maggs's - Rented List

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Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, widely considered to be the masterpiece of 20th Century drama, is brought to life here in a stunning film version created by Laurence Olivier in his first directing role since The Prince & The Showgirl.

The three sisters of the title, Olga, Masha, and Irina Prozorov evade the dull daily grind of their lives in a small provincial garrison town with dreams of love and escape and of moving to Moscow with their respective military suitors. As the play progresses, the hopes of the sisters are gradually eroded. Arguably the finest cinematic version of a Chekhov play, this is a beautiful study of human nature, aspirations and interactions. It is also a moving and bittersweet look at humanities flaws, the elusiveness of fulfilment of hopes and desires, and the transitory nature of affairs and exchanges.

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Adapted from Jojo Moyes' best-selling novel, 'The Last Letter from Your Lover' is a passionate, dual-narrative love story set in the French Riviera and London during the 1960's and present day.

It tells the tale of elegant Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and how her life becomes inextricably interwoven with that of Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones) in life changing events which connect them across almost half a century.

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Based on extraordinary real life events, this stunning film documents the first conquest of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Charting the treacherous conditions endured during the 1953 expedition, 'Beyond the Edge' combines dramatic reenactments and archive footage to portray the event that would stun the world and define a nation.

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Sandra (Clare Dunne), on the surface of it, is a young Mum struggling to provide her two young daughters with a warm, safe, happy home to grow up in.

Beneath the surface, Sandra has a steely determination to change their lives for the better and when it becomes clear that the local council won't provide that home, she decides to build it herself from scratch. With very little income to speak of and no savings, Sandra must use all her ingenuity to make her ambitious dream a reality. At the same time, she must escape the grip of her possessive ex-husband and keep him away from her and her girls. The lionhearted Sandra draws together a community of friends to support her and lend a helping hand and it is the kindness and generosity of these people and the love of her young daughters that help build her own strength and sense of self.

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When devout university student Nour (Shaden Kanboura) moves in with successful lawyer Laila (Mouna Hawa) and club DJ Salma (Sana Jammelieh), she is shocked by their lifestyle.

As Laila fights to retain her freedom in the face of a new relationship, Salma falls for beautiful trainee doctor Dounia (Ashlam Canaan), a romance she must hide from her family. Nour is set for an arranged marriage to Wissam, an exemplary member of the community who may not be as respectable as he appears. 'In Between' follows the lives of these strong, independent minded Palestinian-lsraeli women in Tel Aviv. Away from the constraints of their families and enforced tradition, they find themselves 'in between' the free and unfettered lives they aspire to lead and the restrictions imposed on them by a blinkered society. First-time director Maysaloun Hamoud's exhilarating depiction of the lives of 'liberated' Palestinian women in Israel earned her the first Palestinian fatwa in 70 years.

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During the Japanese invasion a British patrol unit is pinned down in the Burmese jungle. When a Japanese scout is captured the men face a dilemma.

Sergeant Mitchum (Richard Todd) wants to take the prisoner to headquarters, much to the chagrin of his contemptuous second in command Corporal Johnstone (Richard Harris). As tempers flare, the previously gruff Private Bamforth (Laurence Harvey), gradually becomes the conscience of the platoon.

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Victor Plaza (Liberto Rabal) is a child of Franco's Spain, born on a bus that was taking his mother, a prostitute, to the hospital.

In spite of this, Victor is young and life has not destroyed his trust in people, particularly Elena (Francesca Neri) the daughter of a diplomat and the woman with whom he shares his first sexual experience. Victor, believing the experience was not a casual one, soon discovers things are not usually as straightforward as one would hope. Nerves, a gun and two policemen are involved when Victor tries to see Elena again, and a violent encounter changes all their lives. A policeman, Sancho (Jose Sancho) precipitates a violent incident into which Victor is dragged. David (Javier Barden) is hit by a stray bullet that leaves him paralysed and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Victor is blamed and sent to prison where he watches helplessly as David becomes a paralympics star, with Elena - now his wife. Fate, however, intervenes again. When Victor is released from prison, he visits his mother's grave, only to find Elena and David at the cemetery. Now Victor has the chance to settle old scores - but from this moment they are all locked in a game which has only just begun.

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Storm Boy (Greg Rowe) spends his time wandering alone along the fierce but beautiful deserted coastline of South Australia's Coorong. He lives the life of a recluse with his father (Peter Cummins), who is known amongst the locals as 'Hideaway Tom'. After a pelican mother is shot by hunters.

Storm Boy rescues three chicks and cares for them; he gives them the names Mr. Proud, Mr. Ponder and Mr. Percival. Storm Boy's father forces him to release the birds, but Mr Percival returns. The story then focuses on the conflict between Storm Boy's lifestyle, his friendship with the Aborigine Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil), the requirement for him to attend school and of course, the fate of Mr. Percival.

Two things work for a gangster when the boss learns they want to "leave", he sets them up to be killed. When their escape doesn't go to plan they have to seek refuge in an nunnery to avoid their boss, the triads and police, all the while dressed up as women!

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George (Warren Beatty) is one of L.A.'s most desirable men, a Beverly Hills hairdresser who makes all his female clients look, and feel, better than ever.

Encouraged by his girlfriend Jill (Goldie Hawn) to open his own salon, George approaches conservative businessman Lester (Jack Warden) for financing. Unbeknownst to Lester, George is sleeping with his wife (Lee Grant), his mistress (Julie Christie) and his teenage daughter (Carrie Fisher). Can George resist temptation and settle down with Jill or will he get tangled up in even more scandalous affairs?

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Conscientious, inhibited and perhaps a little self-righteous, midwife Claire (Catherine Frot) is stuck in a rut. After years of placing other people before herself, she's worried she might have been left behind. One day, however, an unexpected phone call changes everything.

The call is from her father's former mistress Beatrice (Catherine Deneuve), a capricious free spirit who walked out on the family over three decades ago. As circumstances reunite these two polar-opposites, flighty Beatrice is forced to consider her responsibilities, while uptight Claire finally learns to let go of her troubles.

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In the Autumn of 1939, Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) and Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis) set out to climb Nanga Parbat, one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.

The self-centred Harrer, whose sole preoccupation was the achievement of fame and glory, would experience an emotional awakening on his fantastic journey that would take him from the heights of conquest to the depths of internment in a British prisoner of war camp, then from escape and a harrowing two year trek through the Himalayas, to the mysterious Tibetan city of Lhasa. As a stranger in a strange land which few westerners have ever visited, Harrer befriends the young Dalai Lama, and tutors the religious leader in the ways of the Western world.

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Ben Sharrock's critically adored 'Limbo' is a wry, funny and poignant cross-cultural satire that subtly sews together the hardship and hope of the refugee experience. Set on a fictional remote Scottish island, it follows a group of new arrivals as they await the results of their asylum claims.

Among them is Omar (Amir El-Masry), a young Syrian musician struggling with the guilt, regret and grief that comes with leaving his former life behind. This deadpan comedy-drama from a bold new voice in British cinema shines a light on the hearts and lives of those at the centre of a crisis that is mostly only experienced through the headlines.

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"Leonardo" explores the secrets and drama behind the genius: his life, his work and his personal struggles all set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy. Born in Vinci, in fuscany.

Leonardo (Aidan Turner) grew into an unparalleled genius whose work overturned the established order and keeps inspiring the world. His restless curiosity flitted between the arts, science and technology, driven by a profound quest for knowledge and determination to unfold the mysteries of the world around him. In this new series, unlock the enigma of this extraordinary and yet incredible contemporary man in an untold story of mystery and passion.

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Justino (Regis Myrupu), a native Desana, works as a security guard at the cargo port of Manaus on the Amazon. A widower, his main company is his youngest daughter. A nurse at a health clinic, Vanessa (Rosa Peixoto) is accepted to study medicine in Brasilia and will need to be leaving soon.

Confronted with the oppression of the city, where he never quite fits in, and the distance of his native village from which he left twenty years ago, Justino finds himself condemned to an existence without place. During the night, a mysterious creature follows his footsteps. Meanwhile, on television, the news talks about a wild animal lurking in the neighbourhood.