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Compartment No. 6
In the tradition of train films, which adds huit clos to the direction and serendipity of the road trip genre, Russian train films form class apart: claustrophobic quarters shared with a medley of imposed companions within; monotonous, unwelcoming taiga without; the tedious stasis of the long journey unalleviated by surly staff and bad food. Shooting…
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In the Fade
Akin brings us an important film giving focus to the impact of xenophobia rather than the much-charted rise of extremist views in western countries, in this case Germany. In the Fade has three distinct parts, first, a terrorist attack and the effect on a woman, Katja (Kruger); the second charts the woman’s pursuit of justice…
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Frantz
A change of tone again from prolific director Ozon, (Potiche, 8 Women, Swimming Pool) this time a romantic mystery with a plot that twists and turns like a slinky. French veteran, Adrien, journeys to a small German village a year after the end of World War I, to visit the grave of his friend Frantz…
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Mustang
In a remote Turkish village five teenage sisters react to the growing constraints placed upon them by their guardians. Villagers gossip, marriages are arranged and the sisters’ voices remain unheard. Poignant examination of the place of young women in rural Turkish society, the strength of sisterly love and what it takes to rebel. Oscar nomination,…
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Black Cat White Cat
In this delightful comic fairy tale from the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Emir Kusturica, director of “Underground” and “Arizona Dream”, serves up a mix of farce, romance and crime. As main character Matko Destanov, small smuggler and profiteer, likes to say: “Brother, if you can’t solve a problem with money… solve it with a lot…
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Barbara
This tense story of love and subterfuge set in the world of The Lives of Others was a huge success in Germany and was selected as the German entry to the Oscars. Barbara is working at a prestigious university hospital in 1980 East Berlin, hoping to join her boyfriend in West Germany. Having applied for…