
Chernobyl 1986. A nuclear reactor exploded, spewing out massive quantities of radiation into the atmosphere. Within days, the pollution had spread across Europe. Living on land contaminated with radioactivity would be a life-changing ordeal for the people of Belarus, but also for the Sami reindeer herders of central Norway. It even affected the Gaels of the distant Hebrides. Five years ago there was a meltdown at the Fukushima reactor, and thousands of Japanese people found their homes, fields and farms irradiated, just as had happened in Europe. This international documentary, filmed in Belarus, Japan, the lands of Norway’s Sami reindeer herders and in the Outer Hebrides, poses the question: what lessons have we learned?
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Tag Archives: UK
Sirens (1993) John Duigan, Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Sam Neill, Comedy, Drama, Romance

A young reverend and his wife are on the way from England to Australia to minister to their flock. The bishop asks him to visit an eccentric artist prone to sexual depictions and requests that he voluntarily withdraw a controversial work call “Crucified Venus” from his show. The minister, who considers himself a progressive, is shocked at the amoral atmosphere surrounding the painter, his wife, and the three models living at his estate. The minister’s wife is troubled also, and has to deal with latent sexual urges while trying to remain loyal to her husband.
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Topsy-Turvy (1999) Mike Leigh, Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Dexter Fletcher, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Musical

After their production “Princess Ida” meets with less-than-stunning reviews, the relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan is strained to breaking. Their friends and associates attempt to get the two to work together again, which opens the way to “The Mikado,” one of the duo’s greatest successes.
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The House of the Seven Hawks (1959) Richard Thorpe, Robert Taylor, Nicole Maurey, Linda Christian, Mystery

The film follows an American captain searching for sunken treasure who becomes entangled with criminals and is arrested by the Dutch police.
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No Blade Of Grass (1970) Cornel Wilde, Nigel Davenport, Jean Wallace, John Hamill, Drama, Sci-Fi

A strange new virus has appeared, which only attacks strains of grasses such as wheat and rice, and the world is descending into famine and chaos. Architect John Custance, along with his family and friends, is making his way from London to his brother’s farm in Scotland, where hopefully, there will be food and safety for all of them. Along the way, they encounter hostile soldiers, biker gangs, and all manner of people who are all too willing to take advantage of travelers for a mouthful of food.
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A Brief History of Time (1991) Errol Morris, Stephen Hawking, Isobel Hawking, Janet Humphrey, Documentary, Biography

A documentary film based on the life of scientist Steven Hawking. The film explores the intimate life of Steven Hawking through him, his friends and his family, as he goes through school, is diagnosed with a degenerative disease, and discovers revolutionary theories about time, black holes, and the origin of the universe. A visually interesting and at times funny film about a extraordinary life.
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Deadlier Than the Male (1967) Ralph Thomas, Richard Johnson, Elke Sommer, Sylva Koscina, Adventure, Crime, Drama

British agent Bulldog Drummond is assigned to stop a master criminal who uses beautiful women to do his killings.
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A Place of One’s Own (1945) Bernard Knowles, Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

An elderly couple move into an old, supposedly haunted abandoned house. A young girl comes to live with the pair as a companion for the wife. However, soon the girl is possessed by the spirit of another girl, a wealthy woman who had once lived in the house but who had been murdered there.
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Le violon rouge / The Red Violin (1998) François Girard, Carlo Cecchi, Jean-Luc Bideau, Christoph Koncz, Drama, Romance, Mystery

Spans 300 years in the life of one famed musical instrument that winds up in present-day Montreal on the auction block. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin derives its unusual color from the human blood mixed into the finish. With this legacy, the violin travels to Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake.
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Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976) Norman Cohen, Robin Askwith, Anthony Booth, Sheila White, Comedy, Erotic

Best Of The Confessions Films.. This is more of the same in this series of four films starring Robin Askwith as Timothy Lea. In this film, he becomes a driving instructor (the opening sequence in how he becomes one is predictable but funny) and works for Sid (Anthony Booth), his brother in law. There is lots of nudity (even a Scottish Pipe Band gets stripped!), but this film benefits from supporting roles, most notably Irene Handl as Miss Slenderpants, vying to finally get her license after 43 tries and Liz Fraser, still sexy and fun. This is a check your brains at the door sex comedy, but to me its the best of the four, since it doesn’t rely only on the sexual escapades. Films like this were hugely popular then, so it was successful. Its not bad.
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