plastic-teaspoon's - Rented List
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Under the Sand (2000)Sous le sable
In Francois Ozon's absorbing and affecting drama, Charlotte Rampling gives one of the best performances of her career as Marie, a college lecturer who has been happily married to Jean for over 25 years. Whilst on holiday, they visit a deserted beach where Marie lazes in the sun while Jean sets out for a swim - from which he never returns. Some time later in Paris, Marie has resumed her life but refuses to accept that Jean has drowned, continuing to think of him in the present tense and resisting her friends' well-meaning attempts to interest her in other men. Ozon's most mature film to date, 'Under the Sand' is dominated by Rampling's astonishing and moving portrayal. - Director:
- François Ozon
- Cast:
- Charlotte Rampling, Bruno Cremer, Jacques Nolot
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Le Bonheur (1965)Happiness
In one of Agnes Varda's more provocative films she presents us with the dilemma faced by husband and father Francois (Jean-Claude Crouot) who finds himself falling in love with an attractive postal worker. What follows is a detailed study of adult fidelity and happiness, which will ultimately end with major repercussions for all parties involved. - Director:
- Agnès Varda
- Cast:
- Jean-Claude Drouot, Claire Drouot, Olivier Drouot
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Michael Stone (David Thewlis), a husband, father and successful motivation speaker, is crippled by the mundanity of his life. On yet another business trip he checks into a clinically commonplace hotel once more. But this time a chance meeting with Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), an unassuming, small-town sales rep, throws the dullness into disarry and Michael feels he may have actually met someone who can make a change. From the mind of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and animation master Duke Johnson comes "Anomalisa", a tender, touching and achingly funny black comedy, filmed entirely in extraordinary stop motion animation. - Director:
- Duke Johnson
- Cast:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Thewlis, Tom Noonan
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Chris Morris' "Four Lions" is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. It understands jihadists as human beings. And it understands human beings as innately ridiculous. What "This Is Spinal Tap" did for heavy metal and "Dr Strangelove" the Cold War, "Four Lions" does for the modern face of terrorism. In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar (Riz Ahmed) is disillusioned about the treatment of muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj (Kayvan Novak) has ever heard. Better still it's a no brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white islamic convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay). He'd realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism - If he had half the self knowledge of a duck. Faisal (Adeel Akhtar) is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can't blow himself up just now coz his sick dad has "started eating newspaper". Instead he's training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face? - Director:
- Christopher Morris
- Cast:
- Will Adamsdale, Riz Ahmed, Adeel Akhtar
- Formats:
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The Hedgehog (2010)Le Hérisson
Paloma, an exceptionally intelligent 11-year old ( Garance Le Guillermic) wants to end it all on her 12th birthday. Fascinated by art and philosophy, she documents her life and immediate circle, drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her within a Parisian apartment building. But as her birthday approaches, Paloma finally meets some kindred spirits in her solitary concierge Rene Michel (Josiane Balasko) and an enigmatic and elegant neighbour Mr Kakuro Ozu (Togo Igawa). - Director:
- Mona Achache
- Cast:
- Josiane Balasko, Garance Le Guillermic, Togo Igawa
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L'Amant Double (2017)Double Lover
Marine Vacth (Jeune et Jolie) plays Chloé, a young woman who falls in love with her psychoanalyst Paul (Jérémie Renier). When they decide to move in together, everything seems perfect until a series of discoveries lead her to believe that he may be living a double life. As she searches for the truth, Chloé's investigations plunge her into a dark and bewildering world of smoke, mirrors and doppelgangers where nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. - Director:
- François Ozon
- Cast:
- Marine Vacth, Pascal Aubert, Jérémie Renier
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Faces Places (2017)Visages, Villages
Iconic film maker Agnes Varda and photographer JR share a passion for images and how they're created, displayed and shared; Varda through cinema. JR through his emotionally arrested outdoor installations. Inspired by this connection, they set out in JR's photo booth-enhanced truck, exploring the villages and small towns of rural France and meeting its humble residents - all the while creating large-scale portraits plastered across unconventional locations. What follows is a heart-warming insight into unnamed communities, documented here in Varda's typically playful and tender manner. A Cannes Film Festival award-winner and Oscar nominee, 'Faces Places' is a deeply charming and life-affirming look at not only the subtle power of community, but the inspiration that comes from the most cross-generational of friendships. - Director:
- Jr.
- Cast:
- Agnès Varda, Jr., Jeannine Carpentier
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Ugetsu Monogatari (1953)Ugetsu
In 16th century Japan, amidst the pandemonium of civil war, potter Genjuro (Mori Masayuki) and samurai-aspirant Tobei (Ozawa Sakae) set out with their wives in search of wealth and military glory, respectively. Two parallel tales ensue when the men are lured from their wives: Genjuro by the ghostly charm of Lady Wakasa (Kyo Machiko); Tobei by the dream of military glory. - Director:
- Kenji Mizoguchi
- Cast:
- Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyô, Kinuyo Tanaka
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Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) and her sister Sole (Lola Duenas) are visited by the apparition of their Mother (Carmen Maura), who has returned to reconcile with her daughters and resolve an issue that has haunted the family since her death. In Pedro Almodovar's latest critically-acclaimed film, the living and deceased co-exist without discord, creating a filmic experience which is at once hilarious and yet filled with a deep, genuine emotion. VOLVER is a film about life in Almodovar's native La Mancha; a film about the way the presence of the dead continues to add richness and humanity to the lives of those they leave behind. - Director:
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Cast:
- Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas
- Formats:
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Pierrot le Fou (1965)Pierrot Goes Wild / Crazy Pete
Based on Lionel White's novel 'Obsession', 'Pierrot le Fou' transforms a story about a couple on the run into an entertaining, existential romance. Tired of his bourgeois life, Ferdinand Griffon (Jean-Paul Belmondo) leaves his wife and elopes with his former baby sitter, Marianne (Anna Karina). When a dead body is found in Marianne's apartment, the two lovers flee to the South of France in a futile bid to escape Marianne's dangerous past. - Director:
- Jean-Luc Godard
- Cast:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, Graziella Galvani
- Formats:
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Let the Sunshine In (2017)Un beau soleil intérieur / Bright Sunshine In / Dark Glasses
Isabelle (Juliette Binoche) is a stylish and accomplished artist living in Paris. Divorced and looking to find true love at last, she meets a handsome, kind and intelligent younger man who she thinks might finally be the one. But when he calls their affair a mistake and returns to his wife, Isabelle must again face the issue of mid-life loneliness. Sifting through former lovers, new admirers, jealous friends and chance encounters, will she find a fulfilling match? Or will she discover a new path to happiness along the way? - Director:
- Claire Denis
- Cast:
- Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois, Philippe Katerine
- Formats:
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After years of reckless behaviour and being haunted by memories of her mother Bobbi (Laura Dern), Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) makes a rash decision to embark on a challenging trek across the Pacific Crest Trail. With absolutely no experience, she sets out to hike more than a thousand miles all on her own - in what becomes a remarkable journey of self-discovery and redemption that strengthens and ultimately heals her. - Director:
- Jean-Marc Vallée
- Cast:
- Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann
- Formats:
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Kiss Me Deadly (1955)Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me Deadly
When callous thugs beat Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) senseless and viciously murder the gorgeous blonde he's been trying to help, the hard-boiled detective retaliates the only way he can: by hitting first and asking questions later. Cutting a brutal swathe through the city's sleazy underside, Hammer uncovers a mysterious black container whose deadly contents not only solve the murder...but trigger an apocalyptic climax as well! - Director:
- Robert Aldrich
- Cast:
- Nat 'King' Cole, Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker
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Look closer at the most talked about film of the year. A funny, moving and shocking journey through life in suburban America. Look closer at fortysomething ad man Lester Burnham and his status-seeking wife, Carolyn, as their marriage and lives slowly unravel. Lester's wife hates him, his daughter Jane regards him with contempt, and his boss is positioning him for the axe. Look closer as Lester decides to make a few changes in his life; the freer he gets, the happier he gets. But Lester is about to learn that the ultimate freedom comes at the ultimate price. Look closer at an acclaimed cast led by the brilliant performances from Kevin Spacey as Lester and Annette Bening as Carolyn. - Director:
- Sam Mendes
- Cast:
- Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch
- Formats:
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The Flower of My Secret (1995)La flor de mi secreto
The film follows Leo Macias (Marisa Paredes), a romantic novelist who writes her trashy tomes under the pseudonym Amanda Gris. When her marriage begins to dissolve, Leo falls into despair, leading her to drink and lose her knack for writing. To make matters worse, Angel (Juan Echanove), a newspaper editor with a romantic interest in Leo, hires her to write a scathing review of Amanda Gris, not realizing Gris is Leo's nom de plume. - Director:
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Cast:
- Marisa Paredes, Juan Echanove, Carme Elias
- Formats:
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