1991-2000

Pachamama is another fine example of Peter Nestler’s extraordinary documentaries. He takes us on an expedition to Ecuador, to the heart of an ancient Indian culture. Although heavily damaged by the Spanish conquerors, many of the old treasures and, more remarkably, many of the old traditions and customs have survived and are still in practice today. It’s a film of quiet beauty and sadness, but of a sadness that is friendly and not bitter; a film about the cultural wealth of a fascinating country. (Ted Roth, -viennale.at)Read More »

Based on the true story of drugs, satanism, and murder in the upper class town of Northport, Long Island in 1984.Read More »

Quote:
Tom Tykwer, the young German director of “Deadly Maria,” has a big streak of Roman Polanski in him. His icy, almost mocking portrait of a repressed woman who explodes out of a state of emotional claustrophobia strongly recalls Mr. Polanski’s 1965 classic, “Repulsion.” With its ominous whispering sound effects that suggest inner demons about to emerge, and flashy cinematography in which the camera circles the characters like a beast about to spring, the movie keeps you aware at all times that the director is fiendishly pulling strings.Read More »

Malèna is the utterly unforgettable story of a boy’s journey into manhood amid the chaos and intolerance of World War II. Renato gets a bicycle for his thirteenth birthday and on the day that Mussolini declares war on the Allies, he discovers sex, dreams and violence through Maddalena (Malèna) Scordia. He follows her around everywhere, watching her every move. In a sleepy Italian village, Malèna, the most beautiful woman in town, becomes the subject of increasingly malicious gossip among the lustful townsmen and their jealous wives. But only her most ardent admirer, young Renato Amoroso, will learn her mysterious untold story.Read More »

A Japanese assassin stranded in Taiwan must take work from a local crime boss to make ends meet when suddenly a woman from his past delivers a son to him.Read More »

Quote:
Shopping takes a look at a subculture unknown outside of the UK. It was banned in the UK, presumably because it might encourage the practice of ram-raiding. It is a very insightful film about a young man’s search for his identity; whether he will continue on a potentially self destructive path and prove himself by ram-raiding, or whether he will brave a different life in a different city with his girlfriend.Read More »

Quote:
Following its initial release, the movie soon became a major cultural touchstone. A lot of Israelis in my age group (say 30-40) who consider themselves sophisticated love “Agfa” dearly. In Dayan, they felt they finally had a Hebrew-speaking Wim Wenders of their very own.Read More »

Quote:
Not a sound, only landscapes, raw sounds… Some births and deaths of bees… Traveling from one to another space, a man looks at them, dreams of them… Sometimes, he remembers his joyful youth. At the end of his travel, he arrives in a colourful market place, but he is alone, isolated in the middle of the organized and cruel society, like the bees.Read More »

Plot Synopsis from IMDB:
In Cleveland, the histrionic and clumsy executive Nelson Hibbert expects to be promoted to president of the Nigel Industries since he is engaged to the owner’s daughter. However, his future father-in-law Mr. Nagel chooses the executive Ken Daly for the position, and Nelson threatens him in front of the board of directors. Later he decides to pay a visit to Mr. Nagel but finds him dead with a knife in his neck. Nelson removes the knife and is covered of blood, becoming hysterical and leaving the office assuming that he is the prime suspect. However, the surveillance cameras disclose the identity of the killer, and while Nelson escapes to Metcaf believing that he is chased by the police, the killer is pursued by the police and tries to eliminate Nelson believing that he is a “super-cop” on his trail.Read More »