In the life of Mr. Lai Man-wai, he had seen the most turbulent times of recent Chinese history. From the fall of the Qing Dynasty to the founding of the Republic, from the Sino-Japanese War to the founding of the People’s Republic. With a patriotic spirit, he joined the revolution and used the theatre to promote the revolutionary course. For a ‘stronger China’, and ‘education for all’, he chose film as his life long goal and career. Lai was more than the father of Hong Kong cinema was; he was also one of the pioneers of the Chinese cinema. He made Hong Kong’s first short fiction film ‘Zhuangzi Tests His Wife’. He opened the first Chinese owned cinema, the New World Cinema, in Hong Kong…. In the several decades, Lai had devoted his life and fortune in writing this glorious inaugural chapter in early Chinese film history. The technical enhancement, the introduction of foreign techniques and equipment were all part of his contribution to the Chinese cinema.
An exploration of Chinese cinema and its relationships with gender and sexuality, which the film argues has been more frankly and provocatively explored than in any other national cinema. Utilizing both film excerpts and interviews with many leading directors and academics, the film examines topics such as male bonding in kung fu movies, depictions of same-sex bonding and physical intimacy, the emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas, and the career of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.
Documentary about new chinese cinema.
A police sniper teams up with a hot-headed rookie to take down his former friend and teammate, who is exacting revenge on the police force.
Su Jin meets Li'er. As their bond grows, the weight of Su Jin being the crowned prince and Li'er as a cat spirit grows heavy.
Part two of A comedy film set on Shanghai film studio. The background events frequently involve the shooting of other films being made at Mingxing Film Company at the time. This includes a sequence of the 17th episode of the silent wuxia film series Burning of the Red Lotus Temple, which is the only known footage from this historic series to exist.
Based on the beloved children's book, elementary schooler Wang Bao discovers a wish-granting gourd that gives him the ability to make his dreams come true. Due to the gourd's erratic nature, Wang Bao confronts his own dishonesty amongst his peers and family, and realizes that you might not get everything you wish for.
Apartamento 62
A real 'video nasty' in which England football manager Graham Taylor buckles under the pressure of securing the national team a place in the World Cup Finals. First shown on Channel 4, the camera crew were given unparallelled access to the England camp, climaxing with the emotionally exhausting spectacle of Taylor's touchline breakdown as England lose to Holland in a vital qualifying game. The video includes previously unseen footage.
Inside Her Sex is a thought-provoking, feature-length documentary that explores female sexuality and shame through the eyes and experiences of three women from different walks of life, each brave enough to chart her own course of sexual discovery: Elle Chase, a popular sex blogger; Candida Royalle, the creator of Femme Productions Inc., a feminist adult film company designed to speak with a woman's voice; and Samantha Allen, the ex-devout Mormon and current gender, sex, and tech writer for The Daily Beast.
The inspirational story of Marta Becket: 76-yr old singer, writer, dancer, painter, visionary, and her creation Amargosa.
A look inside the furry community - who's a part of it, why, and what it's really all about
An analysis of the effect of economic sanctions on Iraq.
In our current world, where worth is often gauged by online popularity, an economy has developed for paying for followers and likes. Through access inside the “click-farms” of Bangladesh, Like explores the multi-million dollar industry that grows social media followings for celebrities and brands alike.
Oleg Yefremov was one of the most beloved actors and directors in Russia. He was the founder of the Sovremennik (Contemporary) Theatre and later became the artistic director of the Moscow Art Theatre. The film shows him in a moment of extreme dramatic tension: Yefremov has decided to split the repertory company into two. His aim is to re energize a stagnant group of actors and move them away from an artistic "dead end". The company, split into supporters and detractors discusses the situation on very heated terms. The situation mirrors the overall climate of a country and a society shaken by the changes brought about by perestroika.
Alan Yentob profiles the stellar career of one of the great satirists of our age, Armando Iannucci, whose impressive body of work includes The Day Today, The Thick of It, Veep, The Death of Stalin and The Personal History of David Copperfield. With contributions from key collaborators such as Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rebecca Front, Jesse Armstrong, Michael Palin and Peter Capaldi, imagine... sheds light on Iannucci’s unique creative process.
A feature documentary celebrating the rise of a humble but driven boxing perfectionist who triumphantly emerged from Muhammad Ali's long shadow to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World and redefined greatness in his own image.
Poushkin's and Pouschin's friendship began when they were students in the Tsarskoye Selo Lycee, whose alumni during the era of Alexander I and Nicholas I included government officials, royalists, rebels, romanticists, "Decembrists,"and poets. After the Decembrist revolt of 1825, Pouschin was exiled to Siberia. Poushkin, on the other hand, was allowed to return from exile and became a supporter of the Tsar. But the two friends remained spiritually close. Writing from across thousands of miles, Poushkin reached out to Pouschin and his other former classmates. "May God help you, my friends /In times of storm and grief /In far off lands, in empty seas /And in the somber caverns of the earth." The historian Nathan Eidelman brilliantly describes the lives and friendship of these remarkable men. The film also includes recitals of Poushkin's poetry by the famous dramatic actress, Alla Demidova.
A behind the scenes featurette focussed on Hammer Film Productions' 1971 film 'Doctor Jekyll & Sister Hyde.'
There was no Soviet actor who could claim a greater popularity than Raikin. He was allowed the impossible: to be a satirist. Even during the height of government approved Anti-Semitism, Raikin was a figure to be reckoned with. He was known and beloved by all, his razor-sharp wit admired - and feared. In fact, president Putin met his future wife at a Raikin show. The film follows Raikin to his shows, on stage, and backstage, during rehearsals, at rest, and during conversations with his friends, including legendary Soviet jazz singer Leonid Utesov, film director Yuli Raizman, the poet Bella Ahmadullina, and the American film director George Kukor.