maggs's - Rented List
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That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)Cet obscur objet du désir
Recounted in flashback to a group of railway travellers, the story wryly details the romantic perils of Mathieu, a wealthy, middle-aged French sophisticate who falls desperately in love with his 19-year-old former chambermaid Conchita. Thus begins a surreal game of sexual cat-and-mouse, with Mathieu obsessively attempting to win the girl's affections as she manipulates his carnal desires, each vying to gain absolute control of the other. - Director:
- Luis Buñuel
- Cast:
- Fernando Rey, Carole Bouquet, Ángela Molina
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Mrs. Lowry and Son (2019)Mrs Lowry & Son
The film paints the relationship between L.S. Lowry (Timothy Spall), one of Britain's most iconic artists, and his mother Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave), with whom he lived until her death. We see Lowry in the beginnings of his career, as he yearns for his work to be appreciated in London. However, his disdainful mother actively tries to dissuade her bachelor son from pursuing his artistic ambitions. At the same time, the film explores how Elizabeth is the very reason Lowry paints anything at all, as he desperately seeks to create something, anything, which will make her happy. This powerful yet humorous story imagines the impact this obsessive mother and son relationship had on the great artist. - Director:
- Adrian Noble
- Cast:
- Vanessa Redgrave, Timothy Spall, Stephen Lord
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The Officer's Ward (2001)La chambre des officiers
The Officer's Ward atmospherically creates the world of Adrien Fournier (Eric Caravaca), a handsome young French officer who returns from the front with hideous facial injuries. After spending the remaining five years of the Great War convalescing in a military hospital, Adrien slowly learns to come to terms with his condition as, with the help of other patients and staff, his sense of identity and self-worth slowly returns. - Director:
- François Dupeyron
- Cast:
- Éric Caravaca, Denis Podalydès, Grégori Derangère
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Sanditon: Series 1 (2019)Jane Austen: Sanditon 1
A chance accident brings Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) to Sanditon, a seaside resort on the cusp of dramatic change. Spirited and unconventional, Charlotte is initially keen to experience everything the town has to offer but is then shocked by its scheming and ambitious inhabitants and intrigued by the secrets they share. When Charlotte is tactlessly forthright about the family of enthusiastic entrepreneur Tom Parker (Kris Marshall), she immediately clashes with his handsome but wild younger brother Sidney (Theo James). Amidst the rival suitors and unexpected danger, can Charlotte and Sidney see past each other's flaws and find love? - Director:
- Olly Blackburn
- Cast:
- Crystal Clarke, Charlotte Spencer, Kate Ashfield
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Two strangers...and the one photograph that will change their lives forever. 'Photograph' is a charming tale of unlikely romance set against the vibrant backdrop of contemporary Mumbai. Rafi (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is a struggling street photographer who takes tourist portraits at the Gateway of India. When he meets Miloni (Sanya Malhotra), a shy stranger from an affluent family, he convinces her to pose as his fiancee after his overbearing grandmother decides to pay him a visit. From different worlds, the pair make a surprising connection that will transform them both in unexpected ways. Discover this warm, well-observed story from modern India. - Director:
- Ritesh Batra
- Cast:
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Sachin Khedekar
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The Keeper (2018)Trautmann
"The Keeper" tells the incredible true story of Bert Trautmann (David Kross), a German soldier and prisoner of war who, against a backdrop of British post-war protest and prejudice, secures the position of Goalkeeper at Manchester City, and in doing so becomes a footballing icon. Struggling for acceptance by those who dismiss him as the enemy, Bert's love for Margaret (Freya Mavor), an Englishwoman, carries him through and he wins over even his harshest opponents by winning the 1956 FA Cup Final, playing on with a broken neck to secure victory. But fate will soon twist the knife for Bert and Margaret, when their love and loyalty to each other is put to the ultimate test. - Director:
- Marcus H. Rosenmüller
- Cast:
- David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Henshaw
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Occupied (2016)I Am a Teacher / Ya Uchitel
When a small town is occupied by the Nazis at the height of World War Two, the local school teacher finds himself caught up in events that he could never have imagined. He suddenly finds his students, family and his very way of life is under threat and he must make a decision to either adapt to this new evil regime or risk his life fighting it. 'Occupied' is a powerful film that shows how far ordinary people will go to protect the ones they love. - Director:
- Sergey Mokritskiy
- Cast:
- Aleksandr Kovtunets, Yuliya Peresild, Philippe Reinhardt
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Two Days, One Night (2014)Deux jours, une nuit
In what is already being heralded as one of her greatest performances, Marion Cotillard plays Sandra, whose employment is threatened when, behind her back, upper management offer the workforce a significant bonus if they vote for Sandra to lose her job. With only a single weekend to spare she must confront each of her co-workers and persuade them to change their decision so she can maintain her livelihood. Join Sandra on her precarious, humbling and inspirational journey... - Director:
- Jean-Pierre Dardenne
- Cast:
- Marion Cotillard, Corentin Lahaye, Alix Toussant
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Locked in a frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness since infancy, 7-year-old Helen Keller (Patty Duke) has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft), a 20-year-old teacher from Boston arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch - the only tool they have in common - and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light. - Director:
- Arthur Penn
- Cast:
- Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory
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Vita and Virginia (2018)Vita & Virginia
Based on a true story, 'Vita and Virginia' details the passionate relationship between literary trailblazer Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki), and enigmatic aristocrat Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton). When their paths cross, the magnetic Vita decides the beguiling, stubborn and gifted Virginia will be her next conquest, no matter the cost. The ensuing relationship leads to the birth of Woolf's bold, experimental novel 'Orlando'. A daring celebration of an unconventional bond, and a vivid exploration of gender, sexuality, creativity and passion, 'Vita and Virginia' details the love story of two women - two writers - who smashed through social barriers to find solace in their forbidden connection. - Director:
- Chanya Button
- Cast:
- Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isabella Rossellini
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Balloon (2018)Der Ballon / Ballon
Summer 1979, East Germany during the height of the Cold War. Two ordinary families yearning for freedom secretly form a great escape plan to get across to the West. With courage and ingenuity as their main weapons, they build a hot air balloon with small pieces of cloth for their eight family members to fly over the Iron Curtain. But an initial failure puts their entire plan in jepopardy, setting off a dangerous race against time for a second attempt, with the State Police now hot on their heels...An incredible and gripping true story of resistance. - Director:
- Michael Bully Herbig
- Cast:
- Friedrich Mücke, Kaspar Eichel, Daniela Elhagh
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The Chambermaid (2018)La Camarista
Eve (Gabriela Cartol) is a conscientious hotel chambermaid. Punctual and enterprising, paying close attention to the details, she hopes her impeccable professionalism will bring her promotion to the Hotel Presidente's exclusive penthouse floor. Long, laborious shifts prevent Eve from caring for her child while she helps guests with their own children. Aviles records her day-to-day activities, from the detail of ensuring rooms are immaculately presented each morning to enrolling in the hotel's adult education programme, which will help her chances of promotion. When things don't result as planned, Eve transforms her lonely explorations and newfound courage into the necessary strength to face a life outside the glimmering tower. - Director:
- Lila Avilés
- Cast:
- Gabriela Cartol, Agustina Quinci, Teresa Sánchez
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In the 1920s, political activist Jimmy Gralton built a dance hall in rural Ireland. As the hall grew in popularity its free-spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close. A decade later, at the height of the Depression, Jimmy returns from the US. The hall stands abandoned but as Jimmy sees the poverty and growing oppression in the village, the leader and activist within him is stirred. He decides to reopen the hall, and so takes on the established authorities of the church and the government. - Director:
- Ken Loach
- Cast:
- Barry Ward, Simone Kirby, Andrew Scott
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Sunset (2018)Napszállta
1913: Irisz (Juli Jakab) arrives in Budapest with dreams of working as a milliner at her late parents' legendary hat making shop. However, it soon transpires that she has a different motive - investigating the disappearance of her brother who worked at the store. So begins a journey deep into the dark underbelly of Hungary's turbulent society on the eve of the First World War. - Director:
- László Nemes
- Cast:
- Susanne Wuest, Vlad Ivanov, Evelin Dobos
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Nicky's Family (2011)Nickyho Rodina
March 1939: thousands of children's lives are under threat from the Nazis. At the outbreak of World War II, Sir Nicholas Winton saved the lives of 669 Czechoslovakian children from the lethal threat of the Nazis. Dubbed the British Schindler for his heroism, this film, produced by Emmy-award winning producer Matej Minác , tells the original story through dramatic reenactments narrated by the rescued children and Sir Nicholas himself. Rare archival footage and interviews with Joe Schlesinger, a CBC reporter and one of the rescued children, documents not only how Winton's act changed the lives of those he rescued, but also how it continues to influence the lives of thousands of others worldwide. - Director:
- Matej Minac
- Cast:
- Jirina Bohdalová, Ben Abeles, Jirí Lábus
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