis. Romantic comedy with Hugh Grant & Andi McDowell.
The Full Monty Dir. Peter Cattaneo. Bitter-edged comedy about the antics of a group of unemployed Sheffield steel mill workers.
Getting Away With Murder Dir. Harvey Miller, stars Dan Aykroyd & Lily Tomlin.
The Green Man Dir. Robert Day, 1956, British comedy classic with Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry Thomas.
Green Keeping Dir. David Caesar. Engaging Oz comedy stars Mark Little.
Hancock: The Blood Donor three episodes from the vintage television series starring Tony Hancock.
The Happiest Days of Your Life Dir. Frank Launder, 1950. Margaret Rutherford, Alastair Sim & Joyce Grenfell star in one of the funniest British comedies of the ‘50s.
Heathers With Winona Ryder, Christian Slater. A high school killer comedy.
Highway 61 Dir. Bruce McDonald. Strikingly original road comedy.
Home For the Holidays Dir. Jodie Foster. Thanksgiving with the world’s most dysfunctional family.
How I Won the War Dir. Richard Lester, starring Michael Crawford, John Lennon.
I Love You Alice B. Toklas Dir. Hy Averback, 1968. Peter Sellers freaks out and drops out. Hilarious.
If Only Dir. Maria Ripoll. Romantic comedy.
The Importance of Being Earnest Dir. Anthony Asquith, 1952. Michael Redgrave & Margaret Rutherford in Oscar Wilde play.
Kind Hearts and Coronets Dir. Robert Hamer, 1949. Alec Guiness stars in comedy classic of "inheritance"
L.A. Story Dir. Mick Jackson. Steve Martin stars.
§ L.A. Without a Map Dir. Mika Kaurismaki. Finnish humorous tale of a British undertaker lured to tinsel town.
The Last Days of Disco Dir. Whit Stillman. Yes the 80s really were that awful.
The Lavender Hill Mob Dir Charles Crichton, starring Alec Guinness & Stanley Holloway.
Leon the Pig Farmer Dirs. Vadim Jean & Gary Sinyor.
Lust in the Dust Dir. Paul Bartel. Comedy stars Tab Hunter and Divine.
The Man in the White Suit Dir. Alexander Mackendrick, starring Alec Guinness, 1951.
§ Man on the Moon Dir. Milos Forman. Comedian Jim Carrey stars in intriguingly layered film about standup comedian Andy Kaufman.
§ Maybe Baby Dir and written by Ben Elton, stars Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson.
Meet the Feebles Dir. Peter Jackson. Another outrageous parody from the director of "Bad Taste"
A Midwinter’s Tale Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Comedy about a group of out-of work actors staging "Hamlet"
Mr. W. C. Fields Compilation of 3 classic Fields shorts
The Mouse That Roared Dir. Jack Arnold, with Peter Sellers.
My Best Friend’s Wedding Dir. P.J. Hogan. First US comedy from the director of oz flick, "Muriel’s Wedding"
My Little Chickadee Dir. Edward Cline. A classic Mae West and WC Fields comedy.
My New Gun Dir. Stacy Cochran. A comedy about the great American dream.
Naked in New York Dir. Dan Algrant. Warm, seductive comedy with an all-star cast.
Notting Hill Dir. Roger Michell. Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts star in likeable romantic comedy.
Only Two Can Play Dir. Sidney Gilliat, 1962. Stars Peter Sellers.
The Opposite of Sex Dir. Don Roos. Clever black comedy about a 16 year old who runs away to stay with her gay half-brother.
Passport to Pimlico Dir. Henry Cornelius, 1949, stars Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford
The Party Dir. Blake Edwards, 1968. Peter Sellers stars.
Peter's Friends Dir. Kenneth Branagh, amusing British style "Big Chill" for the "30-something" generation.
The Pink Panther Dir. Blake Edwards, stars David Niven, Peter Sellers, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale.
Pleasantville Dir. Gary Ross. A brother and sister are magically transported into their tv set and the world of a 1950s b&w sitcom called "Pleasantville".
A Private Function Dir. Malcolm Mowbray. Award-winner with Michael Palin, Maggie Smith & Denholm Elliott.
P'tang Yang, Kipperbang Dir. Michael Apted. Comedy from director of the "Seven Up" documentary series.
The Punch and Judy Man Dir. Jeremy Summers, 1962. Comic genius, Tony Hancock, stars as a melancholy Punch and Judy man.
Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Dir. Alan Clarke. Raucous British comedy.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Dir. Jim Sharman. Cult comedy
The Road to Welville Dir. Alan Parker. The comic story of Dr Kellog stars Anthony Hopkins.
Rosalie Goes Shopping Dir. Percy Adlon, Germany. Delightfully loopy comedy is also laced-in-acid account of American consumerism.
Ruby & Rata Dir. Gaylene Preston, a great NZ comedy.
The Ruling Class Dir. Peter Medak, 1972, stars Peter O'Toole, Arthur Lowe, Alistair Sim.
School for Scoundrels Dir. Robert Hamer, stars Alistair Sim & Terry Thomas at the school for one-upmanship.
A Shot in the Dark Dir. Blake Edwards, 1964, Peter Sellers as the bungling Inspector Clouseau.
Since You’ve Been Gone Dir. David Schwimmer, stars Teri Hatcher, Lara Flynn Boyle & Joey Slotnik in a romantic comedy.
Sleepless in Seattle Dir. Nora Ephron, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan - romantic comedy
The Smallest Show on Earth Dir. Basil Dearden. Hilarious tale of a struggling cinema with Peter Sellers, Margaret Rutherford, Virginia McKenna & Bernard Miles.
Stonewall Dir. Nigel Finch. Amusing dramatic narrative surrounds this retelling of events from the era of gay liberation.
Swingers Dir. Doug Liman. Cult comedy about being a single man in the modern meat market.
This Won’t Hurt a Bit Dir. Chris Kennedy. Demented dental comedy stars Greg (H.G. Nelson) Pickhaver.
Time Bandits Dir. Terry Gilliam, stars John Cleese, Michael Palin
True Stories Dir. David Byrne. Talking Heads.
The Truth About Cats & Dogs Dir. Michael Lehmann. Enjoyable romantic comedy with "Cyrano" overtones.
Up ‘n’ Under Dir. John Godber.
Victor Victoria Dir. Blake Edwards, starring Julie Andrews.
The Wedding Singer Dir. Frank Coraci. Entertaining romantic comedy set in 1985 with a soundtrack to match.
Widows Peak Dir. John Irvine. Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright and Natasha Richardson in delightful black comedy set in Ireland.
Withnail & I Dir. Bruce Robinson. Witty cult comedy about the 60s.
When Harry Met Sally Starring Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal
The Witches of Eastwick Dir. George Miller, devilish comedy with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon & Michelle Pfeiffer.
STORIES FROM THE DARK SIDE AND THE FAR SIDE: SCI-FI & HORROR
see also works in many other sections, e.g -
BRITISH TV - Blakes 7/ Quatermass and the Pit/ The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy/ The Prisoner
CLASSICS - Hitchcock
RUSSIA - Andrei Tarkovsky
UK & USA DRAMA - David Lynch
The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Dir. John DeBello, 1977. Great spoof on 50s B-grade horror.
Barbarella Dir. Roger Vadim, 1968, stars the young Jane Fonda.
Cat People Dir. Jacques Tourneur 1942 horror classic.
The Cube Dir. Vincenzo Natali. Six people desperately searching for the exit from a giant cube.
Dark Star Dir. John Carpenter. Being stranded in space with a philosophising computer can be a bitch.
The Day of the Triffids Dir. Steve Sekely, based on John Wyndham's sci-fi classic.
Dead Ringers Dir. David Cronenberg, stars Jeremy Irons as the gruesome twin gynaecologists.
§ eXistenZ Dir. David Cronenberg. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Willem Dafaoe & Ian Holme star in virtual reality drama.
The Fifth Element Dir. Luc Besson. Bruce Willis stars in this futuristic European special effects extravaganza.
Forbidden Planet Dir. Fred McLeod Wilcox, 1956. Sci-fi version of Shakespeare’s "The Tempest".
§ Ginger Snaps Dir. John Fawcett.
Godzilla Dir. Inoshiro Honda, Japan 1956. The original monster movie.
Haunted Dir. Lewis Gilbert. A classic ghost story with all the trimmings.
The Honeymoon Killers Dir. Leonard Kastle, 1970. Bizarre low budget item has deservedly developed a cult reputation. Rated R.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Dir. Don Siegel, 1951.
The Island of Dr. Moreau Dir. John Frankenheimer. Stars Marlon Brando as mad Dr Moreau.
Liquid Sky Dir. Slava Tsukerman. The new wave cult classic, rated R.
Little Shop of Horrors Original version, dir. Roger Corman, stars Jack Nicholson.
Little Shop of Horrors A singing plant. A daring hero. A sweet girl. A demented dentist. An outrageous musical comedy
Lost in Space Dir. Stephen Hopkins. For all the devotees of the original tv series comes the movie.
Nadja Dir. Michael Almereyda, produced by David Lynch. Cleverly amusing vampire movie.
Night of the Living Dead / Dementia 13 Dir. George A. Romero / Francis Ford Copolla - cult classics
Charlton Heston stars in 1967 sci-fi classic.
§ Pi the Movie Dir. Darren Aronofsky.
Low budget but cult status pic tells tale of obsessed mathematician who believes he may be able to find the answers to life’s biggest questions.
Plan 9 From Outer Space Dir. Ed Wood, 1959. A very golden turkey.
Repo Man Dir. Alex Cox - for Christ's sake leave the boot shut!
Scanners Dir. David Cronenberg
Scream Dir. Wes Craven. Many entertaining movie references highlight this snappy little horror.
Scream II Dir. Wes Craven. Equally self-reflexive sequel.
§ Scream 3 Well maybe Wes should have left it alone with 2 but that would have defeated his purpose.
The Seventh Victim Dir. Mark Robson, Prod. Val Lewton, 1944. Seminal psychological horror film with Kim Hunter, Jean Brooks & Tom Conway.
Slaughterhouse Five Dir. George Roy Hill, adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel.
§ Sleepy Hollow Dir. Tim Burton. Johnny Depp is terrific in this adaptation of the gothic classic by Washington Irving.
Snow White Dir. Michael Cohn. Sigourny Weaver & Sam Neill star in this "not for children" semi-psychoanalytic interpretation of the Grimm’s fairy tale.
Soylent Green Dir. Richard Fleischer, 1973, stars Charlton Heston. Based on the sci-fi horror novel by Harry Harrison.
Videodrome Dir. David Cronenberg
The War of the Worlds Dir. Byron Haskin,1954. Oscar-winning adaptation of H.G. Wells' chilling novel of the invasion of earth by Martians.
The Wicker Man Dir. Robin Hardy. Cult following - acclaimed as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Rated R.
101 Dalmatians Disney’s canine classic. Animated.
101 Dalmatians Dir. Stephen Herek, this new live action version stars Glenn Close as Cruella.
The Adventures of Pinocchio Dir. Steve Barron. Martin Landau stars in this appealing live action version.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Crab With the Golden Claws Animated version of the Herge book.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn Animated version of the Herge book.
Aladdin Disney animation
Anastasia Dir. Don Bluth, animated tale about the last Russian "princess".
Andre True story of a remarkable seal’s friendship with a harbour master and his family.
Animal Farm Dir. Halas & Batchelor The celebrated animated feature film of George Orwell's novel.
Alice in Wonderland Walt Disney animated feature.
Alice in Wonderland Dir. Harry Harris, live action version.
Anne of Green Gables Dir. Kevin Sullivan. Emmy Award winner stars Megan Follows & Colleen Dewhurst
Anne of Green Gables the Sequel Both based on the beloved children's novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Annie Dir. John Huston. Musical about that Depression Era orphan.
Aristocats Disney’s feline classic. Animated.
Around the World in 80 Days Dir. Michael Anderson. 1956 classic.
Around the World With Dot Dir. Yoram Gross - Australian animated
Asterix in Britain French animated version of the popular comic strip.
Asterix the Gaul the original Asterix animated film
Asterix Vs. Caesar Further escapades
Babar the Movie Dir. Alan Bunce.
Babe Dir. Chris Noonan. Wildly successful Oz pic based on the pig-dog books by Dick King Smith.
Bambi Disney animated classic
Basil, The Great Mouse Detective Disney animated film parodies Sherlock Holmes.
Batman (1966) The original starring Adam West
Batman (1989) Stars Jack Nicholson & Michael Keaton
The Bear Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud. The unique story of an orphaned bear cub.
Beauty and the Beast Walt Disney Academy Award Winner
Bedknobs and Broomsticks Dir. Robert Stevenson. Disney film
The BFG Dir. Brian Cosgrove, animated. Based on Roald Dahl.
The Black Stallion Dir. Caroll Ballard. Story of a boy's exciting adventures with a horse.
Blinky Bill Dir. Yoram Gross. Animated film
Blue Bird Dir. Walter Lang, 1940. A classic tale with Shirley Temple
Blue Fin Dir. Carl Schultz. Based on the novel by Colin Thiele.
The Borrowers BBC adaptation of the children's books by Mary Norton.
The Borrowers - Series II BBC sequel.
The Brave Little Toaster Dir. Jerry Rees. Animated.
Bushfire Moon Dir. George (Snowy River) Miller. Australian classic.
Cinderella Walt Disney's timeless classic.
Charlotte's Web Dir. Charles Nichols. Classic animated version of E.B. White's popular book.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Dir. Ken Hughes. Charming story of a car that can fly, stars Dick Van Dyke.
Clowning Around Dir. George Whaley. Great Oz film about the hopes & dreams of the circus world.
Clowning Around II The sequel.
Corduroy & 4 Other Bear Stories Good adaptations of great storybooks
Curly Top Dir. Irving Cummings, 1935. A Shirley Temple comedy.
Danny, the Champion of the World Dir. Gavin Miller. Jeremy Irons in adaptation of Roald Dahl
Doctor De Soto & 5 Other Funny Stories More storybooks on film.
Doctor Dolittle Dir. Richard Fleischer, charming musical.
Dot and the Kangaroo Dir. Yoram Gross - Australian animated feature
Dumbo Walt Disney classic about a flying elephant.
Dusty Dir. John Richardson. Story of an Aust. bushman and his dog.
The Education of Little Tree Dir. Richard Friedberg.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Dir. Steven Spielberg
Fabulous Fleischer Folio Vol. 1 & 2 Two collections of classic cartoons from Hollywood's master animators
Fairytale — a True Story Dir. Charles Sturridge, stars Harvey Keitel and Peter O’Toole chasing after fairies.
Fantasia Walt Disney's animated music classic
FernGully Animated - deals with environmental issues.
The Fire in the Stone An exciting adventure set in Australian outback
Five Children and It BBC version of the novel by E. Nesbit.
The Fox & the Hound Disney animated film.
Hans Christian Anderson Dir. Charles Vidor. Danny Kaye stars.
Heidi BBC dramatisation of Johanna Spyri's beloved book.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney animated version.
The Jungle Book Disney classic based on Kipling
Just Ask For Diamond British film for young people based on film noir classic "The Maltese Falcon".
Kes Dir. Ken Loach. Based on the novel by Barry Hines about a young boy who attempts to train a kestrel.
Kidnapped Dir. Robert Stevenson, based on the story by R L Stevenson.
Lady and the Tramp Walt Disney animated feature
The Last Unicorn animated feature based on Peter S. Beagle's book
The Little Mermaid Walt Disney animated feature
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Marvellous BBC production of C.S. Lewis' powerful fantasy for all ages using live action, animation & stunning special effects.
The Lord of the Rings Dir. Ralph Bakshi, 1978. Animated version of Tolkien’s classic.
Madeline Dir. Daisy von Scherler Mayer. Based on the popular books about a mischievous orphan and the wise nun who looks after her.
The Magic Riddle Dir. Yoram Gross. Australian animated film.
The Man Who Planted Trees Academy award winning animation by Frederic Back, a story for all ages
Mary Poppins Dir. Robert Stevenson. Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke in the timeless classic.
Merlin of the Crystal Cave BBC adaptation of Mary Stewart’s book.
Milo & Otis A curious kitten and a pug-nosed pup!
The Muppet Movie Dir. James Frawley, the original.
The Muppets Take Manhatten Dir. Frank Oz
Muppet Treasure Island Dir. Brian Henson.
The NeverEnding Story A fantasy film by Wolfgang Petersen
The NeverEnding Story II Dir. George Miller. Sequel
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking Based on the books by Astrid Lindgren.
The Owl and the Pussycat & 5 Other Stories Six more popular children's storybooks on film.
The Pagemaster Dir. Joe Johnston & Maurice Hunt. Live action & animation about a child who learns courage from books.
Parent Trap II Starring Hayley Mills
Parent Trap III starring Hayley Mills & Barry Bostwick
Peter and the Wolf The much loved children’s classic - animated version by Chuck Jones.
Peter Pan The much loved Disney animated classic.
Pete's Dragon Dir. Don Chaffey. Heart-warming Disney musical.
The Pied Piper Dir. Jacques Demy. Effective rendering of the 14th century tale.
Pinocchio BBC dramatisation of the classic tale by Carlo Collodi
Pinocchio Walt Disney’s brilliant timeless animated feature.
Playing Beatie Bow Dir. Donald Crombie based on Ruth Park’s novel
Pocahontas The Walt Disney animated film.
Pollyanna BBC adaptation of Eleanor H. Porter's classic tale.
Prince Caspian Part of the BBC Chronicles of Narnia series.
The Princess and the Cobbler Charming animated tale from the team who made "Roger Rabbit".
The Princess Bride A fairytale able to be seen on two levels by Rob Reiner
Rainbow Dir. Bob Hoskins. The world’s first all digital film.
The Red Balloon Dir. Albert Lamorisse. Immortal childhood tale.
Rescuers Down Under Walt Disney animated feature.
Road to Avonlea Dir. Kevin Sullivan, another film from the makers of "Anne of Green Gables".
Rosie's Walk & 4 Other Animal Stories more children's storybooks.
Round the Twist (Vols. 1 - 8) Aust Children's TV Foundation. Dirs. Esben Storm, Steve Jodrell, Mark Lewis. A Paul Jennings script.
§ Round the Twist Series 3 Four volumes of the latest ACTVF series.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 & 3/4, (in 2 parts) Thames TV adaptation of the hilarious best-seller by Sue Townsend.
The Secret Garden BBC adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic
The Secret of Nimh Dir. Don Bluth, animated.
The Silver Brumby Dir. John Tatoulis, based on the much loved book, stars Caroline Goodall.
The Silver Chair One of the BBC Chronicles of Narnia series.
The Snow Queen Stunning BBC production based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Walt Disney's 1937 groundbreaking animated feature, still a masterpiece.
The Snowman Dir. Dianne Jackson. Animation of Raymond Briggs story
The Sound of Music Dir. Robert Wise. Julie Andrews stars in musical favourite.
§ Star Wars Episode One — The Phantom Menace Dir. George Lucas. The "prequel" produced 22 years later displays the many huge leaps in special effects as well as being genuinely entertaining.
Star Wars/ The Empire Strikes Back/ Return of the Jedi Lucas Films’ immortal trilogy included by popular demand.
Storm Boy Dir. Henri Safran. Adaptation of Colin Thiele’s book
§ Stuart Little Dir. Rob Minkoff. Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie star in the much loved story about an orphaned mouse who is adopted by a human family.
Superman Oscar Winner. Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve & Gene Hackman.
The Swan Princess Animated fable by Richard Rich.
The Sword in the Stone Disney film based on Arthurian legend.
Tail of a Tiger Dir. Rolf De Heer. Oz drama about a young boy's dream
Toy Story Dir. John Lasseter. Another giant leap for computer animation.
Tubby the Tuba Dir. Alexander Schure, animated feature.
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix Another hilarious feature with the popular cartoon character.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader Another in the splendid BBC Chronicles of Narnia series.
Watership Down Dir. Martin Rosen. Animated adaptation of the rabbit novel by Richard Adams.
When the Wind Blows Based on the book by Raymond Briggs
The Whipping Boy Dir. Syd Macartney, children’s classic.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The tale of a man, a woman and a rabbit
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Based on Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
Witches starring Angelica Huston in the story by Roald Dahl
The Wizard of Oz Dir. Victor Fleming. 1939 Academy Award Winner, musical stars Judy Garland.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Dir. Stuart Orme. Very amusing.
7 Up &14 Up Dir. Michael Apted. This extraordinary TV series following the lives and changing fortunes of a mixed group of British children, first went to air in 1964 & has progressed in 7 year intervals -
21 Up/ 28 Up / 35 Up
42 Up The latest instalment in this remarkable series.
Baraka Dir. Ron Fricke. Stunning non-verbal environmental doco.
Before Stonewall Dir. Greta Schiller, gay documentary
Berkeley in the Sixties Relives the wild days of student protest.
The Blair Witch Project Dir. Sanchez & Myrick. Pseudo docu-thriller begs as many questions about the power of media hype as it does about "witchcraft".
Blast 'Em Dir. Joseph Blasioli. A humorous look at the paparazzi
Bodywork confessions of the funeral trade
Born to Shop Dir. Sarah Gibson - this film does not induce guilt.
Bran Nue Dae A film about the Aboriginal musical by Jimmy Chi
A Brief History of Time Based on Stephen Hawking's book.
§ The Buena Vista Social Club Dir. Wim Wenders. Totally uplifting doco about Ry Cooder’s and the world’s re-discovery of a group of elderly Cuban musicians.
Camera Natura Aust. landscape as portrayed in myths, maps, paintings
Cane Toads: an Unnatural History written & directed by Mark Lewis
Cannibal Tours PNG & Western tourists by Dennis O'Rourke
Canto A La Vida Lives of Chilean women in exile.
Cat Walk A look at the world of fashion models.
The Celluloid Closet Dir. Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman. Based on Vito Russo’s groundbreaking book about homosexuality and Hollywood.
Comic Book Confidential Profiles significant US comic book artists
Crumb Dir. Terry Zwigoff. Extraordinarily intimate portrait of the underground comicstrip artist, Robert Crumb.
Did You Used to be R.D. Laing? A portrait of Ronald David Laing.
Diego Rivera: I Paint What I See Portrait of the famed Mexican artist.
§ The Filth and the Fury Dir. Julien Temple. Chronicles the 26 months of unparalleled creative chaos that was the band "The Sex Pistols" in the mid 70s.
First Contact PNG highlanders meet whites for the first time
For Love or Money a history of women and work in Australia
Frank Lloyd Wright Dir. Ken Burns. Looks at the life and work of the famous US architect.
Frontline Bio of Vietnam war journalist, Neil Davis
Gadjo Dilo/ The Crazy Stranger Dir. Tony Gatlif. Glorious semi-documentary look at the gypsy world.
The Good Woman of Bangkok Controversial view of prostitution.
Green Tea & Cherry Ripe portrait of six Japanese WWII brides.
Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer Contentious fictionalised docudrama
Hollywood on Trial The hysteria & paranoia of the blacklist years. US.
Joe Leahy's Neighbours Insight into life in Papua New Guinea.
Kurt and Courtney Dir. Nick Broomfield. Examines the wild life and suspicious death of Kurt Cobain.
The Last Dream (in 3 parts) John Pilger's powerful Aust history series
Latcho Drom Dir. Tony Gatlif. Looks at Gypsy music world-wide.
Let's Get Lost Dir. Bruce Webber, bio of trumpeter Chet Baker.
Light Years work of Australian photographer, Olive Cotton
Lousy Little Sixpence A film by Alec Morgan and Gerry Bostock
§ McLibel Revealing piece about the hamburger giant McDonalds.
Man Without Pigs A film by Chris Owen on the dynamics of village life in Papua New Guinea
Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media Dir. Mark Achbar, Peter Wintonick, NFBC.
Matter of Heart a film about Carl Jung by Mark Whitney.
Monster in a Box Another amazing Spalding Gray monologue.
Nicaragua: No Pasaran past, present & future by David Bradbury.
A Night in Havana Jazz great, Dizzy Gillespie, in Cuba.
Not Fourteen Again Dir. Gillian Armstrong. Final instalment in her series following the lives of a group of young women from adolescence to adulthood.
Paris is Burning New York's black and Hispanic gay subculture.
Pretty as a Picture: the art of David Lynch Dir. Toby Keeler. Analyses the work and influences on filmmaker David Lynch
Rats in the Ranks Dir. Bob Connolly & Robin Anderson, 1997. Classic tale of political intrigue.
Sacred Sex Exploration of sex and sensuality. Rated R.
Sacred Sex 2 Sequel Rated R.
The Secret Country Pilger’s report by on Aust/ Aboriginal history
Senso Daughters The legacy of the Japanese occupation of PNG
The Silent Feminists. Covers the pioneering work of more than 30 of Hollywood’s forgotten foremothers.
Simone de Beauvoir Portrait of the writer, philosopher & feminist.
South of the Border The music and people of South America
Sunless/ Sans Soleil Dir. Chris Marker. Cinematic essay on memory
Swimming to Cambodia Dir. Jonathan Demme, stars monologist Spalding Gray.
Theremin Dir. Steven M Martin. Reveals the man behind the bizarre musical instrument.
The Thin Blue Line Powerful and mesmerising doco about a real life murder investigation.
The Tightrope Dancer A film by Ruth Cullen on the life of expatriate artist Vali Myers.
The Times of Harvey Milk
About the life and political assassination of San Francisco's first openly gay politician.
Triumph of the Will Dir. Leni Riefenstahl. Infamous doco on Hitler’s 1934 Nuremberg Rallies.
Waco: The Rules of Engagement Dir. William Gazecki, 1997.
War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us Dir. Gaylene Preston, NZ.
Wild Man Blues Dir. Barbara Koppell . Bio of Woody Allen.
Without You I'm Nothing Covers Sandra Bernhard's terrific one woman stage show.
Women of the Sun ( in 2 parts) Docu- drama of the white invasion of Aboriginal Australia.
The World Within Informal footage of
A very simple reward system for all our regular video borrowers
If you spend $10 renting videos we will give you a $3 voucher back, which you can use for further hire on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
Vouchers are valid for 6 months and can be used in any quantity to hire any videos.
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Note: This information is based on distributors’ advance listings and is subject to change
February
My Mother Frank
American Psycho
East West
The Virgin Suicides
Dr Death
March
High Fidelity
Chopper
Shower
Billy Elliot
Better Than Sex
April
The Dish
Bootmen
Felicia’s Journey
Snatch
Chicken Run
Saving Grace