Category: Black & White
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PSYCHO
“Psycho,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1960, remains a seminal thriller. The film follows Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh), a secretary who embezzles money from her employer and decides to flee town. She ends up at the secluded Bates Motel, managed by the awkward yet seemingly harmless Norman Bates (played by Anthony…
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THE THIRD MAN
“The Third Man” is a classic noir film set in post-World War II Vienna. It was directed by Carol Reed and released in 1949. The story revolves around Holly Martins (played by Joseph Cotten), an American novelist who arrives in Vienna to meet his old friend Harry Lime (played by Orson Welles), only to discover…
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UN CHIEN ANDALOU
“Un Chien Andalou” is a surreal and groundbreaking silent short film co-created by director Luis Buñuel and artist Salvador Dalí in 1929. The film is an exploration of dreamlike sequences and irrational imagery, devoid of a linear narrative. In a series of disjointed and symbolic vignettes, the film opens with a shocking and iconic scene:…
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SEVEN SAMURAI
“Seven Samurai” is a classic Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa, released in 1954. Set in 16th-century Japan, the story revolves around a small farming village under constant threat from bandits who pillage their crops after every harvest. Desperate to protect themselves, the villagers seek the help of seven masterless samurai, or ronin, to defend…
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SUNSET BLVD.
“Sunset Blvd.” is a classic film noir released in 1950 and directed by Billy Wilder. The film stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, and Erich von Stroheim as Max Von Mayerling. The story is narrated by Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter who accidentally stumbles upon the decaying mansion of former…
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THE SOFT SKIN
“The Soft Skin” is a 1964 French romantic drama film directed by François Truffaut. The film stars Jean Desailly as Pierre Lachenay, Françoise Dorléac as Nicole, and Nelly Benedetti as Franca. The story revolves around Pierre Lachenay, a successful and married literary scholar who becomes entangled in a passionate affair despite his stable family life.…
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FRANCES HA
“Frances Ha” is a 2012 black-and-white comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, who also stars as the film’s main character. The movie follows the life and personal growth of Frances Halladay, an aspiring dancer living in New York City. The film opens with Frances, a 27-year-old dancer apprentice…
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CUL-DE-SAC
“Cul-de-sac” is a 1966 British psychological thriller directed by Roman Polanski. The film is known for its dark and absurdist humor, as well as its exploration of power dynamics, isolation, and the breakdown of societal norms. It features a small cast, with standout performances by Donald Pleasence and Françoise Dorléac. The story centers on a…
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13 GHOSTS
“13 Ghosts” is a 1960 horror film directed by the renowned William Castle, known for his innovative gimmicks in the horror genre. This film is no exception, as it was presented in “Illusion-O,” a gimmick where the audience could use special glasses to see or avoid seeing the ghosts, depending on their comfort level with…
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A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT
“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” is a 2014 Iranian-American vampire western film written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. It’s a unique and atmospheric take on the vampire genre, unfolding in the fictional Iranian ghost town of Bad City. In the desolate, economically depressed town of Bad City, where oil pumps and rundown…
The Other Cinema 