• Hans Bertram – Feuertaufe AKA Baptism of Fire (1940)

    1931-1940Amos Vogel: Film as a Subversive ArtDocumentaryGermanyHans BertramWar

    From Amos Vogel’s Film as a Subversive Art:
    Though entirely based on “authentic” newsreel materials, this is a splendidly distorted “record” of the Nazi Blitzkrieg against Poland, designed to terrorize (particularly foreign) viewers into accepting the Nazis’ god-like military superiority. Kracauer’s profound analysis stresses the magic, irrational core of the film, its reliance on graceful over-simplifications, clever amalgams, a pseudo-narration that professes to inform, and insidious comparisons. Particularly frightening are its terrifying maps of encirclement and destruction from above. Strength and decisiveness are constantly stressed; suffering is, at most, cartographic, and death entirely absent.Read More »

  • Aldo Francia – Ya no basta con rezar AKA Enough Praying (1972)

    1971-1980Aldo FranciaChileDrama

    A good social movie of the early 70’s. It shows us the life of a man from Valparaíso, and how his religious beliefs are in conflict with his environment. Finally he discovers catholicism not always are in opposition with social issues. As usual in Aldo Francia’s movies, there are some documental scenes showing us the problems of poverty in his beloved Valparaíso. I think the last scene (where the protagonist sees the policial repression to a social meeting and suddenly gets a rock and throw it to the cops) was shot in a real demonstration. The actings are very natural and good, and Francia portrayed some typical people from the port (as “Cristo’e palo” and “Gitano” Rodríguez). The documental look and cinematography are very good in relation with the movie.Read More »

  • Tod Browning – Mark of the Vampire (1935)

    1931-1940ClassicsHorrorTod BrowningUSA

    Sir Karell Borotyn appears to have been killed by Count Mora, a vampire believed to haunt the local village. Now his daughter Irena is the count’s next target. Enter Professor Zelen, an expert on vampires who’s sent in to prevent her death. At the same time, secrets are revealed surrounding the circumstances of Sir Karell’s death.Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Il giardino dei Finzi Contini AKA The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970)

    1961-1970ArthouseDramaItalyVittorio De Sica

    *** BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – Oscar winner, 1972 ***

    Plot
    The film is set in Ferrara, northern Italy, between 1938-1943, and shows the lives of the Jewish Finzi-Contini family and their friends as they struggle against Mussolini’s fascism and anti-Semitism in wartime Italy. The Finzi-Contini family is one of the leading families in the town. The adult children, Micòl and Alberto, gather friends for tennis at their villa with its lovely grounds, keeping the rest of the world at bay. Into the circle steps Giorgio, a Jew from the middle class who falls in love with Micòl.Read More »

  • Shyam Ramsay & Tulsi Ramsay – Veerana AKA Vengeance of the Vampire (1988)

    1981-1990CultHorrorIndiaShyam RamsayTulsi Ramsay

    After the sudden death of her dad, Sameer, and mom, Preeti, Sahila goes to live with her grandmother and cousin in Bombay. Years later, now fully matured, she returns home to Chandanagar to live with her uncle, Mahendra Pratap, and cousin, Jasmin. This is where she will be exposed to a resurrected evil witch, Nikita, who has manifested herself in the body of Jasmin. Aided by a priest named Baba, she is determined to kill each and everyone of the remainder of the Pratap family members. And there is no known power on Earth that can stop Nikita.Read More »

  • Umberto Lenzi – Un Posto ideale per uccidere AKA Dirty Pictures AKA Oasis of Fear (1971)

    1971-1980CrimeGialloItalyUmberto Lenzi

    Two hippies find themselves on the run from the law and soon end up going undercover in a villa owned by a mysterious woman.Read More »

  • Mario Camerini – Ulisse AKA Ulysses (1954)

    1951-1960EpicFantasyItalyMario Camerini

    In the ancient Greek city of Ithaca, many impatiently await the return of their king Ulysses and his warriors from the Trojan War. Among these, Ulysses’ devoted wife Penelope and his grown son Telemachus. But Ulysses’ return is not eagerly awaited by everyone, especially by his enemies. They openly court Penelope and ask her to give her husband up for dead and re-marry one of the rowdy suitors who have taken up residence in her home since her husband’s departure.Read More »

  • Lloyd Bacon – Wings for the Eagle (1942)

    1941-1950DramaLloyd BaconUSAWar

    Set at a factory that makes aircraft for World War II, Roma and Brad Maple’s marriage begins to show signs of difficulty. Their problems get worse when Brad’s friend Corky, who wants to work at the factory to avoid being drafted, arrives to stay with them and makes a move for Roma.Read More »

  • Aldo Lado – Chi l’ha vista morire? AKA Who Saw Her Die? (1972)

    1971-1980Aldo LadoDramaGialloItaly

    Quote:
    A young girl is brutally murdered somewhere in France. Sometime later, the same thing happens to the daughter of a well-known sculptor. This time the parents (the sculptor and his wife) start investigating, and soon find they are in way over their head. Meanwhile, the body-count keeps rising as the killer now starts butchering all those who find out too much…Read More »

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