April 30

1900 Novecento (1976) Dir by Bernardo Bertolucci

Description: 

Two Italian boys born on the same day are destined for divergent paths; Olmo is born to peasant parents and will become a passionate socialist, while Alfredo's bourgeois, landowning origins will lead him to ultimately embrace fascism. 

My opinion

At a running time of 327 minutes despite the PAL 4% speed up, this has to be the longest version ever released, a film that still has the power to shock despite its age, thoroughly deserving of its 18 rating.

Released by 20th Century Fox.

Ashes And Diamonds (1958) Dir by Andrzej Wajda 

Description: 

The tragic story of a young Polish Resistance fighter who makes a terrible mistake. He kills the wrong man on the last day of the Second World War. Polish language with subtitles. 

My opinion

The most mainstream in construction of the trilogy dealing with the Polish resistance, shame that the ending is so formulaic but still a very good film.

Released by Arrow Films.

A Better Tomorrow (1986) John Woo

Description: 

Two brothers, one a Hong Kong cop the other a crook become tied together by murder and double cross in the underworld of crime. 

Released by Optimum Releasing.

Black Book (Zwartboek) (2006) Dir Paul Verhoeven 

Description: 

September 1944 and Rachel Stein, a beautiful yet feisty Jewish chanteuse has fled Nazi Germany for the relative safety of the Netherlands. Hoping to be reunited with her family, she and many other refugees are ambushed by Nazis. Everyone, including her family, are killed. 

As sole survivor, Rachel manages to meet up with the Dutch Resistance and turn her into a double agent. She is assigned to seduce the senior officer Munze (Sebastian Koch) in order to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters. However, it soon becomes a dangerous game of double-dealing and betrayal, threatening her true identity and her life.

Released by Tartan Video.

Colour Of The Loyalty (Hak Bak Jin Cheung) (2005) Dir Siu-hung Chung

Description: 

In the tradition of Infernal Affairs, the movie follows "Fat", an orphan and his "Uncle Chai" who is a follower of Brother Dragon, the Big Gangster. 
Award winning: Best Screenplay and Film of Merit in 2006 at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. 

Released by Elephant Video. Originally due for release in March.

Heaven`s Soldiers (Cheon Gun)

Description: 

A military-themed time travel adventure filled with equal parts action and comedy! The story centres on a group of North and South Korean soldiers who find themselves flung back in time only to come face to face with a past war hero who is not all that he has been represented in the story books. 

Released by Elephant Video. Originally due for release in March.


Jean Cocteau Collection 
The Testament of Orpheus (1960)
The Blood of a Poet (1930)
Cocteau Cineaste Documentary

Released by Optimum Releasing.

Le Jour Se Leve (1939) Dir Marcel Carne 

Description: 

A romantic tale of love, jealousy and death which revolves around a murderer awaiting the inevitable arrival of the police. 

Released by Optimum Releasing.

London To Brighton (2006) Dir Paul Williams

Description: 

Gritty and unflinching drama about the lowlifes and criminals that inhabit Londons seedy underworld. A 30-something prostitute trying to flee from her pimp exploits a young girls innocence for her own gain, but ends up becoming her protector. 

Released by Momentum Pictures.

My opinion

Although I havent seen it yet this film has picked up good reviews on the arthouse circuit, just as Red Road (2006) did. Hopefully another sign of a growing quality Brit indie scene.

Quai Des Brumes (Port Of Shadows) (1938) Dir Marcel Carne 

Description: 

An army deserter rescues a girl from a group of criminals but is killed in the process.

Released by Optimum Rreleasing. Originally due for an early April release by Blackhorse Entertainment, no idea how or why there's a sudden change in distributor.


Quai Des Orfevres (1947) Dir Henri-Georges Clouzot

Released by Optimum Rreleasing.

The White Sheik (Lo Sceicco Bianco) (1952) Dir Federico Fellini 

Description:

THE WHITE SHEIK is an early film from acclaimed Italian director Federico Fellini and is the story of a pair of newlyweds whos idyllic honeymoon turns into a nightmare when the bride decides to run away in pursuit of a soap-opera actor. 

Released by Optimum Rreleasing.


Cheers Trev.