A documentary about the poisoning of political opponents by Russia. Focuses on specific cases of politically motivated assassinations by poisonings, including the attempted murder of Victor Yuschenko, the candidate and eventual President of Ukraine, using the deadly Dioxin. The film explains that Russia has not stopped this activity and its "Lab X" is still in operation. Originally created for the UK by FremantleMedia's production company talkbackTHAMES, "Poisoned" aired on Sky One in April 2005. (This documentary was made before the well-publicized poisoning by Russia of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.)
During the age of warring clans (Sengoku Jidai), many samurai lords sought to unite the country under their banners by becoming the supreme leader. One of the first to vie for power in this way was Saito Dosan, the 'Viper'. His son-in-law, Oda Nobunaga, did in fact unite the nation after subduing all of his enemies, yet falling at last to the treachery of one of his most trusted generals. This story is a pre-cursor to those later events as the brilliant military strategist Saito Dosan rises to power and notoriety as a great lord in his own right. Directed by Kudo Eiichi and with a tremendous supporting cast that includes Nakamura Toru as Oda Nobunaga and Chiba Shinichi as Akechi Mitsutsugu, battle scenes of awesome power and a unique view of Japanese history, this is a marvelous production highlighted by the action scenes done by the Japan Action Club (JAC).
The life story of Blessed Zdislava of Lemberk, about whom legends rather than sparse historical references tell us that she was a deeply religious woman with healing powers who devoted herself entirely to the humble service of her sick and suffering neighbors.
The years of Mánes' studies at art schools and on the period when the mature and distinctive artist was already promoting his concept of a new decoration of the Old Town Clock.
In 2008 French filmmaker Julie Gali traveled to the US to film the election of Barack Obama. In spite of this victory for civil rights, it soon became apparent that the rights of another minority were under threat. In California the passing of Proposition 8 marked the only time in U.S. history that a civil right was actually taken away after it had been granted. Upon seeing this, Ms. Gali decided to immerse herself in the growing grassroots struggle of the gay community, which culminated in the October 11, 2009 March for Equality in Washington DC.
A heartbreaking, yet redemptive journey into the history of the Amish People. The year 2017 is the five hundred year anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg and starting the Reformation in Germany. This film considers the impact of the Reformation Era on the Amish Church in America today.
In 1920, Harvard University convened a secret court to interview, charge and discipline students suspected of being homosexual. Thirty-seven men testified before the Court, including a tutor, an assistant professor, Harvard students, and several Boston men. After two weeks of testimony, eight Harvard men were forced to withdraw, one of whom committed suicide. Based on actual court documents, "Perkins 28" dramatizes the testimony from the Secret Court Files of 1920, nine episodes of testimony before the Court. Filmed in Cambridge, MA, and starring Harvard undergraduates.
More than one million Armenians perished between 1915 and 1916 in massacres or brutal deportation programs. Turkey still denies it ever happened. Laurence Jourdan examines massacres of Armenians in the decades leading up to the mass murder, and the geopolitical situation both before and after the genocide. Contemporaneous reports and documents written by Western diplomats stationed in the Ottoman Empire describe the methods used and the deportation routes. These accounts are mixed with personal stories from the living survivors and archive footage from Ottoman authorities.
The glories of Ancient Rome are explored in ROMAN CITY, based on David Macaulay's acclaimed book. This animated and live-action video recounts life in Verbonia, a fictional city in Gaul. A well-planned town with all modern conveniences, it is threatened by conflict between conquerors and conquered. Macaulay also visits Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ostia, Nimes, Orange, and Rome, to view actual Roman architecture and engineering greatness.
Choi Moon Bok is the Devil Rider, a messenger that's so fast that no enemy can catch him as he rides through their camps. During the years of the Manchu War, lords of the court gather to try and call upon scattered soldiers to mount a counterattack against the Manchu army. In order to do this they need a messenger that can ride fast and escape enemy hands. The Devil Rider is just the man but his wife is due to give birth on the night of his departure. He sacrifices being there with her to do his duty for his country. He manages to ride through the enemy, but it's all in vain. His wife dies in labor and the king has already signed peace negotiations with the Manchus. This story takes place 14 years after these events as a cunning and powerful woman named Seoyeon tries to enact revenge for her father's death. She needs the Devil Rider to carry out..
The Irish entry in the BFI's "Century of Cinema" documentary series examines Irish filmmaking in a decade when the country is going through a highly significant period of creativity and growth in cultural self-confidence. The film makes connections and contrasts, illuminates parallels and continuities, as it weaves through 100 years of cinema in Ireland.
The abusive harvest of a simple fruit built an empire: the United Fruit Company. A fruit that conquered the markets of the world, but devastated Central America. The amazing story of the banana: pioneers of globalized capitalism, dictators of banana republics, revolutionaries, the inventor of modern advertising, tons of bananas, bloody shades of yellow. The story of a ruthless enterprise, without borders or rules to respect, except the cruel law of supply and demand…