Directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck

Nominated for the 2008 BBC4 World Cinema award.

In the former East Germany, no-one was above suspicion. Like George Orwell’s vision of the future come to life, art and people and relationships were monitored obsessively; The Lives Of Others captures not only the paranoia and danger inherent in such a world, but also expresses hope that even in the most desperate situations, people can make a difference.

The Lives Of Others [DVD] [2007]

Directed by Woody Allen, this is a love story set in Spain, and stars Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson.

Woody Allen explores yet another variation on his central theme of complex sexual relationships, but this time through the lens of the tourist’s camera. The tourist is Scarlett Johansson in her role as the restless Cristina, who has no idea what, exactly, she is compulsively seeking through the lens of her digital camera (Metaphorically, she begins to catch a glimpse only after she exchanges digital for film). Both Cristina and her intellectual best friend, Vicky (Rebecca Hall), arrive in Barcelona, where they are quickly captivated by the attentions of an aspiring artist (Javier Bardem), who is encumbered by baggage, the baggage in question being his suicidal/homicidal wife, Maria Elena (played to the hilt by Penelope Cruz).

• Vicky Cristina Barcelona [DVD] [2008]
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona [Blu-ray] [2008]

Starring Dev Patel, this excellent film tells the story of the corruption behind Indian television, and the courage of the “slum dogs” that live in the poorest areas of Mumbai.

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a kid from slums who gets lucky on the TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”. After answering so many questions correctly, he is accused of cheating. He tells his story of the slums, and how he came to know so much.

The film deals with the corruption and violence that is endemic in Indian society, but also reveals the passion and the love of the people of the slums.

Of course, there is a love story too.

• Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy
• Bbased on Vikas Swarup’s novel
• Directed by Danny Boyle

• Slumdog Millionaire [DVD] [2008]
• Slumdog Millionaire [Blu-ray] [2008]

Pan’s Labyrinth (Spanish title: Laberinto del fauno, El), is a gothic fairy tale set against the post civil war repression in Spain. Guillermo del Toro, the Mexican director, collected the award from Catherine Deneuve at the award ceremony the BFI Southbank in London. On collecting his award, Guillermo del Toro said:

“I am very humbled by the competition and the nominations so I am very happy to have won this award. I am extremely thankful because world cinema seems to be not only about geography of the world out there, but about charting the world within us. Very often people think that the only way to tell the truth is through reality. So I find, by my own experience, irreality is sometimes a better tool to tell the truth.”

Other nominations for the World Cinema Best film were:

• The Lives Of Others – Directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck
• The Science Of Sleep – Directed by Michel Gondry
• Climates – Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan and his actress wife Ebru Ceylan star as the couple at odds, chasing an impossible dream that is way out of their reach.
• Syndromes And A Century – Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul

All these films are currently available at our store, so buy them now!

Special Offer: Guillermo Del Toro Collection (Pan’s Labyrinth, Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone) [2006]
Directed by Guillermo del Toro

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