
‘Spring Symphony” is a story of love, hate and artistic ambitions. Nastassja Kinski and Herbert Gronemeyer star as Clara Wieck and Robert Schumann, star-crossed classical musicians of the nineteenth century trying to overcome the stifling objections of Wieck’s father.
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Burning Secret (1988) Andrew Birkin, David Eberts, Faye Dunaway, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Drama

This symbol-filled story, filmed with sensuous detail and nuance, is set in Austria in the 1920s. While being treated for asthma at a country spa, an American diplomat’s lonely 12-year-old son is befriended and infatuated by a suave, mysterious baron.
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Mr. Music (1950) Richard Haydn, Bing Crosby, Nancy Olson, Charles Coburn, Comedy, Musical, Romance

Paul Merrick, a writer of hit musicals, prefers to lie in the sun or play golf. He does so until he goes broke and asks to borrow a large sum of money, against future earnings, from his producer, Alex Conway.
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Plenilune / Plenilunio (1999) Imanol Uribe, Miguel Ángel Solá, Adriana Ozores, Juan Diego Botto, Drama, Thriller

Romance and murder walk side by side in this psychological drama from Spain. A serial killer has been plying his grisly trade in a small town in Spain, murdering young girls and leaving their bodies in a nearby forest. A police inspector is sent in to investigate – his first case outside tumultuous Basque County in 14 years.
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Pagliacci (1948) Mario Costa, Tito Gobbi, Gina Lollobrigida, Onelia Fineschi, Drama, Musical

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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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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The Real Buddy Holly Story (1985) Richard Spence, Sonny Curtis, Paul McCartney, Larry Holley, Documentary, Music

The complete video biography of rock’n’roll legend Buddy Holly, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. This entertaining and enlightening show is the most definitive biography of Buddy Holly ever assembled, featuring interviews with members of The Crickets and many of Buddy Holly’s family and friends who knew him best. Includes rare performances and Paul McCartney performs several of Buddy Holly’s songs.
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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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