This sometimes confusing erotic drama about the incestuous relationship of a mother and daughter is based on the autobiography of Italian theater actress Piera Degli Esposti though it focuses more on her mother Eugenia (Hanna Schygulla).
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Tag Archives: 1980s
Il marchese del grillo / The Marquis of Grillo (1981) Mario Monicelli, Alberto Sordi, Caroline Berg, Andrea Bevilacqua, Comedy, History
The marquess of Grillo is a good-natured, clever and women-loving man who is always inventing stories and cracking all types of jokes. The film tells the story of his life.
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Masques / Masks (1987) Claude Chabrol, Philippe Noiret, Robin Renucci, Bernadette Lafont, Comedy, Crime
Roland Wolf wants to write a book about a TV game-show host, the hail-fellow-well-met Christian Legagneur, who invites Wolf to his country estate, promising several days of lengthy interviews. But Legagneur’s laughter and easy intimacy are empty of content for a book, and he’s constantly dashing off, promising Wolf more time later. Wolf seems to have his own mask: he’s brought a gun with him, and he’s curious about a woman who was a recent guest at the estate. There’s also Legagneur’s godchild, Catherine, recovering from mental illness, and hovered over by Legagneur and his secretary. As Wolf digs through desks, he discovers a murderous plot.
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Skyggen af Emma / Emma’s Shadow (1988) Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, Line Kruse, Börje Ahlstedt, Erik Wedersøe, Comedy, Drama
Emma (Line Kruse) is an eleven year-old only child from a wealthy Danish family. Emma’s parents seem more interested in their own interests than in her. One evening when Emma overhears her mother talking about how tragic it must be to have your child kidnapped, Emma decides to stage her own kidnapping. She soon meets Malthe, a kind-hearted, child-like, naïve sewer cleaner who literally stumbles on to her. She convinces Malthe that she is a Russian princess whose family is being chased by Bolsheviks, so Malthe lets Emma stay with him in his very modest abode. After being “kidnapped” for a few days, Emma decides to return home. But, just as she is about to return, she overhears a couple of servants talking about how her parents don’t seem to be very upset over her dilemma. She then returns to Malthe and a close bond soon develops between Emma and Malthe. Meanwhile, the police are finally called and begin their investigation. Emma writes a ransom note for $2000, and her father pays it.
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Return From the River Kwai (1989) Andrew V. McLaglen, Timothy Bottoms, Nick Tate, George Takei, War, Drama
A group of war prisoners has spilt blood, sweat and tears to construct a bridge over the river Kwai in Thailand. Just when the bridge is ready, an American bomber arrives and destroys it. Camp commander Tanaka wants to set an example and orders that some of the prisoners must be executed. Just in time major Harada arrives with orders that the healthiest prisoners must be transported to Japan by train and boat. A treacherous journey since the allied forces keep a close eye on railroads and practically own the seas. The prisoners are thinking of plans to escape. Meanwhile the American bomber has been shot down and its pilot, Leyland Crawford, is being rescued by the indigenous people, the Meo. The Meo have formed a resistance group against the Japanese, led by the British colonel Grayson.
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Les trois couronnes du matelot / Three Crowns of the Sailor (1983) Raoul Ruiz, Jean-Bernard Guillard, Philippe Deplanche, Nadège Clair, Drama, Fantasy
A drunken sailor recounts his life story to a murderous student.
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Joyeuses Pâques / Happy Easter (1984) Georges Lautner, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Sophie Marceau, Marie Laforêt, Comedy
Industrial tycoon Stéphane Margelle is an incorrigible lady’s man. Caught by his wife Sophie in company of a charming young lady, Julie, he rushes to introduce the young woman as his daughter from a previous marriage. Sophie is not taken in but nonetheless decides to play him at his own game. And Stéphane gets trapped in his web of lies.
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Fort Saganne (1984) Alain Corneau, Gérard Depardieu, Philippe Noiret, Catherine Deneuve, Drama, History, War
French civilization in the desert. Saganne is of peasant stock, with courage and a forceful will. In 1911, he volunteers and is posted to the Sahara under the aristocratic Colonel Dubreuilh. He catches the eye of Madeline, the daughter of the regional administrator. In the desert, Saganne is a leader, with the respect of Arabs, including Amajan, an independent warrior. After resourceful campaigns, Saganne goes on a diplomatic mission to Paris, where he has an affair with a journalist. Back in Africa, he leads a gallant defense against Sultan Omar, is awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, and marries Madeline. Then the Great War puts at risk his success and happiness.
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Lustful Mind / Lussuria (1986) Joe D’Amato, Lilli Carati, Noemie Chelkoff, Al Cliver, Drama, Erotic
Alessio, a young man from a well to do family, has been mute since the death of his mother two years ago. His father, who has subsequently remarried, sends him to his sister-in-law’s house in the country to recuperate. While staying there Alessio has erotic fantasies concerning his stepmother, his aunt and a young art restorer working on the estate, all of whom his father is sexually involved with.
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King Lear (1987) Jean-Luc Godard, Woody Allen, Freddy Buache, Leos Carax, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Everything returns to normal after Chernobyl. That is, everything but art. Most of the great works are lost, and it is up to people like William Shakespear Junior the Fifth to restore the lost artwork of the human race. He finds strange goings-on at a resort enough to remind him of all the lines of the play, dealing with mob boss Don Learo and his daughter Cordelia, a strange professor named Jean Luc-Godard (sic), who repeatedly xeroxes his hand for no particular reason. He is followed by four humanoid goblins that keep tormenting Cordelia. There is also the gentleman whose girlfriend, Valerie, isn’t always visible. Then the film is sent off to New York for Mr. Alien to edit.
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