Quality DVDs & Videos Available for Rent

Important Information for Borrowers

*      Membership is available to individuals, for private use only. Individuals must be over the age of 16 to register. A form of official photographic ID, with your current Canberra address (e.g. your driver’s licence), is necessary to register as a borrower. There is no charge for membership.

*       We lend only to the person who has registered with us and will not knowingly lend to anyone else under your name unless you authorise us to do so (e.g. a parent may add a child’s name or add their partner’s name, etc.).

*       All new releases are available for 2 Day Loan (i.e. an item is due back before the close of business 2 days after you borrowed it, regardless of the time of day you took it out = take out Friday due back on Sunday). However, a special weekend rate is available (i.e., take out Friday & return on Monday) for $1 more than the listed cover price. All our older titles are available for weekly hire (i.e. take out Friday, return it the following Friday).

*       Rental fees vary from $2 to $6 for weekly hire titles and all new releases are $7.70 for 2 days.

*       Extensions of loans can only be made by contacting us before an item is due back, and are charged on a pro-rata basis for new releases (i.e. half the cover rate per day extended = $3.85 per day) and weekly hire items may only be extended at the discretion of the management.

*      Late fees are applied to all overdue items & must be paid in full before borrowing again.

*       Late fees are charged at the following rates: for all “New Releases” (very clearly marked with large new release stickers) are charged at $7 per day if late; all other items are charged at half their weekly fee per day late.

*       A replacement fee may be charged for any lost, damaged or unreturned items.

*       Faulty items: Please ensure that your DVD player and monitor are actually able to play the DVD region and format of any items borrowed before reporting something as being faulty. Before reporting a videotape to us as being faulty, please ensure that you have first tried to adjust the tracking on your VCR. This simple operation deals with most problems (visual as well as sound) experienced during playback. If, after trying this, you are still experiencing difficulties, then please return the tape to us and we will check it. If a fault is found we will credit your account with the hire fee. It is also advisable to regularly clean the heads of your VCR (or have it done by a qualified technician).

·      Please assist us to maintain the quality of our library by treating all items with care whilst in your possession. Most DVD problems are the result of mishandling, so please help us keep DVDs in good order. Keep videos & DVDs in the storage cases provided, away from dust, dirt and moisture, and protect them from extremes of hot and cold temperatures (e.g. don’t leave them sitting in a hot car, etc.). Only handle DVDs by their centre rims and edges to avoid surface marks and scratches on the playing surface, and only play tapes once they are at room temperature.

 

 

Please Note: Unless otherwise stated films are in the language of the country or regional grouping, but with English subtitles. However, when the work of an individual film director includes films made in other countries and/or languages they are usually all grouped together under his/her name in his/her country of origin, or noted with a cross reference.

 

Asian Cinema:

 

JAPAN

 

 

 

 

 

An Actor’s Revenge Dir. Kon Ichikawa, 1962. A kabuki actor seeks revenge on the men who drove his parents to suicide.

Aragami Dir. Rhuhei Kitamura, 2002. A wounded samurai must defeat an immortal who feasts on human flesh. DVD

Audition Dir. Miike Takashi. A widowed filmmaker uses a fake casting session to audition for a new wife. Rated R.

Avalon Dir. Mamoru Oshii. The first live action film from the anime master is a futuristic thriller that was shot in Poland (and is in Polish!). DVD

Azumi Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura. Set in feudal Japan, from the ravages of war rises the ultimate assassin. DVD

The Ballad of Narayama Dir. Shohei Imamura. Story of the struggle for survival in a 19^th century northern Japanese village. 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.

Dark Water Dir. Hideo Nakata. From the director of Ring comes another chilling tale of terror. DVD

Godzilla Dir. Inoshiro Honda, the original horror movie from 1956. DVD

The Grudge/ Ju-on Dir. Shimizu Takashi. A chilling horror film to rival “The Ring”. DVD

The Grudge 2 Dir. Shimizu Takashi. The sequel. DVD

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.

Nobody Knows Dir. Kore-Eda Hirokazu. Four children are forced to rely on each other after being abandoned by their mother. DVD

Onibaba Dir. Kaneto Shindo, 1964. A strange and violent folktale.

Only Yesterday Dir. Iso Takahata, 1991. DVD

The Porn Merchants Dir. Shohei Imamura. Rated R.

Ring Dir.Hideo Nakata. See it and die! The original Japanese horror pic – with the agent of evil being a mysterious videotape. DVD

Ring 2 Dir. Hideo Nakata. A rare case of a sequel living up to the standards of the original. DVD

The Samurai Trilogy vol 1 Musashi Miyamoto. Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki. DVD

The Score Dir. Atsushi Muroga. DVD

The Sea is Watching Dir. Kei Kumai. The final film script by the great master Akira Kurosawa. DVD

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”. DVD

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. DVD

Tetsuo II: Body Hammer Dir. Shinya Tsukamoto. Weird, beautiful and horrific sequel. Also Rated R.

Versus Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura. Horror/ splatter fest centred on the 444^th gate to hell. DVD

A Weatherwoman Dir. Tomaki Hosoyan. Bizarre cult comedy. DVD

A Weatherwoman Returns Dir. Tomaki Hosoyan. The sequel. DVD

Woman of the Dunes Dir. Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1964. A highly charged and remarkably sensual exploration of the human condition.

 

JAPANESE ANIME

Akira Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, 1989. Sci fi set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo. DVD

Appleseed Dir. Shinji Aramaki, 2004. A battle for the last city on earth is waged between terrorists and the city's government. DVD

Barefoot Gen Dir. Kazuo Oga. The horror of the bombing of Hiroshima as seen through the eyes of a child. DVD

Ghost in the Shell Di. Mamoru Oshii, 1995. A female cybernetic government agent is on the trail of a computer virus capable of infiltrating humans. DVD

Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence Dir. Mamoru Oshii, 2004. A cyborg investigates the murder of a human. DVD

Lensman Dir. Yoshiaki Kawajir & Kazuyuki Hirokawa. Japanese animation based on the novels of E.E."Doc" Smith.

Metropolis Dir. Rintaro. More than a Japanese animated version of Fritz Lang’s German silent classic, it is also adapted from the 1949 work of the groundbreaking illustrator Osamu Tezeka. DVD

 

 

CHINA/

HONG KONG/ TAIWAN/

TIBET/ KOREA

 

 

 

 

 

Arahan Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan. Fast and furious urban martial arts. Korean. DVD

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Dir. Dai Sijie. Lyrical tale of “reactionary students” banished to a remote but beautiful village during the Chinese Cultural Revolution DVD

Beijing Bicycle Dir. Wang Xiashuai. Enjoyable film about two 17 year old boys in present day Beijing, and the thing they have in common. DVD

Bichunmoo Dir. Kim Young-Jun. South Korean epic set in 14^th century China. DVD

The Blue Kite Dir. Tian Zhuangzhuang. Epic drama of domestic Chinese life during the 50s & 60s, seen mostly through the eyes of one young boy.

Blush Dir. Li Shaohong. Set in Shanghai in the 1930s.

Breaking News Dir. Johnnie To. Hong Kong action drama. DVD

Bullet in the Head Dir. John Woo, 1990. Ambitious Vietnam epic about the dehumanising effects of greed and repression.

Cave of the Yellow Dog Dir. Byambasuren Davaa. A touching story about a nomadic child who befriends a stray dog on the Mongolian veld. DVD

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.

Confessions of Pain Dir. Andrew Lau & Alan Mak, Hong Kong 2006. A detective helps investigate the death of a friend’s father. DVD

The Cup Dir. Khyentse Norbu. Delightful Tibetan tale of a group of monks obsessed with football and the World Cup. DVD

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.

The Eye Dir. Pang Brothers, Hong Kong 2002. Horror tale about a blind woman who receives the corneas of a suicide victim. DVD

The Eye 2 Dir. Pang Brothers, Hong Kong 2004. A knockout follow up ghost story. DVD

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.

Himalaya Dir. Eric Valli. Stunning ethnographic drama of a semi-nomadic people's annual caravan and struggle for survival. DVD

Kitchen Dir. Yim Ho. Cantonese adaptation of the cult Japanese novel by Banana Yoshimoto.

Lies Dir. Jang Sun-Woo. South Korean film based on a novel banned as “pornographic”. Rated R. DVD

Musa the Warrior Dir. Kim Sung Su. Sweeping 14^th century epic retelling of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. Korean. DVD

Old Well Dir. Wu Tianming, starring Zhang Yimou.

Pavilion of Women Dir. Yim Ho. The first adaptation of a Pearl Buck story to feature an Asian cast.

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.

Samsara Dir. Pan Nalin, 2002. Reminiscent of Siddhartha, a Tibetan monk swaps his spirituality for carnality. DVD

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.

Shower Dir. Zhang Yang. Contrasts the fast pace of modern life with the value of tradition.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter … and Spring Dir. Kim Ki-duk. A small gem of a film about the power of the seasons and their yearly cycle of birth, growth and decay. Korean. DVD

Springtime in a Small Town Dir. Tian Zhuangzhuang. Blacklisted after making The Blue Kite, this is a welcome, if somewhat decorous, return to filmmaking after his 10 year absence. DVD

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 Dir. Zhang Zeming. From the streets of Canton, the powerful story of a father & son betrayed by the “new” China.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance Dir. Park Chan-Wook, 2005. A woman seeks revenge on the man who caused her wrongful imprisonment for the murder of a child. South Korean. DVD

The Temptation of a Monk Dir. Clara Law. An epic story of love, lust and betrayal set in 7^th century China. DVD

Travellers and Magicians Dir. Khyentse Norbu. A kind of Buddhist road movie set in Bhutan. DVD

The Way Home Dir. Jeong-Hyang Lee. Korean drama. DVD

The Weeping Camel Dir. Luigi Falorni & Byambasuren Davaa. Poignant Mongolian drama about the birth of a rare white camel. DVD

Windhorse Dir. Paul Wagner & Thupten Tsering. Tibetan drama.

Yi Yi/ A One and a Two Dir. Edward Yang. A moving account accross three generations of a family of the ways people cope with crises and emotional setbacks. Taiwanese. DVD

 

THAILAND/ INDONESIA/

PHILIPPINES/

VIETNAM

 

 

The Legend of Suriyothai Dir. Chatri Chalerm Yukol. Sweeping Thai epic about the beautiful princess Suriyotha and her role in the most brutal chapter of Thai history. DVD

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.

Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior Dir. Prachya Pinkaew. Thai martial arts extravaganza with Tony Jua. DVD

Tears of the Black Tiger/ Fa Talai Jone Dir. Wisit Sasanatieng. Gleefully excessive homage to Thai movies of the 60s, framed as a Thai Western. DVD

 

INDIA

 

 

 

Armaan Dir. Dinesh Gandhi. Melodrama featuring Amitabh Bachchan, the biggest name in Bollywood. DVD

Asoka Dir. Santosh Sivan. Life of the emperor Asoka who went from warrior to Buddhist teacher. DVD

The Bandit Queen Dir. Shekar Kapur. Powerful true story of India’s renowned female rebel leader. Rated R. DVD

Chalte Chalte Dir. Aziz Mirza. Bollywood romantic comedy starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. DVD

Darna Zaroori Hai Bollywood ghost tales by six different directors. DVD

Devdas Dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bollywood tale of star crossed lovers stars Shah Rukh Khan & Aishwarya Rai. DVD

Fida Dir. Ken Ghosh. Bollywood love story Stars Shaid Kapoor. DVD

Kaante Dir. Sanjay Gupta. A wild Bollywood remake of Reservoir Dogs.DVD

Khakee Bollywood action flick stars Aishwarya Rai. DVD

King of Bollywood Dir. Piyush Jha. Extravaganza with Sophie Dahl. DVD

Kuch Naa Kaho/ Don’t Say Anything Dir. Rohan Sippy. Bollywood romantic comedy about arranged marriage. DVD

Lagaan Dir. Ashutosh Gowariker. Bollywood epic in which a rural village must learn to play cricket in order to survive during 19^th century British rule.

Mangal Pandey – The Rising Dir Ketan Mehta, 2005. Mangal Pandey, leader of the 1857 mutiny and his fight against the British East India Company. DVD

Maya Dir. Ketan Mehta. Based on Flaubert’s “Madam Bovary”.

Mr & Mrs Iyer Dir. Aparna Sen. Two strangers travelling on a bus bridge the gap of their cultural differences. DVD

Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Dir Rajkumar Hirani. Bollywood comedy about a local buffoon who pretends to be a doctor. DVD

Omkara Dir. Vishal Bhardwaj. A contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare’s Othello. DVD

A Tale of a Naughty Girl Dir. Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Beautifully captures traditional Bengali life while unfolding the powerful confrontation between the restrictions of tradition and the promise of a new life. DVD

Yuva Dir. Mani Ratnam. Bollywood obsessions fused with a clever use of a Pulp Fiction structure. DVD

 

INUIT CINEMA:

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner Dir. Zacharias Kunuk. A tale of Innuit life on the Arctic tundra set some time in the past before southerners had arrived. DVD

 

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.

The Circle Dir. Jafar Panahi, Iran 2000. Tackles the oppression of women in modern day Iran. DVD

The Colour of Paradise Dir. Majid Majidi. A passionate investigation of faith tested in adversity. Iranian.

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.

Kandahar Dir. Mohsen Makhmalbaf. An Afghan journalist, who has been living in exile, returns to Afghanistan. DVD

Live and Become Dir. Radu Mihaileanu. An Ethopian boy fakes being Jewish to escape his ravaged country. DVD

Masai the Rain Warriors Dir. Pascal Plisson, 2004. From the creators of “Himalaya” comes a universal tale of courrage and friendship told through the eyes of ten young Masai warriors. DVD

Moolaade Dir. Ousmane Sembene, 2004. Deals with the issue of female circumcision. DVD

Osama Dir. Siddiq Barmak. A totally engrossing drama, the first entirely Afghani film made after the rise and the fall of the Taliban. DVD

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. Iranian.

Satin Rouge Dir. Raja Amari. Straight-laced Tunisian widow Lilia gets drawn into the exotic world of the red satin cabaret. DVD

The Silences of the Palace Dir. Moufida Tlatli, France/Tunisia 1994. Remarkable debut about the days of female slavery in Tunisia.

Ten Dir. Abbas Kiarostami. Focuses on ten conversations between a female driver in Iran and the passengers in her car. 2002. DVD

Tiläi (The Law) Dir. Idrissa Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso, 1990. Examines the role of the law in village society.

A Time for Drunken Horses Dir. Bahman Ghobadi, Iran, 2000. A shattering docu-drama set in the mountainous Iraq-Iran border. DVD

Tsotsi Dir. Gavin Hood. Based on the novel by South African author Athol Fugard. DVD

Turtles Can Fly Dir.Bahman Ghobadi. Kurdish drama set in the Iran/Iraq border region on the eve of the American invasion. DVD

Walk on Water Dir. Etyan Fox, Israel 2004. Following the suicide of his wife an Israeli intelligence officer is assigned to befriend the grandchildren of a Nazi war criminal. DVD

The White Balloon Dir. Jafar Panahi. Reveals the terrors & wonders of the world from the point of view of a 7-year-old girl. Iranian.

Xala Dir. Sembene Ousmane, 1974. Satirical look at the Senegalese bourgeoisie.

Yesterday 2004. Dir. Darrell James Roodt. The first film made in the Zulu language deals with the plight of a woman who is HIV positive. DVD

Yol Dir. Serif Gören, 1982. Political expatriate, Yilmaz Gurney’s extraordinary Turkish odyssey.

 

 

 

European Cinema:

FRANCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A La Place du Coeur Dir. Robert Guediguian. Transposes a James Baldwin novel about racism from New York to modern Marseilles.

The Accompanist Dir. Claude Miller. Wartime tale of deceit towards oneself and one’s country.

Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Dir. Léos Carax. Visually stunning but anarchic tale of a pair of homeless lovers.

Amélie Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet. A delightful fable about a girl whose mission is to bring happiness to others. DVD

And God Created Woman Dir. Roger Vadim, 1956. Brigitte Bardot’s best known film & set in St. Tropez.

DVD

Après Vous Dir. Pierre Salvadori. Comedy. DVD

Artemisia Dir. Agnes Merlet. Biopic on the life of the revolutionary 17^th century female artist Artemisia Gentileschi. Rated R. DVD

Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar Dir. Claude Zidi, 1999. Hugely popular live action version starring Gerard Depardieu, Roberto Begnini & Christian Clavier. DVD

Asterixk and Obelix Mission Cleopatra Dir. Alain Chabat, 2002. Depardieu and Clavier reunited, with Monica Belucci as the Egyptian femme fatale. DVD

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. DVD

The Ax Dir. Costa-Gavras, 2005. A chemist loses his job to outsourcing and decides to remedy the situation by eliminating his opposition. DVD

The Barbarian Invasions Dir. Denys Arcand. Winner Best Foreign Film Academy Award 2003. DVD

Le Bal Dir. Ettore Scola, multiple French Academy Award winner, based on the work of the Theatre du Compagnol.

The Beat My Heart Skipped Dir. Jacques Audiard. A young man wants to avoid following in his disreputable father's footsteps by attempting to become a concert pianist like his mother. DVD

Beaumarchais Dir. Edouard Molinaro. An 18th century costume romp based on the colourful life of the opinionated, highly sexed scoundrel, & playwright of the title.

Beau Travail Dir. Claire Denis. Inspired by Billy Budd, this concerns a young sargeant in the Foreign Legion. An elliptical tale of repressed homo-erotic desire leading to deadly jealousy.

La Belle Noiseuse Dir. Jacques Rivette. This is the full 229 min. version of his adaptation of Balzac’s story about a painter, “The Unknown Masterpiece”. DVD

Le Bonheur est dans le pré Dir. Etienne Chatiliez. Fairly low brow comedy about a man escaping the boredom of his life.

Brotherhood of the Woolf Dir. Christophe Gans. Bizarre mixture of 18^th century period drama, the occult, sexual fantasy and horror. DVD

Celestial Clockwork Dir. Fina Torres. A giddy fairytale comedy. In French & Spanish with subtitles.

Chaos Dir. Coline Serreau. A fast-paced feminist thriller and witty black comedy. DVD

Children of the Marshlands (Les Enfants du Marais) Dir. Jean Becker, stars Jacques Villeret and Jacques Gamblin in a lyrical story set in the Loire valley in the 1930s.

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 Chorus/ Les Choristes Dir. Jean Dreville. Inspirational story of a music teacher in an oppressive school changing the lives of its students. DVD

The City of Lost Children Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro. Another bizarre tale from the makers of “Delicatessen”.

The Code/ La Mentale Dir. Manuel Boursinhac. Set in the gritty underworld of Paris this is a stylish, tension-filled gangster movie. DVD

Le Colonel Chabert Dir. Yves Angelo. Great adaptation of a tall tale by Balzac starring Gerard Depardieu.

A Common Thread/ Brodeuses Dir. Eleanor Faucher. DVD

Le Confessionnal/ The Confessional Dir. Robert LePage. French-Canadian thriller about the making of Hitchcock’s “I Confess”.

C.R.A.Z.Y. Dir. Jean-Marc Valee. French Canadian comedy about a dysfunctional family, with a great soundtrack. DVD

The Crimson Rivers Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz. Compelling and complex crime thriller. DVD

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. DVD

Death in a French Garden Dir. Michel Deville, sex lies and videotape French style. Rated R.

Delicatessen Dir. Jeunet & Caro. Quirky comedy about cannibalism. DVD

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.

East / West (Est / Ouest) Dir. Regis Wargnier. Stars Catherine Deneuve and Sandrine Bonnaire. Russian & French.

The Eighth Day Dir. Jaco Van Dormael. Stars Daniel Auteuil in a kind of French “Rain Man”.

8 Women/ 8 Femmes Dir. Francois Ozon. Delightful star studded musical murder mystery. DVD

L’Elégant Criminel Dir, François Girod. Daniel Auteuil stars as the roguish seducer Lacenaire (1800-1836).

Etre et Avoir/ To Be and to Have Dir. Nicolas Philibert. Acclaimed documentary charts half a year in the lives of a teacher and his young pupils. DVD

Exils Dir. Tony Gatlif. A Paris to North Africa road movie with Gatlif's signature use of music, 2004.DVD

Farinelli Dir. Gerard Corbiau. Sumptuous 18th century tale about two brothers, their music & sex.

5 x 2 Dir. Francois Ozon. Romantic, ultimately tragic mediation on the nature of love, 2005. DVD

Fred Dir. Pierre Jolivet. Tale of a simple man with simple needs accidentally caught up in a life of crime.

French Twist/ Gazon Maudit Dir. Josiane Balasko. Puts an astute modern spin on the ménage-a-trois farce.

Gadjo Dilo/ The Crazy Stranger Dir. Tony Gatlif. Glorious semi-documentary look at the gypsy world.

The Gleaners and I Dir. Agnes Varda. Delightful but political documentary about social marginals who “glean” a living from various means. DVD

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.

La Haine/ Hate Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz. Powerful drama covers 24 hours in the Paris Projects. Rated R.

Harry He’s Here to Help (Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien) Dir. Dominik Moll. Quirky comedy-thriller cum psychological study.

A Heart in Winter/ Un Coeur en Hiver Dir. Claude Sautet, 1991. Deceptively understated film about a ménage à trois, stars Daniel Auteil. DVD

Hell/ L’Enfer Dir. Danis Tanovic, 2005. Intense drama about three sisters who share a connection to a violent childhood event. Script by Kieslowski. DVD

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.

How Much Do You Love Me? Dir. Betrand Blier. A man who wins a lottery offers a prostitute his fortune to live with him. DVD

Irma Vep Dir. Olivier Assayas. Maggie Cheung stars, in lycra.

Irreversible Dir. Gaspar Noe. A cinematic tour de force which utilises a number of shock tactics. Rated R. DVD

I Stand Alone Dir. Gaspar Noe. Noe’s debut feature is just as potent and confronting as Irreversible. Also Rated R. DVD

Indochine Dir. Regis Wargnier. Catherine Deneuve stars in powerful portrait of the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam. DVD

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, 1989 French Canadian drama from the award-winning director of “The Barbarian Invasions”. DVD

Joyeux Noel Dir. Christian Carion. Depicts the extraordinary WWI armistice on Christmas Eve, 1914. DVD

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.

Look at Me/ Comme une image Dir. Agnes Jaoui. DVD

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.

Marie-Jo and Her Two Loves/ Marie-Jo et ses deux amours Dir. Robert Guediguian. An exploration of the emotional strain of adultery. DVD

Marquis Dir. Henri Xhonneux, a bestial satire. Animated, rated R.

Marquise Dir. Vera Belmont. Sophie Marceau stars in 17^th 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.

Monsieur Batignole Dir. Claude Parnet. Set in Paris in 1942 during the German occupation, starring Jean-Paul Rouve. DVD

Monsieur Ibrahim Dir. Francois Dupeyron. Omar Sharif gives one of the best performances of his long career as an elderly widower who befriends a teenage boy. DVD

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.

My Wife is an Actress/ Ma Femme est une actrice Dir. Yvan Attal. Stars Charlotte Gainsborough and Terence Stamp. DVD

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?

The Ordeal Dir. Fabrice du Welz, 2004. Black comic nightmare descibed as “Misery” meets “Deliverance”. DVD

The Pact of Silence/ Le Pacte du Silence Dir. Graham Guit. Gerard Depardieu is a Jesuit priest with a dark secret who finds himself caught in a web of intrigue when a youn nun is rushed to his sopsital. DVD

Paris 2054 Renaissance Dir. Christian Volckman, 2006. Innovative animated futuristic thriller. DVD

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”

Une Parisienne Dir. Michel Boisrond, stars Brigitte Bardot, 1957.

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.

A Pornographic Affair Dir. Frederic Fonteyne, stars Sergi Lopez and Nathalie Baye.

Queen Margot Dir. Patrice Chereau, 1994. Based on a Dumas novel of the events surrounding the notorious 16^th century St Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

Read My Lips/ Sur Mes Levres Dir. Jacques Audiard. Clever workplace thriller notable for its fresh approach to genre. DVD

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? DVD

Rififi Dir. Jules Dassin 1955. Classic heist thriller - a band of villains come together for a daring jewell robbery and then fall out afterwards. DVD

Romuald et Juliette Dir. Coline Serreau. A complex tale of “star crossed lovers” but there’s little in this plot that stems from Shakespeare.

Rue Cases Negres Dir. Euzhan Palcy.

Russian Dolls Dir. Cédric Klapisch. Reunites the tenants/ protagonists of “ The Spanish Apartment” 5 years on. DVD

Le Samourai Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1967. A great movie, stars Alain Delon as an enigmatic killer.

Since Otar Left Dir. Juli Berturcelli. Winner of the Grand Priz Cannes 2004. DVD

The Spanish Apartment Dir. Cédric Klapisch, stars Audrey Tatou as a French student living in a share house in Barcelona whilst on holiday. DVD

State of Siege Dir. Costa-Gavras, 1973. Controversial film based upon fact about political assassination in Uraguay.

Swann in Love Dir. Volker Schlondorff. Base on Proust’s novel, stars Jeremy Irons.

The Swimming Pool Dir. Francois Ozon. Stars Charlotte Rampling and Charles Dance. A British crime writer holidays at her publisher’s French holiday home. DVD

Swing Dir. Tony Gatlif. Another journey into the heart of the gypsy world and their music. DVD

The Taste of Others Dir.Agnes Jaoui. Sharply observed romantic comedy, 2000. DVD

Tatie Danielle Dir. Etienne Chatilez. Black comedy about a very bad aunt.

3 Men and a Cradle Dir. Coline Serreau. The original comedy.

36 Quai des Orfevres Dir. Oliver Marchel. Two police officers vying for promotion attempt to capture a violent street gang. DVD

Time Out/ L’Emploi du temps Dir. Laurent Cantet. Sobering movie that explores the subtle distinctions between what separates who we are from what we do. DVD

Time Regained/ Le Temps Retrouvé Dir. Raoul Ruiz, 1999. An extraordinary conflation of avant-garde art film and literary period drama, this ambitious assault on Proust is a triumph. DVD

Too Beautiful for You Dir. Bertrand Blier. Winner of 5 French Oscars, stars Gerard Depardieu.

Toto the Hero Dir. Jaco Van Dormael.

Tous les Matins du Monde Dir. Alain Corneau. This 17^th fable about music and musicians is no ordinary costume drama.

The Triplets of Belleville Dir. Sylvain Chomet. Academy award winning and delightfully inventive animated film. DVD

Under the Sand Dir. Francois Ozon. Charlotte Rampling gives an astounding perfomance as a once happily married woman traumatised by her husband’s sudden death by drowning. DVD

Va Savoir/ Who Knows? Dir. Jacques Rivette. A tale of romantic intrigue and possibly dark deeds among a theatrical troupe. DVD

A Very Long Engagement Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Audrey Tatou stars in romantic quest set during WWI. DVD

Les Visiteurs/ The Visitors Dir. Jean-Marie Poire. Quixotic time travel comedy.

Warszawa Dir. Janusz Kijowski. Stars Hanna Schygulla & Julie Delpy.

Western Dir. Manuel Poirier. Amusing road movie.

Wild Reeds Dir. Andre Techine, 1994. Set in rural France during the Algerian War in the early 60s.

Wild Target Dir. Pierre Salvadori. Comedy.

Will it Snow for Christmas? Dir. Sandrine Veysset.

A World Without Pity Dir. Eric Rochant.

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.

Zéro de Conduite Dir. Jean Vigo,1933. Widely celebrated, this anarchic view of a French school was banned until 1945.

 

ITALY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agatha and the Storm Dir. Silvio soldini, 2004. Quirky comedy about life changing events for two families. DVD

Allegro Non Troppo Dir. Bruno Bozzetto. Incredibly imaginative parody of Disney’s “Fantasia”.

Angela Dir. Roberta Torre. Based on a true story of a woman who was married to the Mafia. DVD

The Battle of Algiers Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo, 1965. Much lauded landmark of political cinema. DVD

Bread and Tulips Dir. Silvio Soldini. A quirky “roadmovie” of the people met along the way by a middle aged housewife who decides to hitchhike to Venice. DVD

Christ Stopped at Eboli Dir. Francesco Rosi, adaptation of Carlo Levi's "political" autobiographical work.

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. DVD

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.

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. DVD

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!

Melissa P Dir. Luca Guadagnino. Based on the novel, One Hundred Strokes of the Brush Before Bed, it deals with raw emotions and frank sexuality.DVD

The Night Porter Dir. Liliana Cavani,1974 , starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling. In English, Rated R.

One Hundred Steps / I cento passi Dir. Marco Tullio Giordana. Explosive tale of betrayal, murder and intrigue revolving around one Mafia family. DVD

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.

Respiro / Grazia’s Island Dir. Emanuele Criales. This eerie film depicts with languorous intimacy the textures of life in a small Sicilian fishing village. DVD

La Scorta Dir. Ricky Tognazzi. The film that united an entire country against the Mafia. Rated R.

The Son’s Room Dir. Nanni Moretti. Award winning drama about a family coming to terms with the death of a son and brother. DVD

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. DVD

The Tiger and the Snow Dir. Roberto Benigni, 2005. Romantic comedy about a love struck Italian poet who is stuck in Iraq at the beginning of the American invasion. DVD

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.

 

GERMANY

 

 

 

 

Anatomie Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky. Anatomical horror flick. DVD

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. DVD

Colonel Redl Dir. Istvan Szabo. Klaus Maria Brandauer gives a towering performance as the despicable Redl.

The Comedian Harmonists Dir. Joseph Vilsmaier. Story of the pre-War singing group.

Das Boot – the director’s cut Dir. Wolfgang Petersen, 1981. Suspenseful WWII drama set entirely around the mission of a German U-Boat. DVD

Downfall Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel.

Covers the point at which Germany knew it had lost WWII and the last days of Adolf Hitler. DVD

The Edukators Dir. Hans Weingartner. Sexy, intelligent, adrenalin filled thriller about three young Berliners who take the law into their own hands. DVD

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.

The Experiment Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel. Disturbing thriller inspired by the notorious Stanford University prison psychology studies of the 70s. DVD

Go For Zucker Dir. Dani Levy, 2005. An unorthodox Jewish comedy. DVD

Goodbye Lenin Dir. Wolfgang Becker. Black comedy set in East Germany at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. DVD

Head On Dir. Faith Akin. Deals with the cultural and social conflicts for a group of Turks living in Hamburg. DVD

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. DVD

Mephisto Dir. Istvan Szabo. An unusual political thriller about an actor in Nazi Germany.

Mostly Martha Dir. Sandra Nettelbeck. A chef is forced to reassess her life and priorities when she inherits her dead sister's son. DVD

The Nasty Girl Dir. Michael Verhoeven, blends comedy with examination of a serious topic - the legacy of Nazism.

Nosferatu Dir. F.W. Murnau.1922 silent - the original vampire film. English intertitles. DVD

Nowhere in Africa Dir. Caroline Link. Based on Stephanie Zweig’s novel about a German Jewish family fleeing the Holocaust and their subsequent life as “outsiders” in Africa. DVD

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.

Sophie Scholl the Final Days Dir. Marc Rothemund, 2005. The story of one young woman who stood up to the Nazis and became a legend. DVD

The Tin Drum Dir. Volker Schlondorff, based on the novel by Gunter Grass. Rated R.

The White Masai Dir. Hermine Huntgeburth. Based on a true story of a German tourist who falls in love with and goes to live with a Masai Warrior. DVD

 

 

DUTCH/ FLEMISH

 

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.

Twin Sisters Dir. Ben Sombogart. Moving story spanning 60 years about twins who are separated from the age of six. DVD

The Vanishing Dir. George Sluizer. A chilling psychodrama. In French and Dutch with English subtitles. DVD

 

Slavic Cinema:

 

RUSSIA

 

 

 

 

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.

Father and Son Dir. Alexander Sokurov, 2003. Intense, moody but beautiful meditation on notions of masculinity. DVD

Lilya 4-Ever Dir. Likas Moodysson. The Swedish director’s third feature is this time set in a poor Russian suburb to reveal, with touching insight, the life of an abandonded teenager. DVD

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 Return Dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev. Amazing debut feature is an eerie metaphorical thriller about a long absent father and his two sons. DVD

The Royal Hunt Dir. Vitaly Melnikov. Historical epic in the tradition of “War & Peace”.

Russian Ark Dir. Alexander Sokurov. Extraordinary single take film set inside the famed Hermitage Museum. DVD

The Stroll Dir. Alexy Uchitel. Footloose romantic drama about young Russians played out largely in real time. DVD

The Thief Dir. Pavel Chukhrai.

In Post WWII Russia a young boy learns harsh lessons from his surrogate father. DVD

We Are From Kronstadt Dir. Yefim Dzigan, 1936. Covers an unusual episode of the Civil War in 1919.

Window to Paris Dir. Yuki Mamin. Comic fantasy about the attractions of the West.

 

POLAND

 

 

 

HUNGARY/

CZECHOSLOVAKIA/

Formerly

YUGOSLAVIA/

MACEDONIA/

GREECE

 

 

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.

Brides Dir. Pantelis Voulgaris, Greece 2005. Fascinating and moving story of mail order brides travelling to the US. DVD

Cabaret Balkan Dir. Goran Paskaljevic. A series of brutally incisive short theatrical pieces reflecting contemporary Yugoslavia.

Dark Blue World Dir. Jan Sverak. World War II flying drama. Czech and English language. DVD

Divided We Fall Dir. Jan Hrebejk, Czech, 2000. A WWII drama similar to “Life is Beautiful” in that the film allows humour and humanity to comingle with the absolute horror of war. DVD

Eternity and a Day Dir. Theo Angelopoulos, Greece, 1998. A dying author prepares to leave his beloved home by the sea and settle things with his daughter. Winner of the Palme D'Or at Cannes. Stars Bruno Ganz. DVD

Fateless Dir. Lajos Koltai. WWII drama based on the novel by by the Nobel prize winning writer Imre Kertesz. Hungarian. DVD

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.

No Man’s Land Dir.Danis Tanovic. Bosnian Tanovic’s taut witty script is the secret to this film’s success in mounting a darkly comic, but very suspenseful, satirical attack on the absurdity of war. DVD

A Touch of Spice Dir. Tassos Boulmetis. Touching Greek romance, a modern day fable with resonance. 2005. DVD

Ulysses' Gaze Dir. Theo Angelopoulos, 1995. A filmmaker returns from the US to his hometown in Greece after an abscene of 35 years where he hopes to trace the missing 3 reels of the first film ever shot in the Balkans. Stars Harvey Keitel. DVD

 

Nordic Cinema:

 

DENMARK/ FINLAND/ ICELAND/ SWEDEN/ NORWAY

 

 

 

 

 

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. Danish. DVD

The Best Man’s Wedding / Julla Julla! Dir. Josef Fares. An infectiously energetic Swedish comedy. DVD

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.

Italian For Beginners Dir. Lone Scherfig. Danish Dogme movie about a group of loners attending evening classes in Italian. DVD

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.

Noi the Albino Dir. Dagur Kari. Icelandic drama set in a remote fjord, tells the tale of a teenage dreamer. DVD

Open Hearts/ Elsker dig for evigt Dir. Susanne Bier. This Danish Dogme drama pivots on a shocking calamity that opens the gates to an adulterous affair and its attendant fallout. DVD

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.

Show Me Love Dir. Lukas Moodyssoon. Swedish teen lesbian drama.

Sofie Dir. Liv Ullman. Period drama of desire and repression set in Copenhagen in 1866.

Together Dir. Lukas Moodysson.

Manages to send up 70s social radicalism whilst at the same time as remaining sympathetic to many of its ideals. Swedish. DVD

Zero Kelvin Dir. Hans Peter Moland. Tense psychological thriller set in Greenland in 1925.

 

Latin Cinema:

 

SPAIN/ SOUTH AMERICA/ PORTUGAL

 

           

 

 

Alsino and the Condor Dir. Miguel Littin, 1983. Award winner set in Nicaragua.

Amores Perros (Love’s a Bitch) Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Brutally tough but ultimately rewarding Mexican drama. Rated R. DVD

Belle Epoque Dir. Fernando Trueba. Tongue-in-cheek comedy set in Spain in 1931. Winner of 1994 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.

Black Orpheus/ Orfeu Negro Dir. Marcel Camus. 1959 Academy Award winning version of the Orpheus legend set during Carnivale in Rio. DVD

Bombon el Perro Dir. Carlos Sorin. Delightful film about an out of work mechanic who is given a dog.DVD

Brasileirinho Dir. Mika Kaurismaki. More than just a musical documentary it is a fascinating insight into the people of Brazil and a way of life. DVD

Bus 174 Dir. Jose Padilha. Brazilian Gripping documentary about a bus high-jacking in June 2000. Portuguese language. DVD

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. Portuguese.

City of God Dir. Fernando Meirelles. Brazil. Gritty drama of ghetto life. Portuguese. DVD

The Crime of Father Amaro Dir. Carlos Carrera. Provocative Mexican drama about church corruption. DVD

Danzon Dir. Maria Navaro, a kind of Mexican "Strictly Ballroom"

The Devil’s Backbone Dir. Guillermo del Toro. A classy Spanish horror film set in an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. DVD

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.

Intacto Dir. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Spanish thriller with four players each the sole survivor of a catastrophe vieing for supremacy in a dangerous game. DVD

Jamon Jamon Dir. Bigas Luna. Crazy Spanish sex comedy. Rated R.

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.

Lower City Dir. Sergio Machado, Brazil, 2005. Two hustlers fall passionately for the same stripper – a sultry lust triangle. DVD

Madame Sata Dir. Karim Ainouz Brazil 2002. Loose portrait of Jaoa Francisco dos Santos, a sometime chef, lover, father, transvestite, hero and convict. DVD

Maria Full of Grace Dir. Joshua Marston, 2004. Story of a young woman who works as a drug mule for Columbians in order to raise money for her family. DVD

El Mariachi Dir. Robert Rodriguez. A sort of Mexican "Mad Mex".

Matando Cabos Dir. Alejandro Lozanzo. A killer mob comedy. DVD

Me, You, Them / Eu Tu Elas Dir. Andrucha Waddington, Brazil, 2000. A suprising comedy about a woman with three husbands all living under the same roof.

Miracle Alley Dir. Jorge Fons. Adaptation of the novel by Naguib Mahfouz.

The Motorcycle Diaries Dir. Walter Salles. The story of youn Che Guevara’s formative journey through South America that ultimately transformed him from an apolitical introvert into a revolutionary. DVD

Mouth to Mouth Dir. Manuel Gomez Pereira. A slice of chic Spanish eroticism.

Nicotina Dir. Hugo Rodriguez, 2003. A science geek tangles with gangsters when he fails to deliver the correct computer disc. DVD

Nine Queens Dir. Fabian Bielinsky. Amoral Argentian thriller with a sting in its tail worthy of "The Usual Suspects". DVD

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".

The Official Story Dir.Luis Puenzo, 1985. Frightening tale of the military junta in Argentina. DVD

Open Your Eyes/ Abre los ojos Dir. Alejandro Amenabar. A dazzling thriller which toys with our perceptions to great effect. Lugubriously remade as “Vanilla Sky” with Tom Cruise. DVD

O’Quatrilho Dir. Fabio Barreto. Scandalous passions erupt in small rural village in Southern Brazil in 1910. Portuguese.

The Other Side of the Bed Dir. Emilio Martinez-Lazaro, 2002. Raucous and sexy romantic comedy was one of Spain’s top-grossing films for the year and winner of 6 Goya Awards. DVD

Our Lady of the Assassins Dir. Barbet Schroeder. A gay novelist returns to his homeland to die. DVD

Princesses Dir. Fernando Leon de Aransa A story of friendship and love in the world of prostitution. DVD

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.

The Sea Inside Dir. Alejandro Amenabar, 2005. The real life story of a Spanish man who fought a 30 year campaign in favour of euthanasia and his own right to die. DVD

Secret Wedding Dir. Alejandro Agresti, Argentina. A parable about the hypocrisy of the "new Democracy".

Sex and Lucia Dir. Julio Medem. Erotically charged this enigmatice and sensuous film explores themes of love, loss, sex and the peculiarities of fate. DVD

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.

Vengo Dir. Tony Gatliff . Another of his chronicles of gypsy life this time set in Andalusia’s flamenco culture. DVD

Woman on Top Dir. Fina Torres. Romatic Brazilian comedy, made in English, stars Penelope Cruz as a very hot cook.

Y tu Mama Tambien Dir. Alfonso Cuaron. Raucous Mexican road movie about adolescent male sexuality. Rated R. DVD

 

 

AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND CINEMA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Dir. Stephen Elliott. Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving & Guy Pearce star in an hilarious drag comedy. DVD

Alexandra’s Project Dir. Rolf de Heer. Psychological drama stars Gary Sweet. DVD

Amy Dir. Nadia Tass, stars Rachel Griffiths , Ben Mendelsohn, Kerry Armstrong.

Angel Baby Dir. Michael Rymer. Multiple AFI Award winner.

Australian Rules Dir. Paul Golman. Adapted from the teen fiction novel, “Deadly Unna”. DVD

Babe Dir. Chris Noonan. Wildly successful Oz pic based on the pig-dog books by Dick King Smith.

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. DVD

The Bank Dir. Robert Connelly. David Wenham stars in great “revenge of the underdog” flick. DVD

Bedevil Dir. Tracey Moffatt. Innovative rendering of three ghost stories - a dazzling debut feature.

Beneath Clouds Dir. Ivan Sen. Impressive debut feature. DVD

Better Than Sex Dir. Jonathan Teplitzky, stars David Wenham.

Billy’s Holiday Dir. Richard Wherrett. Max Cullen stars as the hardware merchant who can sing like Billy Holliday.

Birthday Boy Dir. Sejong Park. Animated. DVD

Black & White Dir. Craig Lahiff. Kerry Fox and Robert Carlyle star in courtroom drama based on “The Stewart Case” (an Aboriginal man who was accused of raping and killing a young white girl in Adelaide in the 1960s) DVD

Blackfellas Dir. James Ricketson. Award-winning, compelling story of contemporary Aboriginal life.

Blinky Bill Dir. Yoram Gross. Animated film

Bliss Dir. Ray Lawrence, from a story by Peter Carey starring Barry Otto. . DVD

Blackrock Dir. Steve Vidler. Powerful adaptation of the play by Nick Enright about adolescence.

Bootmen Dir. Dein Perry with Adam Garcia and Sophie Lee. Story of the origins of the Tap Dogs.

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.

Brilliant Lies Dir. Richard Franklin. Good adaptation of David Williamson’s play about sexual politics and harassment.

Broken Highway Dir. Laurie McInnes. A journey like no other. Stars Claudia Karvan, Aden Young & Bill Hunter.

Bushfire Moon Dir. George (Snowy River) Miller. Australian classic.

Candy Dir. Neil Armfield. Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish & Geoffrey Rush star in powerful & affecting drama about love and addiction. DVD

Careful, He Might Hear You Dir. Carl Schultz, adaptation of Sumner Lock Elliot’s novel set in the 1930's.

The Castle Dir. Rob Sitch. Laconic Aussie comedy – it’s a must.

Children of the Revolution Dir. Peter Duncan. A Reds under and in the bed comedy starring Judy Davis, Sam Neill and Jeffrey Rush.

Chopper Dir. Andrew Dominik, stars Eric Bana, loosely based on the life of hitman, Chopper Reid. Rated R.

Country Life Dir. Michael Blakemore. Clever transposition of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” to the outback. Stars Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi, John Hargreaves.

Crush Dir. Alison Maclean. Thriller about a teenage girl’s growing awareness of power and sexuality.

Dance Me To My Song Dir. Rolf De Heer.

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.

Dirty Deeds Dir. David Caesar. Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, John Goodman & Sam Neil star in enjoyable period ganster pic.DVD

The Dish Dir. Rob Sitch. Delightful satellite comedy stars Sam Neil, Kevin Harrington and Tom Long.

Dogs in Space Dir. Richard Lowenstein, starring Michael Hutchence. Rated R.

Dogwatch Dir. Laurie McInnes. A tale of lost men adrift on the high seas, in a battle for survival. DVD

Doing Time For Patsy Cline Dir. Chris Kennedy. Doesn’t everybody want a Golden Guitar?

Dot and the Kangaroo Dir. Yoram Gross - Australian animated feature

Emerald City Based on the play by David Williamson.

Erskinville Kings Dir. Allan White, stars Marty Denniss & Hugo Jackman in sibling drama.

Feeling Sexy Dir. Davida Allen. Amusing comedy of a married woman’s secret life.

The Finished People Dir. Khoa Do. From the heart of south-western Sydney comes an unexpected and poignant portrait of life on the streets. DVD

For the Term of His Natural Life Dir. Norman Dawn. Restored 1927 silent classic based on Marcus Clarke novel.

Garage Days Dir. Alex Proyas. Explores the world of 'wannabe' musicians, stars Kick Gurry and Pia Miranda. DVD

Gettin’ Square Dir. Jonathan Teplitzky. Sam Worthington, David Wenham & Gary Sweet star in a comedy about starting over, keeping clean and going straight. DVD

The Goddess of 1967 Dir. Clara Law. Outstanding film that follows the journey of a two young people into the brutal Australian outback. DVD

Goodbye Paradise Dir. Carl Schultz, stars Ray Barrett, multiple AFI Award winner, 1982.

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. DVD

He Died With a Felafel in His Hand Dir. Richard Lowenstein. Adaptation of the cult novel by John Birmingham. DVD

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.

Japanese Story Dir. Sue Brooks. 2003 multiple AFI Award Winner, starring Toni Collette. . DVD

Jindabyne Dir. Ray Lawrence, 2006. Based on a Raymond Carver story, a powerful and original film about the things that haunt us. Stars Gabriel Byrne. DVD

Kenny Dir. Clayton Jacobson, 2006. Wacky plumbing comedy. DVD

Kiss Or Kill Dir. Bill Bennett. 1997 AFI Award Winner.

Kokoda Dir. Alister Grierson, 2006. Dramatic reconstruction of one of the iconic Pacific battles of WWII. DVD

Lantana Dir. Ray Lawrence. Anthony La Paglia and Kerry Armstrong star in a powerful drama. DVD

Last Train to Freo Dir. Jeremy Sims, 2006. Riveting psychological drama with a twist. DVD

L’Idole Dir. Samantha Lang. Set in contemporary Paris, stars Leelee Sobieski and James Hong in a tale of co-dependence. DVD

Life Dir. Lawrence Johnston. Grim portrayal of Australian prison culture. Rated R.

Like Minds Dir. Gregory J Read. Toni Collette, Richard Roxburgh star in a complex psychological drama. DVD

Lilian’s Story Dir. Jerzy Domardzki. Terrific adaptation of the novel by Kate Grenville, stars Ruth Cracknell & Toni Collette.

Little Fish Dir. Rowan Woods. Cate Blanchett, Sam Neil, Hugo Weaving & Noni Hazlehurst star in multiple AFI Award winning drama. DVD

Look Both Ways Dir. Sarah Watt. William McInnes and Justine Clarke star in a powerful and ultimately uplifting film about people coming to terms with their mortality and with loss. DVD

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 Serenade Dir. Shirley Barrett. Wryly humorous look at radio announcer glamour, small town romance & sibling rivalry.

Love’s Brother Dir. Jan Sardi. 1950s drama of an Italian mail order bride mixup. DVD

Mad Dog Morgan Dir. Philippe Mora, 1976. Dennis Hopper , David Gulpilil, Jack Thompson & Frank Thring star in a good but very violent pic about the 19^th century bushranger. DVD

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 Magic Pudding Winning Oz animated version of the Norman Lindsay story.

The Magician Dir. Scott Ryan. Witty film about a hitman who commissions his film student neighbour to document his life. DVD

Mallboy Dir. Vincent Giarrusso.

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 Man Who Sued God Dir. Mark Joffe. Billy Connolly stars in insurance comedy. DVD

A Man’s Gotta Do Dir. Chris Kennedy. John Howard stars in feel-good comedy. DVD

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 Alberti. Traditional religion intersects with the Australian outback.

Monkey Grip Dir. Ken Cameron. Noni Hazelhurst stars.

The Monkey’s Mask Dir. Samantha Lang. Based on the lesbian crime verse novel by Dorothy Porter. DVD

Moulin Rouge Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor star in breathless musical extravaganza. DVD

Mr Reliable Dir. Nadia Tass, Colin Friels & Jacqueline McKenzie star in siege comedy.

Mullet Dir. David Caeser. Ben Mendelsohn stars as a prodigal son returning to his sleepy home town. DVD

Muriel’s Wedding Dir. P.J. Hogan. Highly successful recent Oz comedy.

My Mother Frank Dir. Mark Lamprell, stars Sam Neil and Sinead Cusack.

Ned Kelly Dir. Gregor Jordan. Heath Ledger takes the title role. DVD

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.

The Old Man Who Read Love Stories Dir. Rolf de Heer. Richard Dreyfuss and Hugo Weaving star. DVD

Once Were Warriors Dir. Lee Tamahori. Extremely powerful and confronting Maori drama.

One Night the Moon Dir. Rachel Perkins. Paul Kelly stars in arresting dramatisation of racisim. DVD

One Perfect Day Dir. Paul Currie. Winner of ASDA Best First Feature Award. DVD

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.

The Oyster Farmer Dir. Anna Reeves. Kerry Armstrong, David Field, Jim Norton star in a terrific, well nuanced film. DVD

Oz - A Rock 'n' Roll Road Movie Dir. Chris Lofven. A classic.

Passion Dir. Peter Duncan. Bio of the unusual life of Australian composer Percy Grainger. Rated R.

Peaches Dir. Craig Monahan, 2004. Drama starring Hugo Weaving and Jacqueline McKenzie. DVD

The Perfectionist Dir. Chris Thompson, based on David Williamson's play with John Waters and Jacki Weaver.

Playing Beatie Bow Dir. Donald Crombie based on Ruth Park’s novel

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.

The Rage in Placid Lake Dir. Tony McNamara. Oddball comedy about a boy rebelling against his new age parents by going straight. DVD

Rain Dir. Christine Jeffs. NZ DVD

The Removalists Dir. Tom Jeffrey, based on the play by David Williamson.

Resistance Dir. Paul Elliott & Hugh Keays-Byrne. Political drama.

The Road the Nhill Dir. Sue Brooks. Comedy of small town life.

Romper Stomper Dir. Geoffrey Wright. This is tough . Rated R

Russian Doll Dir. Stavros Kazantzidis. Hugo Weaving, David Wenham and Rebecca Frith star in romantic comedy. DVD

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.

Silent Partner Dir. Alkinos Tsilimidos. The story of two Aussie losers and their greyhound. DVD

The Silver Brumby Dir. John Tatoulis, based on the much loved book, stars Caroline Goodall.

SNAK Sensitive New Age Killer Dir. Mark Savage. Stylised tongue-in-cheek action comedy. DVD

Soft Fruit Dir. Christina Andreef. Engaging story of a family dealing with their mother’s terminal illness.

Solo Dir. Morgan O’Neill, 2006. Colin Friels stars in a tough thriller that was the Project Greenlight Winner. DVD

Somersault Dir. Cate Shortland. Winner of 13 AFI Awards in 2004, this is a stunning directorial debut with local interest. The film is set in the Canberra region and the filmmaker grew up here. DVD

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.

La Spagnola Dir. Steve Jacobs. A dark comedy of lust, love and revenge set against the desolation and dust of country Australia in the 1960s. DVD

Spider and Rose Dir. Bill Bennett. Generation gap comedy stars Ruth Cracknell.

Spotswood Dir. Mark Joffe, comedy with Anthony Hopkins

Storm Boy Dir. Henri Safran. Adaptation of Colin Thiele’s book

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. DVD

Sunday Too Far Away Dir. Ken Hannam. Australian outback classic.

Talk Dir. Susan Lambert. Comic view of female friendships. Rated R

Ten Canoes Dir. Rolf De Heer, 2006. A ground-breaking glimpse into Aboriginal life before European colonisation. Shot in and around Central Arnhem Land, in conjunction with the People of Ramingining. DVD

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.

Three Dollars Dir. Robert Connolly. David Wenham stars in adaptation of the novel by Elliot Perlman. DVD

Till Human Voices Wake Us Dir. Michael Petroni. Haunting tale of the burden of guilt associated with the loss of a childhood friend. DVD

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.

The Tracker Dir. Rolf de Heer. Stars David Gulpilil and Gary Sweet, music by Archie Roach. DVD

Traps Dir. Pauline Chan. Thriller set in Vietnam in the 50s.

Travelling Light Dir. Kathryn Millard. Pia Miranda stars in a gentle comedy set in Adelaide in 1971. DVD

Travelling North Leo Mckern & Julia Blake in adaptation of David Williamson's play. DVD

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.

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.

Walkabout Dir. Nicholas Roeg, 1971. Landmark “Australian” film by British director.

Walking on Water Dir. Tony Ayres. Vince Colosimo and Maria Theodorakis star. Nominated for a total of 9 AFI awards in 2002. DVD

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.

Whale Rider Dir. Niki Caro. NZ drama about a young Maori girl’s struggle to be accepted as a potential leader by her grandfather. DVD

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.

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.

DVD

Wolf Creek Dir. Greg McLean. Inspired by Australia’s most gruesome true crime story this is not for the faint hearted. Rated R. DVD

Yolngu Boy Dir. Stephen Johnson. The story of three Aboriginal boys caught in a collision between traditional and contemporary cultures. Shot entirely in Arnhem Land, Darwin and Kakadu. DVD

 

 

CLASSIC

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CINEMA

(Most Films Made Before 1970)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42nd Street A 1933 Busby Berkeley musical, with Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels.

Agatha Christie’s Murder at the Gallop Dir. George Pollock 1963, Margaret Rutherford stars.

All About Eve Dir. Joseph L Mankiewicz, 1950. Bette Davis is superb as the ageing star who is duped by an adoring fan. DVD

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.

Being There Dir. Hal Ashby., 1979. Many believe it to be Peter Sellers’ greatest role. DVD

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.

Blue Bird Dir. Walter Lang, 1940. A classic tale with Shirley Temple

Bonnie and Clyde Dir. Arthur Penn, a 1967 classic starring Faye Dunaway & Warren Beatty.

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.

Cabaret Dir. Bob Fosse, stars Liza Minnelli and Michael York. DVD

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. DVD

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Dir. Richard Brooks. Tennessee Williams' play, stars Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. DVD

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.

The Court Jester Dir. Norman Panama 1956. Danny Kaye and Glynis Johns in delightful “historic” comedy.

Curly Top Dir. Irving Cummings, 1935. A Shirley Temple comedy.

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. DVD

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.

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.

Don’t Bother to Knock Dir. Roy Baker, 1952. Marilyn Monroe stars. DVD

Easter Parade Dir. Charles Walters, 1948. Fred Astaire & Judy Garland in an Irving Berlin musical.

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.

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.

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. DVD

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.

The Green Man Dir. Robert Day, 1956, British comedy classic with Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry Thomas.

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.

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. DVD

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. DVD

How to Marry a Millionaire Dir. Jean Negulesco, 1953. Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable star in romantic comedy. DVD

I Love You Alice B. Toklas Dir. Hy Averback, 1968. Peter Sellers freaks out and drops out. Hilarious.

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.

The Importance of Being Earnest Dir. Anthony Asquith, 1952. Michael Redgrave & Margaret Rutherford in Oscar Wilde play.

In Cold Blood Dir. Richard Brooks 1967. Adaptation of the story by Truman Capote. DVD

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. DVD

Laura Dir. Otto Preminger. Classic tale of obsession that led to murder, stars Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews & Clifton Web. DVD

The Lavender Hill Mob Dir Charles Crichton, starring Alec Guinness & Stanley Holloway.

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 the heir one fateful Christmas Eve. DVD

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.

A Man For All Seasons Dir. Fred Zinnemann, Robert Bolt screenplay

The Man in the White Suit Dir. Alexander Mackendrick, starring Alec Guinness, 1951.

The Manchurian Candidate Dir. John Frankenheimer, 1962. Tingling political paranoia thriller. DVD

Meet Me in St Louis Dir. Vincente Minnelli, 1944. Captivating Judy Garland musical. DVD

Mildred Pierce Dir. Michael Curtiz., 1945. Oscar winner, Joan Crawford, stars in adaptation of James M. Cain’s dark novel.

The Mouse That Roared Dir. Jack Arnold, with Peter Sellers. DVD

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.

My Little Chickadee Dir. Edward Cline. A classic Mae West and WC Fields comedy

The Night of the Hunter Dir. Charles Laughton's powerful 1955 melodrama stars Robert Mitchum as the crazed preacher. DVD

Now Voyager Dir. Irving Rapper, 1942, stars Bette Davis as a repressed spinster. DVD

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.

Only Two Can Play Dir. Sidney Gilliat, 1962. Stars Peter Sellers.

Out of the Past Dir. Jacques Tourneur, 1947. Robert Mitchum stars in quintessential 40s film noir.

Passport to Pimlico Dir. Henry Cornelius, 1949, stars Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford

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.

Pygmalion Dir. Anthony Asquith, Leslie Howard, 1938. Brilliant screen version of Bernard Shaw's play. DVD

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.

School for Scoundrels Dir. Robert Hamer, stars Alistair Sim & Terry Thomas at the school for one-upmanship.

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.

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.

Sullivan's Travels Dir. Preston Surgess, 1942. Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake star in this landmark Hollywood comedy which seamlessly belnds slapstick and pathos. DVD

Sunrise Dir. F.W. Murnau, 1927. A landmark film in the history of cinema. DVD

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. DVD

To Kill a Mockingbird Dir. Robert Mulligan, 1962. Gregory Peck stars in Oscar-winning adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee. DVD

Twelve Angry Men Dir. Sidney Lumet, 1957 jury classic. DVD

Ulysses Dir. Joseph Strick, 1967, adapted from the novel by James Joyce.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Dir. Mike Nichols, 1966. Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton star in adaptation of Edward Albee's play. DVD

The Wild One Dir. Laslo Benedek. An angry young, Marlon Brando, in this 50's cult classic

Written on the Wind Dir. Douglas Sirk, 1956. Great melodrama starring Rock Hudson and Lauren Bacall. DVD

Yankee Doodle Dandee In his Oscar winning Role, James Cagney stars as the "damnedest patriotic man in the country"

 

CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE DRAMA

(Most Films Made After 1970)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About a Boy Dir. Chris Weitz. Adaptation of Nick Hornby’s comic novel about a friendship formed between a childless man and a fatherless boy. DVD

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.

Adaptation Dir. Spike Jonze. Stars Meryl Streep & Nicholas Cage. Based on the novel "The Orchid Thief". DVD

The Adjuster Dir. Atom Egoyan. Engrossing dead-pan comedy about an obsessive insurance adjuster and his clients. Rated R

A.I. Artificial Intelligence Dir. Steven Spielberg. Intriguing futuristic story about a couple, having lost a child, adopt a robot boy with “real emotions”. DVD

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.

All the Pretty Horses Dir. Billy Bob Thornton. Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz star in adaptation of the award-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy. DVD

Almost Famous Dir. Cameron Crow’s autobiographical 70s tale of a guileless teenager who goes on the road with a rock band as a journalist for Rolling Stone. DVD

American Beauty Dir. Sam Mendes. Exceptional portrait of the American Dream gone sour stars Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. DVD

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. DVD

American Psycho Dir. Mary Harron, adaptation of the controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Rated R.

American Splendor Dir. Robert Pulcini. Immerses the viewer in the life and worldview of Harvey Pekar, creator of the semi-autobiographical comic book series of the same name. DVD

Amistad Dir. Stephen Spielberg. Morgan Freeman stars in an epic tale about slavery.

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.

Anita and Me Dir. Metin Huseyin. British Indian comic drama set in the 70s, in the style of “Bend it Like Beckham”. DVD

The Apostle Dir. Robert Duvall. In his Oscar nominated role as a charismatic Southern preacher on the run.

Ararat Dir. Atom Egoyan. Movie within a movie about Turkey’s 1915 genocide against Armenians. DVD

Art School Confidential Dir. Terry Zwigoff. John Malkovich, Anjelica Huston & Max Minghella star in comic drama about the harsh realities of the art world. 2005. DVD

As Good As It Gets Dir. James L. Brooks. Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson make sparkling sparring partners.

Ask the Dust Dir. Robert Towne. Colin Farrell & Salma Hayek star in a romantic drama set in 1930s. DVD

The Assassination of Richard Nixon Dir. Niels Mueller. Sean Penn stars as a disillusioned “everyman” who, in 1974 was driven to plot the assassination of a president. DVD

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.

Babel Dir. Alejandron Gonzalez Inarritu, 2006. Cate Blanchett and Bradd Pitt in tense drama that completes the trilogy Inarritu started with Amores Perros, and followed with 21 Grams. DVD

The Backwoods Dir. Koldo Serra. Gary Oldman & Paddy Considine star in thriller set in rural Spain. DVD

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. DVD

Bastard Out of Carolina Dir. Angelica Huston. Her directorial debut is a tough look at child abuse. Rated R.

Being Julia Dir. Istvan Szabo. Annette Benning and Jeremy Irons star in period drama based on a Somerset Maugham story. DVD

A Beautiful Mind Dir. Ron Howard. Russell Crowe stars in bio of brilliant mathematician, John Nash. DVD

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. DVD

Before Night Falls Dir. Julian Schnabel. Compelling biopic of the persecuted homosexual Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas. DVD

Before Sunrise Dir. Richard Linklater. Romance between a young American & French student. DVD

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.

Bend it Like Beckham Dir. Gurinder Chadha. Football’s ability to bring a nation together is celebrated in this delightful film about a young Indian girl who joins a women’s soccer team. DVD

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.

The Big Empty Dir. Steve Anderson. Aliens, Abductions, Cowboys, Blue Suitcases and Bowling Balls – strange things are happening out in the middle of nowhere. DVD

Big Night Dir. Stanley Tucci & Campbell Scott. Not since “Babette’s Feast” has cooking and eating been so enjoyable on film.

Billy Elliot Dir. Stephen Daldry. Julie Walters, Jamie Bell & Gary Lewis are terrific in story of a working class boy who takes up ballet. DVD

Bloody Sunday Dir. Paul Greengrass. Dramatic recreation of the tragic events of 30/1/72 when British troops clashed with protestors in Derry, Northern Ireland and 13 people were killed. Stars James Nesbitt. DVD

Bloom Dir. Sean Walsh. Based on the novel Ulysses bu James Joyce. DVD

Blow Dir. Ted Demme. Johnny Depp stars as legendary college dropout cum major league cocaine barron. DVD

Bob Roberts Directed by & stars Tim Robbins - does for politics what "Spinal Tap" did for rock 'n' roll. DVD

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. DVD

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. DVD

Breakfast on Pluto Dir. Neil Jordan, 2005. Set in the 70s, a tale of a young man’s coming to terms with his sexuality and with society. DVD

Brick Dir. Rian Johnson, 2005. Winner Special Jury Prize at Sundance, proclaimed as the most original film since Donnie Darko. DVD

Bride and Prejudice Dir. Gurinder Chadha’s delightful Bollywood rendition of the Jane Austen classic. DVD

Bridget Jones’ Diary Dir. Sharon Maguire, stars Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant & Colin Firth. DVD

Bright Young Things Dir. Stephen Fry. Adaptation of the decadent jazz era novel, Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh. DVD

The Browning Version Dir. Mike Figgis. Great update of the play, stars Albert Finney. DVD

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 who resolves a crisis of conscience by doing the unthinkable and telling the truth.

Camp Dir. Todd Graff. A teen love triangle is the backdrop for this entertaining musical drama. DVD

The Candidate Dir. Michael Ritchie, 1972. Robert Redford stars in sharp political satire.

Capote Dir. Bennett Miller, 2005. Oscar winning portrait of the writer stars Philip Seymour Hoffman. DVD

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Dir. John Madden. Nicholas Cage & Penelope Cruz star in adapation of Louis de Bernierre’s wartime romance. DVD

Carrington Dir. Christopher Hampton. Emma Thompson stars in biographical film about Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington. DVD

The Cat’s Meow Dir. Peter Bogdanovich. Entertaining speculations about the events on board William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924. DVD

Chaplin Dir. Richard Attenborough. Robert Downey Jr stars in biography of the cinema legend.

Chicago Dir. Rob Marshall. Stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere & Renee Zellwegger in roaring 20s musical. DVD

Chocolat Dir. Lasse Hallstrom. Adaptation of Joanne Harris’ delightful novel about a chocolatier. DVD

The Cider House Rules Dir. Lasse Hallstrom. Multiple award-winning adaptation of the novel by John Irving, starring Michael Caine.

Clean Dir. Olivier Assayas, 2004. Maggie Cheung and Nick Nolte star in an unflinching drama about the struggle to overcome addiction. DVD

Cold Comfort Farm Dir. John Schlesinger. Delightful adapatation of the 30s novel by Stella Gibbons about a well bred young woman going to live with her eccentric rural relatives. DVD

Cold Mountain Dir. Anthony Minghella. Nicole Kidman and Jude Law star in US Civil War story. DVD

The Color Purple Dir. Steven Spielberg, with Whoopi Golberg.

Colour Me Kubrick Dir. Brian Cook, 2005. John Malkovich stars in this bizarre story of a conman who spent years successfully impersonating the reclusive filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick. DVD

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.

The Constant Gardner Dir. Fernando Meirelles. Adaptation of Le Carre’s thriller, stars Ralph Fiennes. DVD

Conversations With God Dir. Stephen Simon, 2006. Adapted from the inspirational books by Neale Donald Walsch,. DVD

Crash Dir. David Cronenberg. The controversial adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel. Rated R.

Croupier Dir. Mike Hodges. Highly original film about gambling. DVD

The Crucible Dir. Nicholas Hytner. Intelligent screen version of Arthur Miller’s McCarthy era play.

Crush Dir. John McKay. Andie McDowell, Imelda Staunton & Anna Chancellor star in female friendship flick. DVD

Cry Freedom Dir. Richard Attenborough. Denzel Washington stars as Steve Biko, apartheid activist. DVD

Damage Dir. Louis Malle. Stars Jeremy Irons & Miranda Richardson in cautionary tale about amour fou. Rated R. DVD

The Dancer Upstairs Dir. John Malkovich’s directorial debut is a taut political thriller based on Nicholas Shakespeare’s novel. DVD

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. DVD

Days of Heaven Dir. Terence Malick, stars Richard Gere, Brooke Adams & Sam Shepherd. A visual delight. DVD

Dead Man’s Shoes Dir. Shane Meadows, UK 2004. A disaffected soldier returns to his hometown seeking revenge against the thugs who had brutalised his mentally disabled brother years earlier. DVD

The Debt Collector Dir. Anthony Nielson. Stars Billy Connolly as a reformed criminal harassed by a vengeful policeman.

December Bride Dir. Thaddeus O'Sullivan. A stunning film likened to a "Sean De Florette"

The Deep End Dir. Scott McGehee. Tilda Swinton stars as a woman whose teenage son gets involved with a gay hustler. DVD

De-Lovely Dir. Irwin Winkler. Biography of legendary composer Cole Porter, 2004. DVD

Demon Lover Dir. Olivier Assayas. A diabolical techno thriller with music by Sonic Youth. Rated R. DVD

The Dinner Rush Dir. Bob Giraldi, stars Danny Aiello in far more dramatic kind of “My Restaurant Rules”. DVD

Donnie Brasco Dir. Mike Newell. Al Pacino stars in an intelligent Mafia movie made, unusually, by a British director.

Donnie Darko Dir. Richard Kelly. A troubled teenager attending a repressive high school in the 1980s is beset by nightmarish visions that may or may not be premonitions. DVD

The Doom Generation Dir. Greg Araki. An extremely bleak view of the younger generation. Rated R. DVD

The Door in the Floor Dir. Tod Williams, 2004. Jeff Bridges stars in adapatation of John Irving’s Novel A Widow for a Year, about a couple torn apart by the death of their sons. DVD

Dust Dir. Milcho Manchevski. David Wenham and Joseph Fiennes. In the late 19^th century two brothers fall for the same woman in the American wild west. 100 years later in New York city the story must be retold. DVD

Eclipse Dir. Jeremy Podeswa. An examination of the acts and consequences of contemporary sex from many points of view and inclinations. Rated R.

Edmond Dir. Stuart Gordon. William H Macy stars in a rivetting David Mamet screenplay. DVD

Educating Rita Dir. Lewis Gilbert, 1983. Michael Caine and Julie Walters star in adaptation of Willy Russell’s stage play. DVD

Elephant Dir. Gus Van Sant. Winner of the Palme D’Or at Cannes 2003, this is a meditation on the Columbine High School massacre. DVD

Elizabeth Dir. Shekar Kapur. Cate Blanchett & Geoffrey Rush star in fine Elizabethan drama. DVD

Emma Dir. Douglas McGrath. Another Austen adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Toni Collette, Alan Cumming & Ewan McGregor. DVD

Emile Dir. Carl Bessai. Starring Ian McKellen, this is a poignant exploration of an older man’s struggle to reconnect with his past. DVD

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.

Enduring Love Dir. Roger Michell. Adaptation of the psychological novel by Ian McEwan. 2005 DVD

Enemy at the Gates Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud. Interesting perspective on the WWII Battle of Stalingrad. DVD

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.

Enigma Dir. Michael Apted. Kate Winslet stars in very well recreated WWII code-breaking drama. DVD

Equus Dir. Sidney Lumet, adaptation of the play by Peter Shaffer. Rated R DVD

Erin Brokovich Dir. Steven Soderbergh. Julia Roberts and Alan Finney in legal David vs Goliath.

Erotique Dirs. Lizzie Borden, Monika Treut...Three erotic stories from a female perspective. Rated R.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Dir. Michel Gondry. From acclaimed writer Charlie Kaufman and starring Jim Carey, Kate Winslet & Elijah Wood comes this comical and quirky view of human relationships and emotional baggage. DVD

Ethan Frome Dir. John Madden. Based on the novel by Edith Wharton.

Everything is Illuminated Dir. Liev Schreiber. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer about a young man attempting to find the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis during WWII. DVD

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.

Factotum Dir. Bent Hamer. Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei in a tale based on the novel by Charles Bukowski. DVD

Far From Heaven Dir. Todd Haynes. Julianne Moore & Dennis Quaid star in a sumptuous visual homage to Douglas Sirk’s melodramas of the 1950s. DVD

Fast Food Nation Dir. Richard Linklater. Based on the best selling book of the same name, a biting commentary on corporate ethics and the fast food industry. DVD

The Feast of July Dir. Christopher Menaul. Victorian era “Hardy-esque” sex drama.

Felicia’s Journey Dir. Atom Egoyan. Bob Hoskins stars as a mild-mannered but psychotic catering manager.

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.

Finding Forrester Dir. Gus Van Sant. Sean Connery stars as a reclusive novelist. DVD

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. DVD

Frida Dir. Julie Taymor. Salma Hayek stars in an extraordinary portrait of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. DVD

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Dir. John Avnet, based on a novel by Fannie Flagg. DVD

Gandhi Dir. Richard Attenborough. Indian biographical epic stars Ben Kingsley. DVD

Garden State Dir. Zach Braff. Aspiring actor returns to his hometown and the inevitable conflicts with his father. DVD

The General Dir. John Boorman. Based on the life of a Dublin working class criminal who evaded police capture for years.

Gerry Dir. Gus Van Sant. Matt Damon & Casey Affleck star in a minimalist homage to dramatist Samuel Beckett set in the desert. DVD

Get Real Dir. Simon Shore. Endearing British teenage “coming out” drama.

Ghost World Dir. Terry Zwigoff. A well observed study of alienation based on the comic book by Daniel Clowes. DVD

The Gift Dir. Sam Raimi. Cate Blanchett gives a powerful performance as a small town psychic. Written by Billy Bob Thornton. DVD

Girl With a Pearl Earring Dir. Peter Webber. Coling Firth and Scarlett Johansson star in fine adaptation of the novel about the 17^th century Dutch painter Vermeer. DVD

Global Heresy Dir. Sidney J. Furie. Lacking the funds to maintain their aristocratic lifestyle an elderly couple rent their castle to a famous rock band. Comedy starring Joan Plowright , Peter O’Toole & Alicia Silverstone. DVD

Gods and Monsters Dir. Bill Condon. Ian McKellen stars in an exceptional character study of a filmmaker alone at the end of his life. DVD

Good Night and Good Luck Dir. George Clooney. Shot in B&W deals, with victory of journalist Ed Murrow against the anti-communist witch hunt led by Senator Joe McCarthy. Great soundtrack. DVD

Good Will Hunting Dir. Gus Van Sant. Stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck & Robin Williams.

A Good Woman Dir. Mike Barker. Delightful drama based on Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windemere’s Fan, stars Helen Hunt. DVD

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 Great Gatsby Dir. Jack Clayton, stars Robert Redford, Mia Farrow in adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel. DVD

Greenfingers Dir. Joel Hershman. Delightful film about the redemptive power of gardening for a group of British prisoners. DVD

Gregory's Girl Dir. Bill Forsyth. Bright winning comedy of teenage love.

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Dir. Dito Montiel. A successful writer returns to his hometown after 15 years and has to deal with his demons. Stars Robert Downey Jr. 2006. DVD

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. DVD

Happy Hour Dir. Mike Bencivenga, stars Anthony LaPaglia. DVD

The Harder They Come Dir. Perry Henzell, 1972. Jimmy Cliff stars in this long unavailable cult Jamaican reggae crime caper.

Harlan County War Dir. Tony Bill. Holly Hunter stars in mining drama.

Havoc Dir. Barbara Kopple. Gritty and erotic thriller about LA teens with a taste for the forbidden. DVD

Hearts in Atlantis Dir. Scott Hicks. Anthony Hopkins stars in adaptation by William Goldman of two Stephen King stories – but not the one with this title. DVD

Heavy Dir. James Mangold. Sad small town drama stars Liv Tyler.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Dir. John Cameron Mitchell. Hedwig used to be Hansel before a botched backstreet sex changed not quite everything. The Angry Inch is the band named after her lesser member. DVD

Her Majesty Mrs Brown Dir. John Madden. Judy Dench and Billy Connolly star in much lauded royal Victorian drama. DVD

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.

A Home at the End of the World Dir. Michael Mayer. Based on the novel by Michael Cunningham, stars Colin Farrell, Robin Wright Penn & Dallas Roberts. DVD

Hotel Rwanda Dir. Terry George. Based on the true story of one man’s courageous attempts to help save his countrymen during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. DVD

The Hours Dir. Dtepehn Daldry. Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore & Meryl Streep star in a moving adaptation of Michael Cuningham’s novel (itself inspired by Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs Dalloway”). DVD

The House of Sand and Fog Dir. Vadim Perelman. Ben Kingsley stars in this grim drama of cultural difference. DVD

The House of Spirits Dir. Bille August. Adaptation of the novel by Isabelle Allende.

Housekeeping Dir. Bill Forsyth. Wonderfully eccentric tale of two orphaned teenage girls and their strange aunt.

Hush-a-Bye Baby Dir. Margo Harkin. Deals with the controversial topic of unwanted pregnancy and features Sinead O'Connor.

I Capture the Castle Dir. Tim Fywell. Based on the novel by Dodie Smith, this is an engaging tale about an eccentric family living in a dilapidated Suffolk castle. DVD

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”.

I Went Down Dir. Paddy Breathnach. Irish comedy of dis-Organised crime. DVD

Imagining Argentina Dir. Christopher Hampton. Emma Thompson stars in moving account of the years of political oppression in Argentina. DVD

Immortal Beloved Dir. Bernard Rose. Gary Oldman as Beethoven?

Impromptu Dir. James Lapine. Judy Davis stars as flamboyant French novelist Georges Sand.

Insomnia Dir. Christopher Nolan. Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, Robin Williams and Martin Donovan star in a multi-layered thriller set in Alaska. DVD

In the Bedroom Dir. Todd Field. Sissy Spacek stars in an absorbing drama about how grief over the loss of their son affects a long time married couple and the people around them. DVD

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. DVD

The Insider Dir. Michael Mann. Stars Russell Crowe and Al Pacino in gutsy drama about a whistle blower in the tobacco industry.

Intimacy Dir. Patrice Chéreau. English language European art movie starring Kerry Fox, based on stories by Hanif Kureishi. Rated R. DVD

Iris Dir. Richard Eyre. Moving biography of Iris Murdoch starring Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent. DVD

Jane Eyre Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Stars William Hurt & Charlotte Gainsborough. 1996.

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.

Julius Caesar Dir. Uli Edel. Richard Harris and Christopher Walken star in this portrait of the Roman emperor. DVD

Kids Dir. Larry Clark. Confronting cinema verité look at contemporary teenage sexuality. Rated R.

Kill Bill Vol 1 Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Uma Therman stars in Tarantino’s dizzying melting pot of pop culture influences. DVD

Kill Bill Vol 2 Dir. Quentin Tarantino. The fun continues…DVD

Kill Me Later Dir. Dana Lustig. Selma Blair stars as a suicidal young woman taken hostage by a bungling bank robber – a good black comedy. DVD

The King Dir. James Marsh. Controversial and provocative thriller starring Gael Garcia Bernal. DVD

Kinsey Dir. Bill Condon. Liam Neeson stars as the controversial Alfred Kinsey whose study of sexual behaviour was sensational in its time. DVD

Kiss of the Spider Woman Dir. Hector Babenco, Brazil. William Hurt & Raul Julia star in adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel. Made in English.

Koyaanisqatsi Dir. Godfrey Reggio, mind-blowing cult film, with music by Philip Glass. DVD

Ladies in Lavender Dir. Charles Dance. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith star in classic period drama as sisters whose lives are seriously affected by the arrival of a young houseguest. DVD

Lady Chatterley's Lover Dir. Just Jaeckin. Based on D.H. Lawrence’s erotic novel.

The Last of the High Kings Dir. David Keating. Gabriel Byrne stars.

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. DVD

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. Made in the US.

Leaving Las Vegas Dir. Mike Figgis, stars Nicolas Cage. Rated R

Left Luggage Dir. Jeroen Krabbe. Isabella Rossellini stars in an emotional drama dealing with the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust. DVD

The Libertine Dir. Laurence Dunmore. Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton & John Malkovich star in 17^th century drama of famously debauched nobleman/poet. DVD

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Dir. Stephen Hopkins. Geoffry Rush stars in biopic of the famous comic actor. DVD

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!

The Limey Dir. Steven Soderberg. Terence Stamp is mesmerising as an ex-con searching for the man who murdered his daughter. DVD

Little Voice Dir. Mark Herman. Jane Horrocks, Michael Caine & Brenda Blethyn are all sensational in story of attempt to exploit a reclusive girl with the uncanny ability to sing like Judy Garland.

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.

Lonely Hearts Dir. Todd Robinson. The tale of a pair of notorious serial killers from the 1940s. Stars John Travolta, James Gandolfini & Salma Haytek. DVD

Looking for Richard Dir. Al Pacino. Fascinating semi-documentary about Pacino’s staging of the Shakespearean play.

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.

Lovely and Amazing Dir. Nicole Holofcener. Catherine Keener, Brenda Blethyn & Emily Mortimer star in a moving portrait of a family of women. DVD

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.

The Magdalene Sisters Dir. Peter Mullan. Based on a true story of a Catholic home for “wayward girls”. DVD

Mansfield Park Dir. Patricia Rozema 1999. A fresh and highly successful interpretation of Jane Austen, starring Frances O’Connor as Fanny Price. DVD

The Man Who Cried Dir. Sally Potter. Strange operatic drama stars Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, Christina Ricci & John Turturro. DVD

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Reworking of the gothic tale.

Me & You & Everyone We Know Dir. Miranda July, 2005. A lonely shoe salesman and eccentric performance artist struggle to connect in this unusual take on contemporary life. DVD

Me Without You Dir. Sandra Goldbacher. Portrait of a female friendship spanning three decades. DVD

The Member of the Wedding Dir. Fielder Cook. Based on the novel and play of life in the Deep South by Carson McCullers

Memoirs of a Geisha Dir. Rob Marshall. Based on the novel by Arthur Golden. Stars Gong Li. DVD

The Mill on the Floss Dir. Graham Theakston. Adaptation of the novel by George Eliot.

Million Dollar Baby Dir. Clint Eastwood. Hilary Swank , Eastwood and Morgan Freeman star in multi award winning drama. DVD

Les Miserables Dir. Billie August. Robust but non-musical version of Hugo's classic stars Uma Thurmin and Leam Neeson.

Michael Collins Dir. Neil Jordan. Liam Neeson stars as the charismatic Irish rebel leader.

The Mission Dir. Roland Joffe. Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons in 18th century drama of the Jesuits in Brazil. DVD

Moll Flanders Dir. Pen Densham. Morgan Freeman & Stockard Channing star in this version of the 18th century novel by Daniel Defoe

Monster’s Ball Dir. Mark Forster. Billy Bob Thornton & Halle Berry star in challenging drama that tackles very big issues. Rated R. DVD

The Mother Dir. Roger Michell. Scripted by Hanif Kureishi, this is an absorbing, explicit and confronting story of an older woman’s sexuality. DVD

Mrs Dalloway Dir. Marlene Gorris. Adaptation of the novel by Virginia Woolf, starring Vanessa Redgrave. DVD

Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont Dir. Dan Ireland. All but abandoned by her family an elderly woman (Joan Plowright) strikes up a curious friendship with a young man. DVD

Munich Dir. Steven Spielberg. Based on the real terrorist events of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. DVD

My House in Umbria Dir. Richard Loncraine. Maggie Smith stars in an enchanting tale set in Italy. DVD

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.

Mysterious Skin Dir. Gregg Araki. Powerful film about two boys, one who can’t remember the events that have shaped his life and the other cannot forget. Rated R. DVD

Mystic River Dir. Clint Eastwood. The lives of 3 boyhood friends intersect years later. Stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon. DVD

Mystics Dir. David Blair. Irish comdy about pranksters, gangsters and a jack Russell. DVD

The Naked Lunch Dir. David Cronenberg, stars Peter Weller, Roy Scheider, Judy Davis in extraordinary adaptation of William Burrough's novel. DVD

The Name of the Rose Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud. Sean Connery stars in great adaptation of the Umberto Eco novel set in medieval monastery. DVD

Nicholas Nickleby Dir. Douglas McGrath. Adaptation of the Dickens novel. DVD

Nil By Mouth Dir. Gary Oldman. First time director he also scripted this gritty portrait of a dysfunctional South London family. Rated R.

Nixon Dir. Oliver Stone. Anthony Hopkins stars in Stone’s second major political/biographical piece

Nowhere Dir. Gregg Araki. A kind of surreal American Graffiti. Rated R. DVD

Ocean’s Elevn Dir. Steven Soderbergh. Star-studded remake of the 50s “Ratpack” heist movie. DVD

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. DVD

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.

The One and Only Dir. Simon Cellan Jones. Justine Wadell and Richard Roxburgh star in adaptation of the popular Danish comedy by Suzanne Bier. DVD

One Night at McCool’s Dir. Harald Zwart. Matt Dillon and Liv Tyler star in a smart take on an old story. DVD

Ordinary People Dir. Robert Redford. Stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore and Timothy Hutton. DVD

Orlando Dir. Sally Potter. Striking adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel. Tilda Swinton stars. DVD

The Others Dir. Alejandro Amenabar. The hot new Spanish director’s first English language film – a ghost story starring Nicole Kidman. DVD

Owning Mahowny Dir. Richard Kwietniowski. Portrait of a mild mannered banker with a truly magnificent gambling obsession. DVD

Palindromes Dir. Todd Solondz. A fable of innocence, a journey of self exploration. DVD

The Passion of the Christ Dir. Mel Gibson. Overtly bloody account of the life and death of Jesus Christ. DVD

Persuasion Dir Roger Michel. Amanda Root stars in this superb adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. DVD

Pirates of the Caribbean: the curse of the black pearl Dir. Gore Verbinski. Johnny Depp & Geoffrey Rush star in a swashbuckling extravaganza. DVD

Pollock Dir. Ed Harris. Harris and Marcia Gay Harden are superb in this biography of the brilliant but self destructive artist Jackson Pollock. DVD

Possession Dir. Neil La Bute. Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart star in adaptation of A.S. Byatt's novel. DVD

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

Pride and Prejudice Dir. Joe Wright. 2006 version starring Kiera Knightly. DVD

Pulp Fiction Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Pulp along with John Travolta. Rated R. DVD

Purely Belter Dir. Mark Herman. Another working class tragicomedy from the director of “Brassed Off”. DVD

Quills Dir. Philip Kaufman. Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet star in biopic of the mad Marquis De Sade. DVD

Raising Victor Vargas Dir. Peter Sollett. 16 year old Victor’s main struggle in life is with his Dominican grandmother who is convinced (quite rightly) that he is importing vice into the family. A delight. DVD

Rat Dir. Steve Barron. Pete Postlethwaite and Imelda Staunton star in quirky Irish rodent comedy. DVD

Ray! Dir. Taylor Hackford. Jamie Foxx stars as blind musician Ray Charles. DVD

Real Women Have Curves Dir. Patricia Cardoso. An affirmative Latino take on body image and the pressures women feel. DVD

Reality Bites Dir. Ben Stiller. Fresh comedy about life and love for the post-Baby Boomer generation.

Red Dust Dir. Tom Hooper. Hilary Swank stars in a thriller set during South Africa’s Truth & Reconciliation hearings and its struggle to heal the wounds of apartheid. DVD

Requiem for a Dream Dir. Darren Aronofsky. Follows the descent into hell that is drug addiction. Rated R DVD

Reservoir Dogs Dir. Quentin Tarantino, a violent thriller & cinematic homage to Scorsese & Kubrick. Rated R DVD

A Room for Romeo Brass Dir. Shane Meadows. A small observational picture about boyhood, manhood & masculinity but with a deceptively large impact.

Rosencrantz and Guildernstern are Dead Dir. Tom Stoppard, film version of his amusing 1967 play. DVD

Run of the Country Dir. Peter Yates. Albert Finney stars as a widowed Irish cop having trouble with his University age son.

Safe Dir. Todd Haynes. Deals with issues of toxic chemicals affecting the everyday lives of affluent US citizens. Stars Julianne Moore. DVD

The Safety of Objects Dir. Rose Troche. Glenn Close stars in this highly acclaimed film about people and their possessions. DVD

A Scanner Darkly Dir.Richard Linklater, 2006. Bold mix of animation and live action, based on the futuristic novel by Philip K Dick. DVD

Scenes of a Sexual Nature Dir. Ed Blum. British comic drama about love and lust, stars Ewan McGregor. 2006. DVD

Schindler’s List Dir. Steven Spielberg. Academy Award Winning adaptation of Thomas Keneally story

Series 7 Dir. Daniel Minchan. Send up of the reality TV phenomenon. DVD

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.

Sexy Beast Dir. Jonathan Glazer. Retired British gangster, living the good life in Spain, is monstered into one last job. Stars Ben Kingsley. DVD

Shadow of the Vampire Dir. E. Elilas Merhige. The story of filming Murnau’s silent vampire film Nosferatu stars John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. DVD

Shadowlands Dir. Richard Attenborough. New version of the C.S. Lewis biopic stars Anthony Hopkins & Debra Winger. DVD

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.

The Shipping News Dir. Lasse Hallstrom. Sympathetic adaptation of E. Annie Proulx’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel. DVD

Shortbus Dir. John Cameron Mitchell, 2006. Explores the lives of several emotionally challenged individuals as the navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex. Rated R DVD

Sin City Dir. Robert Rodriguez, 2005. Film noir tribute written by graphic novelist Frank Miller. DVD

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.

Snatch Dir. Guy Ritchie, stars Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones and Benicio Del Toro.

Snow Falling on Cedars Dir. Scott Hicks. Dazzling adaptation of the bestselling novel by David Guterson.

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.

Someone Else’s America Dir. Goran Paskaljevic. A Spanish immigrant moves his blind mother to NY in the hopes of pursuing the American Dream.

Sometimes in April Dir. Raoul Peck. Set in Rwanda during the bloody conflict of 1994. DVD

Songcatcher Dir. Maggie Greenwald. Beautifully rendered tale of a female musicologist collecting folk songs in the Apalachian mountains in the early 20^th century. Stars Janet McTeer.

Sordid Lives Dir. Del Shores. Olivia Newton-John & Beau Bridges feature in aptly titled bomb. DVD

The Spanish Prisoner Dir. David Mamet. Ice cold but intriguingly serpentine plot.

Spanking the Monkey Dir. David O. Russell. An astonishing debut feature.

Speaking of Sex Dir. John McNaughton. Sex farce starring Billy Murray and Lara Flynn Boyle. DVD

Speaking Parts Dir. Atom Egoyan. Perceptive look at how technology has invaded modern life.

The Station Agent Dir. Tom McCarthy. Refreshingly original film about 3 lonely people who become friends. DVD

The Story of a Bad Boy Dir. Tom Donaghy. A delightful coming of age and coming out comedy.

Storytelling Dir. Todd Solondz. Another chilling foray into the darker reaches of American suburbia. DVD

Stranger Than Fiction Dir. Marc Foster, 2006. Will Ferrell stars in wacky fantasy about writing. DVD

Sunshine Dir. Istvan Szabo. Epic tale of a Jewish family spanning three generations, with Ralph Fiennes playing three different roles.

The Sweet Hereafter Dir. Atom Egoyan. Profoundly moving eliptical tale about the loss of children. DVD

Swept From the Sea Dir. Beeban Kidron. Based on the Joseph Conrad story about a Cornish servant girl.

Swoon Dir. Tom Kalin. Infamous gay murder case. Rated R

Sylvia Dir. Christine Jeffs. Gwyneth Paltrow stars in life of the poet Sylvia Plath. DVD

The Tailor of Panama Dir. John Boorman. Pierce Brosnan & Geoffrey Rush star in John le Carré’s own adaptation of his novel. DVD

The Talented Mr Ripley Dir. Anthony Minghella. Good adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The Tango Lesson Dir. Sally Potter. Unusual personal film about dance and the desire to dance. DVD

Teknolust Dir. Lynn Hershmann Leeson. Tilda Swinton stars in a bizarre futurist take on sex. DVD

The Terminal Dir. Steven Spielberg. Tom Hanks stars as an east European immigrant stranded at JFK airport.

DVD

The Thin Red Line Dir. Terrence Malick. Powerful remake of James Jones’ novel about the bloody attack of Guadelcanal during WWII.

Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Dir. Jill Sprecher. Intrriguing film that weaves together a number of seemingly disconnected stories all involving people who are unfulfilled. DVD

Thirteen Days Dir. Roger Donaldson. Dramatisation of the U.S. government’s “Cuban Missile Crisis” of 1962. DVD

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Dir. Tommy Lee Jones. A modern western with intelligence and heart. DVD

3000 Miles to Graceland Dir. Demian Lichtenstein. A gang of Elvis impersonators pulls off a heist in Las Vegas. DVD

Thumbsucker Dir. Mike Mills. Quirky coming of age tale about a teenager who still sucks his thumb. DVD

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.

Traffic Dir. Steven Soderbergh, stars Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Benicio Del Toro in drug traffic drama. DVD

Training Day Dir. Antoine Fuqua. Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning performance as a very bent cop. Rated R DVD

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.

Transamerica Dir. Duncan Tucker. Felicity Huffman gives a great performance as a transsexual. DVD

The Trial Dir. David Jones. Kyle Maclachlan and Anthony Hopkins star in a Harold Pinter adaptation of the Kafka novel.

The Truce Dir. Francesco Rosi. John Turturro & Rade Serbedzija star in Primo Levi’s moving memoir of Auschwitz. DVD

True Romance Dir. Tony Scott. Quentin Tarantino script. Rated R.

Twentyfourseven Dir. Shane Meadows. Bob Hoskins stars as a likeable boxing trainer of local layabouts.

21 Grams Dir. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Arresting drama told in non-linear fragmented fashion. Stars Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. DVD

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.

Under the Skin Dir. Carine Adler. Complex and compelling drama about the twists and turns of an unusual mother/daughter relationship. Rated R.

United 93 Dir. Paul Greengrass. A harrowing real time account of United Flight 93, on of the planes hijacked on Sept 11, 2001. DVD

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.

Vatel Dir. Roland Joffé. Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth star in a sumptuously filmed tale of 17^th century French court intrigue. DVD

Velvet Goldmine Dir. Todd Haynes. Opulent tribute to 70s glam rock is a triumph of style and excess.

Very Annie-Mary Dir. Sara Sugarman. Rachel Griffiths stars in this winning Welsh parable about female emancipation and small town claustrophobia. DVD

Wag the Dog Dir. Barry Levinson. Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman star in an astonishingly familiar tale of political spin-doctoring.

Wah-Wah Dir. Richard E. Grant, 2005. Autobiographical story of Grant’s childhood growing up in Swaziland during the last days of British rule. DVD

Waking Life Dir. Richard Linklater. Striking visual style combining animation and live action video to depict a young man’s stream of consciousness. DVD

Waking Ned Devine Dir. Kirk Jones. Engaging Irish comedy about life, death and other lotteries.

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.

Way Down Town Dir. Gary Burns. Canadian comic drama about a group of co-workers competing for how long they can survive in the fully enclosed downtown of world of apartments, offices and shops without ever going outside. DVD

Welcome to the Dollhouse Dir. Todd Solondz. The pain of puberty has never been realised so unflinchingly as in this satire.

What’s Cooking? Dir. Gurinder Chadha. Multicultural drama built around the Thanksgiving Day feast. DVD

When Brendan Met Trudy Dir. Kierion J Walsh, written by Roddy Doyle. Irish romantic comedy. DVD

When Night is Falling Dir. Patricia Rozema. Multi-layered exploration of female desire and sensuality. Rated R.

When Will I Be Loved Dir. James Toback. Stars Neve Campbell as a totally uninhibited femme fatale. DVD

Where the Truth Lies Dir. Atom Egoyan. Kevin Bacon & Colin Firth star in classy 50s noir thriller. DVD

Wilde Dir. Brian Gilbert. Stephen Fry is utterly compelling as Oscar Wilde.

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. DVD

The Woodlanders Dir. Phil Agland. Based on the novel by Thomas Hardy.

The Woodsman Dir. Nicole Kassell. Kevin Bacon gives a sensational performance as an ex-convict trying to re-establish his life. DVD

Wuthering Heights Dir. Peter Kosminsky, stars Juliet Binoche.

Yes Dir. Sally Potter. Joan Allen and Sam Neill star as a high powered couple trapped in a loveless marriage. DVD

Young Adam Dir. David Mackenzie. Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton Star in a moody sensual thriller. DVD

 

The UNUSUAL....

From ANIMATION To The AVANT-GARDE

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Warhol Classics: Lonesome Cowboys Dir. Paul Morrissey. Rated R

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.

The Bruce Petty Collection A unique collection of films by Academy Award winning Oz cartoonist Bruce Petty.

Cremaster 3: The Order Dir. Mathew Barney. Fusion of art, performance art and film. DVD

Fritz the Cat Dir. Ralph Bashki. Cult classic animation, rated R.

Gay Classics: Un Chant D'Amour, Looking for Langston, Flames of Passion Dirs. Jean Genet, Isaac Julien, Richard Kwietniowski. Rated R.

Harvie Krumpet Dir. Adam Elliot’s 2004 Academy Award winning animation. DVD

Latin Boys Go to Hell Dir. Ela Troyano. Steamy gay sex comedy, rated R.

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.

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello Dir. Anthony Lucas. Highly inventive Aust. Award winning Animation. DVD

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.

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.

Queer as Folk series one Cult UK Channel 4 gay television drama. (rents in 2 parts) DVD

Queer as Folke series two. DVD

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.

Wayward Girls & Wicked Women (Vols 2& 3 only) Compilations which highlight the outstanding work of women animators from around the world.

 

THE BEST OF BRITISH T.V.

 

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4.50 From Paddington BBC series stars Joan Hickson

Black Books Series 3 Dylan Moran stars in very amusing series with little to do with bookselling. DVD

The Buccaneers Dir. Philip Saville. Based on the book by Edith Wharton.

Cadfael Series 1 ( contains 4 titles - The Leper of St. Giles - One Corpse Too Many - Sanctuary Sparrow - Monk’s Hood ) DVD

Cadfael – The Virgin in the Ice – St. Peter’s Fair – The Devil’s Novice (these 3 rented separately) Dir. Graham Theakston for Central Independent TV. Derek Jacobi stars in these great adaptations of the Ellis Peters medieval crime stories.

The Camomile Lawn Dir. Peter Hall. Channel 4 adaptation of Mary Wesley novel, stars Felicity Kendall & Paul Eddington.

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.

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.

Emma BBC dramatisation of the Jane Austen novel. DVD

The Final Cut Completes the story of compelling political intrigue started in “The House of Cards” & “To Play the King”.

Great Expectations (rents in 2 parts) Adaptation of the book by Charles Dickens.

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. DVD

Jane Eyre BBC 1983 adaptation starring Timothy Dalton. DVD

Jeeves & Wooster (1st series), 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.

The Mahabharata (rents in 3 parts) Peter Brook's epic theatrical performance based on Indian legend.

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.

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.

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 Ehle. DVD

The Prisoner (In 5 Volumes) The entire 60s cult sci-fi series, starring Patrick McGoohan. DVD

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

Tales of the City Dir. Alistair Reid. Brilliant adaptation of Armistead Maupin's story set in '70s San Francisco.

Further Tales of the City the final part of the Maupin trilogy. DVD

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Dir. Mike Barker. BBC adaptation of the novel by Anne Bronte.

Tipping the Velvet Dir. Andrew Davies. Adaptation of the acclaimed and sexually provacative novel by Sarah Waters set in England in the 1890s. DVD

To Play the King Complete dramatisation of Michael Dobb’s novel, sequel to “House of Cards”

A Very British Coup A brilliant drama about an attempt to overthrow an elected British government in the not-too- distant future.

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.

 

Shakespeare &

FILMED PLAYS

 

BBC Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra DVD

BBC Shakespeare: Hamlet Dir. Rodney Bennet, 1980. DVD

BBC Shakespeare: Julius Caesar DVD

BBC Shakespeare: King Lear Dir. Jonathan Miller

BBC Shakespeare: Macbeth Dir. Jack Gold

BBC Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice Dir. Jack Gold. DVD

BBC Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Dir. Elijah Moshinsky, 1981. DVD

BBC Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing DVD

BBC Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet Dir. Alvin Rakoff

BBC Shakespeare: The Tempest Dir. John Gorrie

BBC Shakespeare: Twelfth Night DVD

A Doll’s House Dir. Patrick Garland, 1974. Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins star in Ibsen’s play.

Hamlet Dir. Michael Almereyda. Transposed to modern day New York, starring Ethan Hawke.DVD

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. Laurence Olivier, 1948. Winner of 5 Academy Awards.

Henry V Dir. and starring Kenneth Branagh, 1989. DVD

Julius Caesar Dir. Joseph Mankiewicz, with Marlon Brando and John Gielgud, 1953.

King Lear Dir. Michael Elliot. 1983 Granada TV version stars Laurence Olivier, Diana Rigg, Leo McKern.

Macbeth Dir. Geoffrey Wright, Aust. 2006. Transplants the play to current day Melbourne gangland. DVD

Macbeth Dir. Orson Welles, 1948. Made in B&W.

Macbeth Dir. Roman Polanski. Famous 1971 version, starring Jon Finch. DVD

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 19^th Century Italy. DVD

A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Lindsay Kemp company performing Shakespeare's classic.

Miss Julie Dir. Mike Figgis. This version of Strindberg’s play about attraction between the classes stars Saffron Burrows and Peter Mullan.

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. Trevor Nunn. RSC version starring Ian McKellen.

Othello Dir. Oliver Parker. Accessible new version stars Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh and Irène Jacob.

Othello Dir. Orson Welles, 1952. DVD

The Quare Fellow Dir. Arthur Dreifuss (1962). Adaptation of Brendan Behan's play about capital punishment.

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.