Doomed attempt to get to California in 1846. More than just a riveting tale of death, endurance and survival. The Donner Party's nightmarish journey penetrated to the very heart of the American Dream at a crucial phase of the nation's "manifest destiny." Touching some of the most powerful social, economic and political currents of the time, this extraordinary narrative remains one of the most compelling and enduring episodes to come out of the West.
A docu-drama depicting half the life of actor Shinji Kubo, who has appeared in over 800 pink movies, with laughter, tears, and plenty of eros. Although he fulfilled his promise to "become an actor" with his classmate Yoko, who was...
A legless girl abandoned at birth is adopted and becomes an acclaimed gymnast. She idolizes Olympic champion Dominique Moceanu, not knowing Dominique is actually her biological sister.
In the 19th century, China held the monopoly on tea, which was dear and fashionable in the West, and the British Empire exchanged poppies, produced in its Indian colonies and transformed into opium, for Chinese tea. Inundated by the drugs, China was forced to open up its market, and the British consolidated their commercial dominance. In 1839, the Middle Empire introduced prohibition. The Opium War was declared… Great Britain emerged as the winner, but the warning was heeded: it could no longer depend on Chinese tea. The only alternative possible was to produce its own tea. The East India Company therefore entrusted one man with finding the secrets of the precious beverage. His mission was to develop the first plantations in Britain’s Indian colonies. This latter-day James Bond was called Robert Fortune – a botanist. After overcoming innumerable ordeals in the heart of imperial China, he brought back the plants and techniques that gave rise to Darjeeling tea.
1972 in Haute-Savoie (France) : the Bertrand's farm, with a hundred dairy cows owned by three bachelor brothers, is filmed for the first time. In 1997, they were the subject of Gilles Perret's first movie, as they let their farm to their nephew Patrick and his wife Hélène. Nowadays, 25 years later, Gilles Perret take another look at this farm, managed by Hélène who will step down. Through their words, an intimate, social and economic history of the rural world.
In 1982, a young Lula embarks on a campaign trip to Recife where intimate moments from the leader’s trip are captured on Super 8. THE VISIT was resurrected from original archival Super 8 footage from 1982 and edited over 42 years later to create a short film that offers a unique glimpse into the early political life of future Brazilian president Luiz Inácio da Silva as he engages with party colleagues and passionate activists in an effort to strengthen their party against the military dictatorship.
From Glasgow or Edinburgh, Scotland may be explored by train or long-distance coach, and this film includes a coach tour from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye. The route taken meets the Highlands at Killin, and then goes over Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe to Ben Nevis, the entrance to the Great Glen. Here we meet the West Highland railway line, and follow it on its journey through the Bonnie Prince Charlie country to Mallaig. Returning to the Great Glen we rejoin the coach route out through the Glen Foyne and Glen Shiel to the Kyle of Lochalsh, and take the ferry over to Skye.
The story of Alexa's journey as a trans woman, navigating the toxic culture that encompasses skateboarding, and what it means to transcend fear through community.
A documentary on the life and career of the legendary British exploitation film director Norman J. Warren, who gained a name for himself in the sexploitation business in the late 1960s before moving into low budget horror pictures in the 1970s and 1980s. Produced for the American release of "Inseminoid", which debuted on Blu-Ray in the USA on March, 10th 2020, this extensive documentary draws on hours of footage of Warren and also some of his best known collaborators such as the screenwriter David McGillivray.
At his Long Island beach house, and on the occasion of the publication of his masterful nonfiction novel In Cold Blood, reporter Karen Dennison interviews celebrated writer Truman Capote, who displays his exuberant personality, makes witty jokes, shares his thoughts on writing, reflects on various aspects of the book and, in a sweet and endearing voice, reads and explains some of its highlights.