Lifting the lid on the world of cinema censorship, this programme has unique access to the files of the British Board of Film Classification. Featuring explicit and detailed exchanges between the censor and film-makers, 'Dear Censor' casts a wry eye over some of the most infamous cases in the history of the board. From the now seemingly innocuous Rebel Without a Cause, the first 'naturist' films and the infamous works of Ken Russell, and up to Rambo III, this frank and surprisingly warm documentary demonstrates how a body created by the industry to safeguard standards and reflect shifts in public opinion has also worked unexpectedly closely with the film-makers themselves to ensure that their work was able reach an audience.
This reconstruction refers to a meeting that allegedly took place on 25 November 1804 at Fontainebleau between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon to discuss the coronation.
End of the 1930s. The times of Stalin's terror. Lieutenant Scherbakov got the order to shoot several "enemies of the people". Unexpectedly, a rural wedding found itself at the crime scene. Pursuant to the instruction, witnesses were also eliminated...
No other country in the world has the same kind of affection and admiration toward Walt Disney and his art and characters as Italy. His movies are legendary and his stories belong to the collective imagination of generations of Italians who grew up with his world of dreams and hopes. This documentary explores this love story.
Under the command of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, on June 24, 1821, the patriotic army fought to the death against the forces loyal to the Spanish crown with the goal of achieving, at all costs, the independence of Venezuela.
“The first rockstar”, “Crazy, evil and dangerous”. This is how Rupert Everett introduces us to the British romantic poet Lord Byron. Between 1809 and 1810, his daring and eccentric personality led him on a journey from Portugal to Istanbul, through high society gatherings, Turkish baths and brothels. He leaps from one adventure to another, passing from one lover to another, causing scandal with his wild behavior. Ironic and entertaining narrator Rupert Everett accurately recounts Byron’s feats in this episodic, on-the-road period piece produced by Channel 4.
The year is 1805. Napoleon ruled Europe. Ienari is the 11th Tokugawa Shogun. An incident, which was an open official secret, took place on the foothills of Mt. Fuji. Fearing attacks from within and without, the Shogunate planned to build a training castle utilizing the most advanced techniques. Two master castle architects, Sato Kikutaro and Kumai Hakuten, were selected to compete for the honor of building this castle. Lord Mizuno Dewa has even ordered the townspeople to assist both sides with their land surveys and preparations. This leads to fear on the part of farmers that their land will be taken away from them, and sets off a series of events which rock the nation to its very roots. With an all-star cast, this is an important story with relevance to current times. One of Ichikawa Utaemon's finest performances, a true classic!
Georgia, 1864. The Tsarist regime is using Cossacks to forcibly resettle Muslim Georgians to Turkey in order to steal their land. Meanwhile a Muslim girl falls in love with a Christian from the next village.
Matoba Kokingo, who once served as a retainer for a hatamoto, becomes disillusioned with his master and elopes with his lover, Oyuki. They flee their lord's household, taking with them 30 ryō of official funds. However, the money is stolen from them at an inn, and shortly after, Oyuki dies of illness. Eight years later, Kokingo has fallen into disgrace, now making a living as a ronin who specializes in extortion. One day, he attempts to extort a restaurant owner named Hanzo, only to discover that Hanzo was the very thief who stole the 30 ryō from him eight years ago…
In 1430, Joan of Arc, the prisoner of a powerful lord of the north of France is sold to the English. As a captive awaiting her death, she is approached by different men for whom she is believed to be the embodiment of the infinite.
In Spain, a poor country ruined by the recent Civil War (1936-39), and in the midst of Franco's dictatorship, a film school was created in Madrid in 1947, which became, almost unintentionally, a space of freedom and pure experimentation until its closure in 1976.
During a hunting party on New Year's Eve 1976, five representatives of the bourgeoisie encounter with their companion the body of a partisan from the Civil War of the late forties. What they are most confused about is the fact that the corpse that lies at their feet is still bleeding…
In 1581, the monk Seo-san predicts that the Japanese are planning an invasion of Korea. He goes to the king, suggesting that the kingdom build a stronger army, but he is thrown out of court. He begins training three pupils in martial arts, but rumors reach the king that Seo-san is training an army. The king sends his soldiers to have the monk arrested