Tag: Drama
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PERMISSIVE (NSFW)
“Permissive” is a gritty and downbeat British drama from 1970, directed by Lindsay Shonteff and written by Suzanne Mercer, one of the few female screenwriters active in the late 1960s counterculture film scene. Set against the backdrop of London’s early 1970s rock culture, the film offers an unflinching, melancholic look at groupie culture, moral disillusionment,…
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THERE WILL BE BLOOD
“There Will Be Blood” is a 2007 sweeping American epic, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film explores the ruthless rise of capitalism, the rise of faith, and moral decline at the turn of the 20th century. At its center is Daniel Plainview, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis—an ambitious, self-made oil prospector. His insatiable…
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C’MON C’MON
“C’mon C’mon” is a 2021 film written and directed by Mike Mills. It is a tender, introspective drama exploring the fragile connections between adults and children, memory and the future, and listening as an act of love. The story centers on Johnny, a soft-spoken radio journalist portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. He travels across the United…
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LE PROFESSEUR aka LA PRIMA NOTTE DI QUIETE aka INDIAN SUMMER
“Le Professeur” aka “Indian Summer” is a 1972 film directed by Valerio Zurlini. The story follows Daniele Dominici, played by Alain Delon, a disillusioned, gambling-prone poetry professor. He takes a temporary teaching position in the coastal town of Rimini, working as a substitute teacher at a high school for about four months. Daniele is emotionally…
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LÁSKY JEDNÉ PLAVOLÁSKY aka LOVES OF A BLONDE
“Lásky jedné plavovlásky” aka “Loves of a Blonde” is a 1965 Czechoslovak romantic comedy-drama directed by Miloš Forman, co-written with Jaroslav Papoušek and Václav Šašek. The film stars Hana Brejchová, Vladimír Pucholt, Vladimír Menšík, and Míla Myslíková. It is a bittersweet, sharply observed portrait of youthful longing and disillusionment, emblematic of the Czechoslovak New Wave…
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TWENTYNINE PALMS (NSFW)
“Twentynine Palms” is a 2003 psychological drama written and directed by Bruno Dumont, known for his austere, contemplative approach to filmmaking. Set against the stark beauty of the Southern California desert, the film follows an American photographer and his Russian girlfriend as their passionate yet tumultuous relationship spirals into alienation, violence, and despair. With minimal…
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AMERICAN GRAFFITI
“American Graffiti” is a 1973 film directed and co-written by George Lucas, along with Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck. This nostalgic coming-of-age story is set in Modesto, California, in the summer of 1962. It follows a group of teenagers over a single night, filled with cruising, parties, and personal reflection, as they prepare to transition…
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FITZCARRALDO
Werner Herzog’s 1982 film “Fitzcarraldo” tells an epic story of obsession, ambition, and the struggle between man and nature, set in the lush jungles of the Peruvian Amazon at the turn of the 20th century. The narrative follows Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, known as Fitzcarraldo (played by Klaus Kinski), an Irishman residing in South America who…
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THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE
“The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” is a 1976 character-driven neo-noir film directed by John Cassavetes, who is known for his focus on improvisational realism and deep psychological themes. The story follows Cosmo Vitelli (played by Ben Gazzara), the suave yet weary owner of the “Crazy Horse West,” a small, seedy strip club in Los…
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE
“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” is a 1983 war drama directed by Nagisa Ōshima and adapted from Laurens van der Post’s novel “The Seed and the Sower.” The film is recognized for its exploration of cultural conflict, honor, desire, and humanity within the harsh realities of a World War II prisoner-of-war camp. The haunting score was…
The Other Cinema 