Sicilia, late ’60s. Two men are killed during a hunting party. The hurried inquiry indicates that it was a killing made for ‘honor’ reasons. Paolo Laurana is a leftist professor not convinced of the official truth and starts investigating by himself. He finds some help from a solicitor, Mr. Rosello. While investigating, he is fascinated by Luisa, the widow of one of the victims. But the reality is too different from what Laurana could imagine. Reality includes not only the mafia and corrupt politicians, but also Church connections. The reality is that there could be only one end for Laurana. It won’t take long. [IMDb.com]Read More »
1960s
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Elio Petri – A ciascuno il suo AKA We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)
1961-1970DramaElio PetriItalyMystery -
Masahiro Shinoda – Shinjû: Ten no Amijima AKA Double Suicide (1969)
1961-1970ArthouseDramaJapanMasahiro ShinodaMany films have drawn from classic Japanese theatrical forms, but none with such shocking cinematic effect as director Masahiro Shinoda’s Double Suicide. In this striking adaptation of a Bunraku puppet play (featuring the music of famed composer Toru Takemitsu), a paper merchant sacrifices family, fortune, and ultimately life for his erotic obsession with a prostitute.Read More »
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Richard Goldstone – No Man Is an Island (1962)
1961-1970DramaRichard GoldstoneUSAWarBrief synopsis
The true story of George Tweed, an American sailor who became the only serviceman on the island of Guam to avoid capture by the Japanese during the early years of World War II.Read More » -
Frantisek Vlácil – Holubice AKA The White Dove (1960)
1951-1960ArthouseCzech RepublicDramaFrantisek VlácilA poetic film about a dove getting lost on its way to Prague getting shot down by a paralyzed boy. An artist who finds the dove becomes friends with the boy. Together they take care of it bringing it back to recovery.Read More »
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Judit Elek – Sziget a szárazföldön AKA The Lady from Constantinople (1969)
1961-1970DramaHungaryJudit ElekAn old lady, living on memories among the cluttered objects of her past, decides to exchange her apartment for a smaller one. She is thus temporarily brought into contact with other people until, resettled, she once again retreats into isolation.
In this gem of a film, Judit Elek, making her feature debut, builds up a character study and a picture of life in Budapest by the simplest of means: observation of small details. Unlike most Hungarian films seen abroad, it is not a political piece but a study of loneliness and human foibles, given truthful and unsentimental life by one of Hungary’s leading stage actresses.
-Review from Bloomsbury Foreign Film Guide, by Ronald Bergan and Robyn KarneyRead More » -
Dimitre Osmanli – Mirno leto AKA A Quiet Summer (1961)
1961-1970ComedyDimitre OsmanliYugoslaviaYugoslavian Cinema under TitoFrom the blu-ray cover:
The summer vacation of Mira and Zare turns into a revolving door of familiar characters – relatives and friends – who uninvited move into their retreat by the lake. The old house in which Zare prepares the ethnographic exhibition is slowly becoming an overcrowded hotel, so neither he can do his job nor Mira can enjoy her painting. Will this young couple succeed in regaining their peace and place back, and getting rid of the demanding guests?Read More » -
Jirí Menzel – Zlocin v santánu aka Crime in the Night Club (1968)
1961-1970CrimeCzech RepublicJirí MenzelMusicalQuote:
The charming singer Clara Regina has many admirers. Even the minister of justice fights for her favour, especially enchanted by Clara’s lullaby. Clara’s successes with men are watched with displeasure by her jealous husband, Ikaro Volante. The minister sends a bouquet and a pearl necklace to the singer. The juggler Piterman steals the pearls but frames her shy assistant Pepícek, who, along with inexperienced defence lawyer Vilém Bojanovský, falls victim to blind justice in an unfair world full of intrigue… The form of this outwardly noncommittal crime musical, featuring the songs of Šlitr and Suchý, is influenced by the dark atmosphere that pervaded society after the Prague Spring efforts at reform were crushed in August 1968: the two convicts, performed by this duo from Prague’s Semafor theatre, can now do nothing but sing.Read More » -
Tomu Uchida – Sake to onna to yari AKA The Master Spearman (1960)
1951-1960ActionDramaJapanTomu UchidaKurando is a retired samurai. Granted a last-second reprieve from the obligation to commit Harakiri, he decides to settle down and marry one of two kabuki actresses who helped him enjoy what he thought would be his final days.Read More »
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Jonas Cornell – Puss & kram AKA Hugs & Kisses (1967)
1961-1970ComedyDramaJonas CornellSwedenNovel writer John is kicked out from home by his girlfriend and moves in with his friend Max. After many entanglements Max’s girlfriend Eva begins to favor John over Max.Read More »