jdl's - Rented List

Show moreShow less

Based upon the graphic novels of Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis is the biographical story following the poignant and often hilarious adventures of Marji.

From a rebellious, heavy metal loving tomboy experiencing the turmoil of adolescence during the tyrannical, Iranian revolution to a teenage exile in Vienna, Austria, where she discovers the benefits of freedom can be just as shocking as the repressive regime she was forced to leave behind. Returning to Iran as an alienated adult, Marji must now decide where it is her heart and her home must lay in this complex, insightful, honest and touching story, making Persepolis one of the most sublime animated feature films you're likely to experience.

Show moreShow less

It is turn-of-the-century Italy, and in the summer of 1900 two children are born in the rich agricultural countryside in the region of Emilia.

Olmo Dalco (Gerard Depardieu) is the bastard son of a family of farmworkers and Alfredo Berlinghieri (Robert De Niro) is heir to a wealthy family of landowners. Although they come from two different worlds, a friendship develops that will endure the sweeping changes of the 20th century.

Show moreShow less

When charismatic English professor John Keating (Robin Williams) arrives at a strict boys academy, his unconventional teaching methods breathe new life into the curriculum steeped in tradition.

With his wit and wisdom, Keating inspires his students to pursue individual passions and make their lives extraordinary.

A wine-tasting road trip through California's Central Coast takes an unexpected detour as Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), two 30 somethings mature along the way. The comically mismatched pair soon find themselves drowning in wine, women... and laughter!

Show moreShow less

"Fanny and Alexander" is Bergman's dreamlike family chronicle. The Ekdahl's are an upper-middle-class theatrical family sheltered by their own theatrics from the deepening chaos of the outside world.

One tumultuous year in the life of the Ekdahl family is viewed through the eyes of ten-year-old Alexander (Bertil Guve), whose imagination fuels the magical goings-on leading up to and following the death of his father. His mother's remarriage to a stern prelate banishes Alexander and his sister Fanny (Pernilla Allwin) from all known joys, and thrusts them and the movie into a kind of gothic horror. The bishop is a Bergmanesque character whose severity has gone awry - he has become sinister - and the film's round rejection of him in favour of "kindness, affection and goodness" may be Bergman's fondest farewell to cinema.

Show moreShow less

Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, this critically acclaimed South Korean film tells the story of Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo), a part-time worker who bumps into old neighbour Haemi (Jong-seo Jun).

She asks him to look after her cat while she's on a trip to Kenya, but when she returns, Haemi introduces Ben (Steven Yeun) to Jongsu. One day, Ben visits Jongsu with Haemi and confesses his own secret hobby.

Show moreShow less

George Bailey (James Stewart) has spent his entire life in the small town of Bedford Falls.

Despite his yearning to see the world, George has always sacrificed his personal ambitions for the sake of his family and the local community, settling down to marry his childhood sweetheart, Mary (Donna Reed), and raise a family. However, when a huge amount of money goes missing from the savings and loans company he panics and finds himself preparing to commit suicide. However, he is shown the error of this idea by Clarence (Henry Travers), an angel who has been sent to Earth in order to earn his wings. To this end, Clarence shows George just how badly Bedford Falls and its residents would have turned out had he never been born.

Show moreShow less

Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a respected but less-than-perfect surveillance expert who is wracked with self-doubt and carrying a heavy conscience since his work led to the death of two of his subjects.

So when he comes to believe that his latest assignment - eavesdropping on a pair of young lovers - may end in murder, Harry can no longer avoid confronting the moral consequences of his chosen profession.

Show moreShow less

Experience the breathtaking global phenomenon that has captivated audiences around the world. Written for the screen and directed by Christopher Nolan, 'Oppenheimer' thrusts audiences into the mind of physicist J.

Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), whose landmark work on the Manhattan Project created the first atomic bomb.

Show moreShow less

As devout Jehova's Witnesses, sisters Alex (Molly Wright) and Luisa (Sacha Parkinson) and their mother, Ivanna (Siobhan Finneran), are united in The Truth.

When Luisa starts to question the advice of the Elders, she makes a life-altering transgression that threatens to expel her from the congregation. Unless Ivanna and Alex can persuade her to return, they must shun her completely. The challenge becomes more painful when their family is faced with another heartbreaking test of faith.

Show moreShow less

After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent (Jim Caviezel) learns the boy's sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her.

With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death. 'Sound of Freedom' is gripping and suspenseful call to action shines a light on even the darkest of places.

Show moreShow less

"Stray" explores what it means to live as a being without status or security, following three strays as they embark on inconspicuous journeys through Turkish society.

Zeytin, fiercely independent, embarks on adventures through the city at night; Nazar, nurturing and protective, easily befriends the humans around her; while Kartal, a shy puppy living on the outskirts of a construction site, finds companions in the security guards who care for her. The strays' disparate lives intersect when they each form intimate bonds with a group of young Syrians with whom they share the streets. Director Elizabeth Lo's award-winning film is a critical observation of human civilisation through the unfamiliar gaze of dogs and a sensory voyage into new ways of seeing.

Show moreShow less

An intimate glimpse into the life and world of one of Tibet's most revered teachers: Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, writer, poet, meditation master and an inspiration to all who encountered him.

He was one of the primary teachers of the Dalai Lama, and was considered the "Master of Masters" among the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This unique portrait tells Khyentse Rinpoche's story from birth to death, from his escape following China's invasion of Tibet to his determination to preserve and share Buddhist teachings. Ten years in the making, the film began in 1989 when French photographer, Buddist monk and bestselling author Matthieu Ricard and Vivian Kurz taped extensive footage of their teacher. When Rinpoche died in 1991 they determined to share the life of their beloved teacher with the world. Many other leading film makers, artists and musicians have participated in this tribute. Shot in rarely filmed Eastern Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan and France, the film shows the rich and intricate tapestry of Tibetan Buddhism and is a witness to the strength, wisdom and depth of the Tibetan culture. The programme also features interviews with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. A proportion of the revenues from 'Spirit of Tibet' go to the non-profit making organisation Shechen Inc. for the support and continuation of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's work.

Show moreShow less

Marcello (Marcello Fonte) is a small and gentle dog groomer who wants two things, to look after his dogs and take his daughter on exotic holidays.

But to fund this lifestyle he runs a side business which has more unsavoury clientele and he soon finds himself involved in a dangerous relationship of subjugation with Simone (Edoardo Pesce), a former violent boxer who terrorises the entire neighbourhood. When Simone exploits him too much, Marcello must make a crucial and potentially dangerous decision in order to regain his dignity.

Show moreShow less

Independent cinema darling and Cannes Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz) is approached by ageing business mogul Humberto Suarez (Jose Luis Gomez) to make a film that he hopes will be his legacy for the world.

Intended as an adaptation of a much-loved literary work, Cuevas has more experimental intentions than some turgid piece of heritage cinema. Given carte blanche over the casting she pits acclaimed but stiflingly snobbish 'Actor' Ivan Torres (Oscar Martinez) against handsome but superficial screen icon Felix Rivero (Antonio Banderas), believing that the inevitable tension between the two can only help the film's dynamic. She couldn't be more right, as the three gather lora nine-day rehearsal that sees each pushed to their wits' end and underpins Cuevas' belief that art is suffering.