1971-1980

  • Mohammad Reza Aslani – Shatranj-e baad AKA The Chess Game of the WInd (1976)

    1971-1980DramaIranMohammad Reza Aslani

    SHATRANJ-E BAAD
    Film Notes

    Shatranj-e Baad might be one of the most emblematic films in the history of Iranian cinema, even though its visibility was limited to a disastrous preview at Tehran International Film Festival in 1976. Due to an artistic conflict between Aslani and the festival curator, the projection was sabotaged, its reels were disrupted and projector malfunctioned. The critics walked out during the screening, as did the jury who pulled the film out of the competition. Instantly deemed elitist, the film was refused by all the distributors. Discouraged, the producer didn’t bother sending the film to the international festivals. Read More »

  • Takashi Tsuboshima – Oniwaban AKA Demon Spies (1974)

    1971-1980ActionHorrorJapanTakashi Tsuboshima

    SYNOPSIS
    In this period action-drama set in 15th century Japan, a band of youngsters have been taken from their families and brought to a secret village, where on the orders of the shogunate they are trained to become elite warriors sworn to protect their masters. As they learn the difficult and demanding ways of battle and espionage, they become the oniwaban, or “demon spies,” whose skills are almost supernatural in strength and power. When it is learned that one of the emperor’s vassals has broken his vows by establishing a private armory on his fiefdom, four of the young “demon spies” are sent in to destroy the weapons and bring the challenger to justice. Demon Spies marked a change of pace for director Tsuboshima Takashi, who was best known for his comedies. (Mark Deming on All Movie Guide)Read More »

  • Abbas Kiarostami – Mossafer AKA The traveler (1974) (HD)

    1971-1980Abbas KiarostamiArthouseDramaIran

    Quote:
    A grade-school-age boy, neglected by his parents, lies, cheats, and steals to accumulate enough money to afford a bus ride to a large city and a ticket to see his favorite soccer team play.Read More »

  • Ingmar Bergman – Trollflöjten AKA The Magic Flute (1975)

    1971-1980FantasyIngmar BergmanPerformanceSweden

    Quote:
    This scintillating screen version of Mozart’s beloved opera shows Bergman’s deep knowledge of music and his gift for expressing it in filmic terms. Casting some of Europe’s finest soloists—among them Josef Köstlinger, Ulrik Cold, and Håkan Hagegård—the director lovingly recreated the baroque theater of the Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm to stage the story of the prince Tamino (Köstlinger) and his zestful sidekick Papageno (Hagegård), who seek to save a beautiful princess (Irma Urrila) from the clutches of evil. A celebration of love, forgiveness, and the brotherhood of man, The Magic Flute is considered by many to be the most exquisite opera film ever made.Read More »

  • Susan Sontag – Bröder Carl (1971)

    1971-1980DramaSusan SontagSweden

    Two women, Karen (theatre director) and Lena, visit an island, a Swedish resort, where Lena’s ex-husband, Martin (choreographer), lives in comparative seclusion with a mentally disturbed ballet dancer named Carl. Carl is brother by guilt rather than blood, for Martin is somehow responsible for his breakdown.Read More »

  • Henry Hathaway – Shoot Out (1971)

    1971-1980Henry HathawayUSAWestern

    Clay Lomax, a bank robber, gets out of jail after an 7 year sentence. He is looking after Sam Foley, the man who betrayed him. Knowing that, Foley hires three men to pay attention of Clay’s steps. The things get complicated when Lomax, waiting to receive some money from his ex-lover, gets only the notice of her death and an 7 year old girl, sometimes very annoying, presumed to be his daughter.Read More »

  • Zbigniew Szymanski – Jesien aka Fall (1976)

    1971-1980AnimationPolandZbigniew Szymanski

    Not to be confused with the Borowczyk short of the same title, Zbigniew Szymanski’s film documents a day in the life of a worker. An exquisitely beautiful fusion of graphic and photographic imagery, similar in style to the great Jerzy Kucia’s films.Read More »

  • Michael Verhoeven – Wer im Glashaus liebt… AKA He Who Loves in a Glass House (1971)

    1971-1980ArthouseCultGermanyMichael Verhoeven

    Michael Verhoeven shot the film on 16mm in the Vienna studio of painter Hundertwasser, for the first time with his wife Senta Berger as an actress.

    Due to “Indecent Exposure” Verhoeven and his main actor were imprisoned for three days. The film was temporarily confiscated for its obscenity.Read More »

  • Jørgen Leth – At danse Bournonville AKA Dancing Bournonville (1979)

    1971-1980DenmarkDocumentaryJørgen LethPerformance

    At danse Bournonville is a portrait of the Bournonville tradition at the Royal Danish ballet that has survived for 150 years on the basis of a few notes and the memories of the dancers and is the basis of the special nature and global reputation the company enjoys. The film was created in continuation of, and drawing on, Leth and Holmberg’s experience in making Peter Martins – en danser.Read More »

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