The fiery performance, conducted by Giuseppe Morelli with the Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra, knocks all recent digital efforts into a cocked hat. A few cinematic liberties seem permissible to me and this is surely one of the best films of an opera.
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Drama
Oi fotografoi / The photographers (1998) Nikos Koundouros, Michalis Iatropoulos, Katerina Pavlaki, Manos Vakousis, Adventure, Drama
In a nonaligned country, where a civil conflict is raging, a team of photographers follows a mercenary war lord, whose men wreak havoc among enemies and innocents alike. The story is a modern version of the tragedy Antigone, in a time when TV and the other media present unrelieved visions of war and bloody mayhem.
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Flame Of Blood / Hono-o no Gotoku (1981) Tai Katô, Bunta Sugawara, Mitsuko Baishô, Tomisaburô Wakayama, Drama, Action
The story is set in Bakumatsu and revolves around the Bunta Sugawara character, a yakuza (of course 🙂 but instead of a modern yakuza/gangster, he’s a gambler/bakuto). After he kills someone and gets wound, is saved by a blind woman (Mitsuko Baishô), who took care of him.
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Secrets of an Actress (1938) William Keighley, Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter, Drama, Romance
A romantic drama film about a love triangle between a stage actress, her financial backer, and his friend.
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Nord / North (1991) Xavier Beauvois, Bulle Ogier, Bernard Verley, Drama
The story of a dysfunctional family in Northern France. Dad is a mean abusive drunk pharmacist, mom is addicted to pills and has incestuous desire for her son, the son is skipping school to fish and daughter is mentally handicapped.
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Flag in the Mist / Kiri no hata (1965) Yôji Yamada, Chieko Baishô, Osamu Takizawa, Michiyo Aratama, Crime, Drama
When her only relative, her elder brother is accused of robbing and murdering an old woman loan-shark, pretty, young Kiriko (Chieko Baisho) travels from her home in Kyushu to Tokyo to get Japan’s top lawyer to defend her brother.
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Suntan (2016) Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Makis Papadimitriou, Elli Tringou, Dimi Hart, Comedy, Drama, Romance
For middle-aged Kostis, life has passed him by. As the newly appointed doctor of a tiny island, Kostis spends a dreary winter alone. By the time summer arrives, though, the island has turned into a thriving, wild vacation spot with nude beaches and crazy parties.
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Podobizna (1948) Jirí Slavícek, Otomar Krejca, Ljuba Skorepová, Vladimír Smeral, Drama, Horror
People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide.
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Palo Alto (2013) Gia Coppola, Emma Roberts, James Franco, Jack Kilmer, Drama
Shy, sensitive April is the class virgin, torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B and an unrequited crush on sweet stoner Teddy. Emily, meanwhile, offers sexual favors to every boy to cross her path – including both Teddy and his best friend Fred, a life wire without filters or boundaries. As one high school party bleeds into the next – and April and Teddy struggle to admit their mutual affection – Fred’s escalating recklessness starts to spiral into chaos.
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OK baytong / Baytong (2003) Nonzee Nimibutr, Phoovarit Phumpuang, Jeeranan Manojam, Attaporn Teemakorn, Drama
On hearing the news of the death of his sister, a Buddhist monk leaves the temple where he has lived since childhood and struggles to adjust to life on the outside as an uncle to a young niece and as a businessman running a hair salon in a small Thai town in a southern province.
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