Genres:Biography | Drama | History Countries:Germany | Russia | UK Directors:Michael Hoffman Actors:Kerry Condon | John Sessions | Christian Gaul | Paul Giamatti | Maximilian Gärtner | Wolfgang Häntsch | Patrick Kennedy | Nenad Lucic | David Masterson | James McAvoy | Christopher Plummer | Tomas Spencer | Anne-Marie Duff | Helen Mirren
In 1910, acclaimed Russian novelist 'Leo Tolstoy' (qv), in the later stage of his life, works rather than a writer but as the leader of the Tolstoyan Movement, whose basic tenets are brotherly love and world peace through pacifism, and a denouncement of material wealth and physical love. His chief follower is Vladimir Chertkov, who does whatever he requires to advance the cause. Chertkov hires a young man named Valentin Bulgakov to be Tolstoy's personal secretary in carrying out this work. Once ensconced in the life on the estate where much of the work is taking place, Bulgakov quickly learns that many there take from the movement only what he/she wants/believes. Also chief amongst the movement's wants is the deeding of all Tolstoy's writings to the people so that after his death it will become public domain. Tolstoy's wife, the Countess Sofya Andreevna Tolstoy, believes that her husband's writings are rightfully hers after he passes, as she wants and believes she deserves the monetary benefits derived from such. This places a strain between those in the movement, especially Chertov and the Tolstoy's daughter Sasha, and the Countess. Bulgatov acts as the mediator between the parties, he who feels he needs to do what is truly in Tolstoy's heart regardless of what Tolstoy may say or do.
Genres:Biography | Drama Countries:USA Directors:Barry Levinson Actors:George Aloi | Quarles Antoine | David Wilson Barnes | Courtney Benjamin | Jeremy Bobb | Richard 'Rick' Bobier | Kevin Cannon | Peter Conboy | Richard Council | Adam Driver | John Farrer | Robert Feeley | Jay Ferraro | Marty Garcia | David Geister
Dr. Jack Kevorkian (1928 - ) in the 1990s, when he defies Michigan law assisting the suicide of terminally-ill persons. Support comes from his sister, a lab tech, the Hemlock Society president, and a lawyer. The child of survivors of the Armenian genocide interviews applicants: his sister video tapes them. He assembles a device allowing a person to initiate a three-chemical intravenous drip. The local D.A., the governor, and the Legislature respond. In court scenes, Kevorkian is sometimes antic. He's single-minded about giving dying individuals the right to determine how their lives will end. He wants the Supreme Court to rule. He picks a fight he can't win: is it hubris or heroism?
Genres:Biography | Drama | History | Sport Countries:USA Directors:Clint Eastwood Actors:Morgan Freeman | Matt Damon | Tony Kgoroge | Patrick Mofokeng | Matt Stern | Julian Lewis Jones | Adjoa Andoh | Marguerite Wheatley | Leleti Khumalo | Patrick Lyster | Penny Downie | Sibongile Nojila | Bonnie Henna | Shakes Myeko | Louis Minnaar
'Nelson Mandela' (qv)'s release from prison and his ascent to a democratically elected President of South Africa marks a radical change in the country. This change away from apartheid will not be easy for anyone in the country, but Mandela has to figure out how to galvanize the residents of the country together. Because of his love of the game, Mandela places his support behind the Springboks, the national rugby team. South Africa is hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup, that being the only reason the Springboks are even competing in the tournament as its years on the sideline of world rugby events has not made it world ranked. The Springboks were previously considered the team of white South Africa, and as such was denounced by Mandela when he was in prison. But he does whatever he can to make it the team of all South Africa. He needs the support of the Springboks and its captain, 'Francois Pienaar' (qv), to achieve his unrealistic goal of the Springboks winning the World Cup, even against such rugby powerhouses the All-Blacks representing New Zealand. Mandela tries to inspire Pienaar to lead by example, much like Mandela has himself. Beyond Mandela's dream, his racially mixed security team has the added pressure of protecting him at the Springboks' matches while he places himself in potentially unprotectable situations.
Genres:Biography | Comedy | Drama Countries:USA Directors:Tom Shadyac Actors:Robin Williams | Daniel London | Monica Potter | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Bob Gunton | Josef Sommer | Irma P. Hall | Frances Lee McCain | Harve Presnell | Daniella Kuhn | Peter Coyote | James Greene | Michael Jeter | Harold Gould | Bruce Bohne
Un'altra grande prova di attore per Robin Williams nell'ultimo film di Tom Shaydac, nel quale si racconta l'incredibile storia (vera) di Patch Adams, prima studente di medicina, poi paziente ed infine medico in un istituto per malattie mentali, convinto della necessità di dover curare le persone, prima delle malattie. Il film è ispirato alle autentiche vicende del Dr Hunter Patch Adams, fondatore del Gesundheit Institute, nel North Carolina, una clinica specializzata nella cura emotiva e psicologica del paziente, prima che medica. La storia parte dalle esperienze studentesche di Patch. Il preside della facoltà, Walcott, si oppone alle sue idee strampalate, ma l'entusiasmo di Patch contagia comunque altre persone, fra le quali l'infermiera Joletta e i compagni di corso Truman e Carin. Intanto Patch, con il suo atteggiamento divertente ed eccentrico riesce ad aprire un varco nelle paure dei più piccini. Combattendo contro la medicina ufficiale con la convinzione che "una risata è la miglior cura" il giovane rischia la propria carriera, ma riesce, alla fine, ad ottenere appoggi e validi risultati. Arriva anche a fondare l'Istituto che ancora dirige con successo e pubblica, nel 1993, un libro in cui spiega la propria esperienza e le strane ricette che prescrive, a base di travestimenti e palloncini colorati : l'importante è riuscire a stabilire un contatto di simpatia e di fiducia con i piccoli pazienti per poter ottenere positivi risultati clinici. Questa la storia. E pensiamo che non ci poteva essere altro attore in grado di vestire i panni di questo personaggio folle, ma estremamente deciso e motivato nelle proprie scelte di aiutare il prossimo. Download:Matroska
Genres:Biography Countries:UK Directors:Otto Bathurst Actors:Michiel Huisman | Derek Jacobi | Con O'Neill | Christian Wolf-La'Moy | Anne-Marie Duff | Lindsay Duncan | Penelope Wilton
Margot examines the glamorous and turbulent life of Britain’s first international ballet superstar. At the age of 40, Dame Margot Fonteyn (Anne-Marie Duff – The Virgin Queen; Shameless) was seemingly at her creative peak and under mounting pressure to retire gracefully. Her unexpected pairing with young Russian émigré Rudolph Nureyev (Michiel Huisman – The Young Victoria, De Co-assistant) caused a worldwide sensation. Whilst Margot’s marriage to Panamanian diplomat Roberto de Arias (Con O’Neill – Telstar, Criminal Justice) was put under immense strain, her passionate and vibrant relationship with Nureyev created one of the most enduring and celebrated ballet partnerships of all time. This is a timeless drama about love, passion and performance also starring Lindsay Duncan, Derek Jacobi and Penelope Wilton.
Genres:Biography | Drama Countries:UK | USA Directors:Bill Condon Actors:Ian McKellen | Brendan Fraser | Lynn Redgrave | Lolita Davidovich | David Dukes | Kevin J. O'Connor | Mark Kiely | Jack Plotnick | Rosalind Ayres | Jack Betts | Matt McKenzie | Todd Babcock | Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy | Brandon Kleyla | Pamela Salem
Set in 1957, 'James Whale (I)' (qv), the director of _Show Boat (1936)_ (qv), _Invisible Man, The (1933)_ (qv), _Frankenstein (1931)_ (qv), and _Bride of Frankenstein (1935)_ (qv), had long since stepped back from the glamor and glitz of Hollywood. A stroke triggers once buried flashes of memory of his life in Dudley, his film career, and, most influentially, the trenches during the Great War. Haunted and lonely, he recounts many of his experiences to his musclebound gardener, Clay Boone. Despite the divide that exists between them, their friendship develops. Reliant on his sternly disapproving housemaid, Hannah, the flamboyant director whose time has passed sees himself slipping away, unable to stop the decline, and indulges his fantasies by coaxing Boone to model for him.
Genres:Adventure | Biography | Drama Countries:France | UK | USA Directors: Actors:
Alvin Straight is a very old man with a quiet life in a small country town. When his brother gets seriously sick, he decides to put away their differences and visit him after many, many years. So, alone, he begins a long journey through hundreds of miles, just to see again his brother, even if it's the last thing he will ever do... Based on a real story.
Genres:Biography | Drama | History Countries:UK | USA Directors:Peter Glenville Actors:Richard Burton | Peter O'Toole | John Gielgud | Gino Cervi | Paolo Stoppa | Donald Wolfit | David Weston | Martita Hunt | Pamela Brown | Siân Phillips | Felix Aylmer | Percy Herbert | Inigo Jackson | Niall MacGinnis | Christopher Rhodes
As the story opens, King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1189 has entered Canterbury Cathedral to do penance at the tomb of his former friend, Thomas Becket. Bare to the waist, the king kneels to receive a flogging from Saxon monks. He begins to reminisce, recalling at first the carefree, promiscuous adventures with Becket, then his favorite drinking and wenching companion. A violently emotional drama that probes the changing relationship between two young men - between two close friends bound together by similar pride of flesh and spirit who become deadly enemies as they pursue their separate destinies . . . that of king . . . and saint. Download:MatroskaDVDiPod
Genres: Biography | Drama
