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SHORT FILM: LE BALLON ROUGE aka THE RED BALLOON
“Le Ballon Rouge” aka “The Red Balloon” is a whimsical short film from 1956, directed by Albert Lamorisse. Set in the working-class neighborhoods of Paris, especially the steep streets and stairways of Montmartre, the film is told almost entirely without dialogue. It follows the quiet adventure of a young boy and the mysterious red balloon…
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BIRTH
“Birth” is a psychological drama released in 2004, directed by Jonathan Glazer and written by Jean-Claude Carrière and Milo Addica. The film delves into themes of grief, belief, and the disconcerting idea of reincarnation. Set within an elegant upper-class Manhattan backdrop, it follows Anna (played by Nicole Kidman), a widow who remains emotionally affected by…
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LE CHARME DISCRET DE LA BOURGEOISIE aka THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE
“The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” is a 1972 surreal satirical comedy directed by Luis Buñuel in which a group of affluent friends repeatedly attempt—and continually fail—to sit down and enjoy a proper dinner together. Through a series of absurd interruptions, dreams within dreams, and bizarre coincidences, Luis Buñuel constructs a sharp critique of upper-middle-class…
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THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (74)
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is a groundbreaking horror film released in 1974 and directed by Tobe Hooper. The story follows a group of young friends traveling through rural Texas who become the targets of a family of cannibalistic killers. Renowned for its relentless tension and raw, documentary-like style, the film delves into themes of violence,…
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JENNY
“Jenny” is a 1969 drama directed by George Bloomfield, starring Marlo Thomas in her on-screen debut alongside Alan Alda. The film follows Jenny, a young woman from a small town who, after finding herself pregnant from a one-night stand, leaves home and moves to New York City. Alone and uncertain of her future, she catches…
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MAÎTRESSE
“Maîtresse” is a 1976 drama directed by Barbet Schroeder. The film stars Gérard Depardieu, Bulle Ogier, André Rouyer, and Roland Bertin. It’s a controversial film that explores an intense, complicated relationship between a working-class man and a professional dominatrix in Paris. Blending raw realism with provocative subject matter, the film examines sexuality, power, love, and…
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SACRED HOUSES: CINE YARA, HAVANA, CUBA
In this edition of the “Sacred Houses Series,” we pay homage to Cine Yara in Havana, Cuba, as we continue to honor notable movie theaters worldwide. The Yara Cinema, also known as Cine Yara, is one of the most famous and historically significant movie theaters in Havana. Located in the Vedado district at the intersection…
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PLANET OF THE APES (68)
“Planet of the Apes” is a 1968 science-fiction classic directed by Franklin J. Schaffner that follows a group of astronauts who crash-land on a mysterious planet in the distant future, only to discover a world where intelligent apes rule, and humans are primitive creatures hunted for sport. The story begins with astronaut George Taylor (played…
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TENEBRAE aka TENEBRE
“Tenebrae” (also known as “Tenebre”) is a 1982 Italian giallo film written and directed by Dario Argento. After exploring pure supernatural horror in “Suspiria” (1977) and “Inferno” (1980), “Tenebrae” marked the filmmaker’s return to the giallo horror subgenre, and many consider it one of his finest works. The title is derived from Latin/Italian, meaning “darkness”…
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PARENTHOOD
“Parenthood” is a 1989 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Ron Howard, who collaborated with screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel to develop the original story. The film draws heavily from the real family and parenting experiences of Howard, Ganz, Mandel, and producer Brian Grazer. The result is a distinctly human portrayal of American family…
