La maison des bois 1971

La maison des bois 1971

La maison des bois 1971
52min | Drama | TV Mini-Series (1971– )

User review:

Set in the French countryside during the Great War of 1914-18 Pialat’s extraordinary seven episode TV serial extends the themes of his debut feature L’Enfance Nue, the director however having much more freedom and time to explore the nature of childhood and the impact on children abandoned by their parents. The series focuses on the experiences of three children (including even Michel Tarrazon, the young star of the earlier movie) living out in the country with gamekeeper Albert and Maman Jeanne on the country estate of a Marquis. The gamekeeper and his wife have their own older children, Marcel and Marguerite, but the three boys have been sent there by their parents who have been caught up in the war, the fathers called up to the front, the mothers simply unable to look after them in the present climate.

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Wengler und Soehne 1987

Wengler und Soehne 1987

Wengler und Soehne 1987
Wengler & Söhne (original title)
2h 19min | Drama, History

Storyline:

This film tells a story spanning three generations, from 1871 to 1945. After the farmer’s son, Gustav Wengler, returns from the Franco-German war in 1871, he goes to work in a precision mechanics and optical company. He soon becomes a master craftsman; he is loyal and devoted to this company and promises his director on his deathbed that his sons and grandchildren will also stand by the company. At last, the time comes for his talented grandson Paul to honor this promise and join the company. In the meantime, however, the company has gained a worldwide reputation and supports the Third Reich. Although Paul is skeptical about the Nazi leadership, he continues working for the company. When he sees the company destroyed during the war, old Gustav Wengler realizes his family is responsible for the turn the country has taken.

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Charly Og Steffen 1979

Charly Og Steffen 1979

Charly Og Steffen 1979
1h 23min | Drama | 21 December 1979 (Denmark)

User review:

Cinematographer Henning Kristiansen took over here entirely instruction after cooperating with Morten Arnfred on “Me and Charly”. obvious sequel “Charly & Steffen” is just the obvious sequel to success ungdsomfilmen from the year before, but unfortunately all the authenticity gone out of favor of the entirely smooth routine. Efter at have vinket efter Charlys knallert på landevejen har Steffen ikke set sin gamle kammerat, men nu støder de to igen ind i hinanden i Århus. Here struggling Steffen to find itself between not particularly sympathetic adults, and the meeting with the funny Charly may give life a much needed oomph. There are far between intense scenes, if they come at all, “Charly & Steffen” exudes we make a 2 and not really of much else. Add to that a series of very lengthy song scenes where Lone Kellerman unfolds in everyday Danish “show”, or Allan Olsen with brown head and white gloves mimes to the known background music in what feels like a neighborhood. The “cute” love affair between Steffen and Jannie is at best awkward, like adults, with Ghita Nørby and Jesper Christensen as flagships, at no time shall a credible script page to serve a reply from.Final drama with “rockers” on the field with cross cutting for a protracted theater number brings nothing but more confusion. (google translated)

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Quand j’avais 5 ans je m’ai tué 1994

Quand j'avais 5 ans je m'ai tué 1994

Quand j’avais 5 ans je m’ai tué 1994
1h 40min | Drama | 2 February 1994 (France)

Storyline:

This film is about Gils, a young boy (about ten) in a juvenile mental hospital in 1950’s France. Flashbacks recount his conflicts with authority and his strong relationship with Jessica, a similarly rebellious schoolmate. Simultaneously, a compassionate doctor develops a trusting friendship with Gils, which a higher-ranking authoritarian doctor tries to thwart.

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Le vieil homme et l’enfant 1967

Le vieil homme et l’enfant 1967
1h 30min | Comedy, Drama | 11 March 1967 (France)

Storyline:

Claude is a Jew. Because of the risks of an arrest (France is occupied by the Nazis), his parents send him away to an elderly couple in the country. Pepe, the husband, is a Petain supporter and a anti-Semite, but he does not know about Claude’s religion. The film is the story of their growing mutual affection.

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Preparez vos mouchoirs 1978

Preparez vos mouchoirs 1978

Preparez vos mouchoirs 1978
Préparez vos mouchoirs (original title)
1h 48min | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 11 January 1978 (France)

Storyline:

Solange is depressed: she’s stopped smiling, she eats little, she says less. She has fainting fits. Her husband Raoul seeks to save her by enlisting Stephane, a stranger, to be her lover. Although he listens to Mozart and has every Pocket Book arranged in alphabetical order, Stephane fails to cheer Solange. She knits. She does housework. Everyone, including their neighbor a vegetable vendor, agrees that she needs a child, yet she fails to get pregnant by either lover. The three take a job running a kids’ summer camp where they meet Christian, the precocious 13-year-old son of the local factory manager. It is Christian who restores Solange to laughter.

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Mig Og Charley 1978

Mig Og Charley 1978

Mig Og Charley 1978
1h 38min | Drama | 19 March 1978 (Denmark)

Storyline:

Youth film about friendship between two boys from very different backgrounds. Steffen finish school and do not really know what he wants. He lives at home with his mother, who is a journalist. He comes with Majbritt, the daughter of one of the rich men in Silkeborg, where the story takes place. Charly is a Copenhagen mess already know life’s dark sides and is placed in a youth home outside the city. They meet when Charly is by cutting Steffens moped. As the story concludes, the Charly again got mixed up in something and have to run away, and now gives Steffen him the moped. They have become friends, and the friendship has also been shown to outweigh Steffens compared to Majbritt and the upper class, she represents.

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La vie de Jesus 1997

La vie de Jesus 1997

La vie de Jesus 1997

La vie de Jesus 1997
La vie de Jésus (original title)
1h 36min | Drama, Romance | 4 June 1997 (France)

Storyline:

A social movie about current life in the north of France. Freddy and his friends are all unemployed. They pass away time by wandering around on their motorcycles and by directing their aggressive feelings towards Arab immigrants. Freddy is in love with Marie, a cashier at a local supermarket. When she is proposed to by Kader, a young Arab man, Freddy and his friends have an idea: they decide to punish Kader for what they call “such a provocation.” After they have raped another girl, Marie finally commits to Kader, which seals his fate.

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