Feature Films and Documentaries
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Qué hecho yo para mercer esto!? (What have I done to Deserve This?!)
Pedro Almodóvar. 1 VHS cassette (100 mins.): color. Spanish with English subtitles, Feature film. Spain, 1984. Actors: Carmen Maura, Chus Lampreave, Juan Martínez.
"You're not likely to find this part of Spain in a guidebook for tourists. Gloria, a very resourceful working class housewife, is a true feminist heroine who's on the go 18 hours a day, trying to keep her outrageously wacky family afloat. Comedy and tragedy blen to portray a surreal and perverse fable of contemporary life." (from the video jacket)
Qué Viva México
Sergei Eienstein. 1 VHS cassette (85 mins.): B&W. Russian with English subtitles. Documentary. Russia/Mexico 1940-1979.
"More than half a century ago, Sergie Eisenstein, director of Potemkin, mother, October, Strike, envisioned a film document of the history of Mexico. . . a story of its people. The production ran into financial difficulties and the final segment was never completed. Over the years, portions of the completed film were considered lost but through the efforts of Mosfilm Studio and the talented hands of Eisenstein's editor, 80-year-old Grigory Alexandrov, the great document of Mexico lives again." (from the video jacket)
Quilombo
Carlos Diegues. 1 VHS cassette (114 mins.): color. Portuguese with English subtitles, Feature film. Brazil, 1984.
"Quilombo, Carlos Diegues' historical saga is a stirring fusion of folklore, political impact, and dynamic storytelling, realized in vibrant tropical colors and set to the pulsing beat of Gilberto Gil's rhythmic musical score. The story derives from fact: in 17th century Brazil, groups of runaway black slaves escaped to the mountainous jungle strongholds, where they formed self-governing communities known as quilombos . Like Alex Haley's Roots, this film chronicles Palmares, the most famous of these "Black Eldorados" which flourished for several decades under the reign of the legendary chieftain Ganga Zumba." (from the video jacket)
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Raoni: The Fight For the Amazon
Jean-Pierre Dutilleux. 1 VHS cassette (82 mins.): color. English, Documentary. USA, 1979. (narrated by Marlon Brando).
"Raoni is the charismatic chieftain of the dwindling Megkronoti tribe, who have inhabited the Amazon river basin since the beginning of human memory. In his fight to defend the Indians' land and life against the juggernaut of consumer civilization, Raoni has achieved international recognition as the spokesperson for all of Brazil's remaining Indians. The irony that pervades Raoni is overwhelming and painful. His heroic journey opens even farther horizons to him, and at the same time his own world shrinks toward the vanishing point. Life among the Megkronoti is antithetical to that of the "civilized" world. Its basis is harmony with -- not conquest of-- nature. Authority derives from personal rather than political or economic power. Their sense of time is inexorably linked to the natural rhythms of the earth, their patterns dominated by the search for food, by the seasons, and by rituals, with long rests for dreaming and meditation. `Survive and celebrate' is their ethos" (from the video jacket)
Raise the Red Lantern
Zhang Yimou. 1 VHS cassette (125 mins.): color. Mandarin with English subtitles, Feature film. Cina, 1991.
"Raise the Red Lantern received an Academy Award Nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film, 1991. In a sweeping and magnificent tale of passion, aspiration, dreams and desire set in the 1920's China, 19-year-old Songlian (Gong Li) has become Fourth Wife to the wealthy Chen. Yet she must share her husband with his three existing wives. Each wife has her own house on the estate, and each must wait until dusk for the arrival of a red lantern. Where the lantern is carried signifies which wife the master will sleep with that night. The lantern bring with it privileges none of the wives will sacrifice without a fight. When Songlian discovers that the other wives manipulate and cheat their way to win the red lantern, she decides to join in the fight for Chen's attention. A battle of wills commences that can only bring misfortune to all concerned." (from the video jacket)
Ran
Akira Kurosawa. 1 VHS cassette (160 mins.): color. Japanese with English subtitles, feature film. Tokyo, 1985. Actors: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu and others.
"Akira Kurosawa's brilliantly conceived re-telling of Shakespeare's King Lear magically mixes japanese history, Shakespeare's plot and Kurosawa's own feelings about loyalty in the epic masterpiece Ran. Set in 16th century Japan, an aging ruler, Lord Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai), announces his intention to divide his land equally among his three sons. This decision to step down unleashes a power struggle between the three, when Hidetora falls prey to the false flattery bestowed upon him by the two older sons and banishes the youngest when he speaks the truth. The ruthless betrayal ultimately drives Hidetora insane, destroying his entire family and his kingdom. Deep human emotion and outstanding acting combine to create one of the most acclaimed foreign films of all time." (from the video jacket)
Rashomon
Akira Kurosawa. 1 VHS cassette (83 mins.): B&W. Japanese with English subtitles, Feature film. Japan, 1950.
"A cinema classic, 'Rashomon' introduced the Western world to the greatness of Akira Kurosawa and paved the way for fellow masters of the Japanese film industry. Characteristic of Kurosawa's humanism and innovative narrative style, this eloquent masterpiece illuminates the subjectivity of truth through flashbacks, vigorous editing, and luminous photography. Four different narrators describe the same brutal act -- a woman's rape and her husband's consequent death -- yet the facts elude us because each interprets the story to make himself appear in the best light. Through subtle gestures, Machiko Kyo ('Ugetsu', 'Gate of Hell') conveys the woman's supremem loss at the hands of her attacker, played by Toshiro Mifune ('Seven Samurai', 'Throne of Blood') with a savage heat. This visually rich tale poignantly confronts man's potential for kindness and corruption." (from the video jacket)
Red balloon, The (Ballon, Rouge, La)
Albert Lamorisse. 1 VHS cassette (34 mins.): color. Feature film. France, 1956.
"One of the most famous short films of all time The Red Balloon has won the hearts of generations of children. The award-winning film tells the simple story of a lonely French boy and the amazingly loyal balloon that follows him everywhere. Trailing the extraordinary pair through-and-above-the streets of Paris, Albert Lamorisse's camera captures the essence of childhood wandering. Filmed without dialogue, the fantasy captivates even the youngest viewers with gorgeous color photography and music. As fresh as when it was first released, this stunning masterpiece celebrates the magic powers of friendship as no other film has." (from the video jacket) 2 copies.
Rei do Rio
Fabio Barreto. 1 VHS cassette (107 mins.): color. Portuguese no subtitles, Feature film. Brazil. Actors: Nuno Leal Maia, Nelson Xavier, Milton Gançcalves, Amparo Grizales.
Reine Margot, La (Queen Margot)
Patrice Chereau. 1 VHS cassette (144 mins.): color. French with English subtitles, Feature film. France, 1995. Actors: Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Vincent Perez, Virna Lisi.
"A classic tale of intrigue and forbidden love, Queen Margot is the powerful hit universally acclaimed by critics! Thrown into a political marriage of convenience by her ruthlessly power-hungry family, the beautiful Margot (Isabelle Adjani - Camille Claudel) soon finds herself hopelessly drawn into their murderous affairs. It's then she realizes that her only hope of escape lies somewhere between the heroic soldier who loves her and the enemy husband who could save her..." (from the video jacket)
Réligieuse, La (The Nun)
Jacques Rivette. 1 VHS cassette (155 mins.) : color. French with English subtitles, Feature film. France 1966. Actors: Anna Karina, Liselotte Pulver, Micheline Presle, Christine Lenier.
"Originally banned by the French government, acclaimed French New Wave director Jacques Rivette's adaptation of Diderot's classic 18th century novel explores with poetic simplicity the moving tale of a 16 year old girl who is forced by her mother to enter a convent.Suzanne, played by the exceptional Anna Karina, is persuaded by a kind Mother Superior to accept her vows. However, Mother Superior soon dies and Suzanne meets with the rigors and abuses of her harsh successor. Her desperate attempts at freedom land her first in another convent, and then finally, though with tragic ends, in the outside world. despite the controversy over its release, The Nun is less an indictment of a religious order than a condemnation of the repressiveness of 18th Century society - a society in which women had two choices as dictated by their families: marriage or the convent." (from the video jacket)
Retour de Martin Guerre, Le (The Return of Martin Guerre)
Daniel Vigne. 1 VHS cassette (111 min.): color. French with English subtitles, Feature film. France, 1982. Actors: Gérard Dépardieu, Nathalie Baye.
Retrato de Teresa (Portrait of Teresa)
Pastor Vega. 1 VHS cassette (103 mins.): color. Spanish with English subtitles, Feature film. Cuba, 1979. Actors: Daisy Granados, Adolfo Llaurado.
"Portrait of Teresa is the second film in the Cuban Cinema series and is perhaps the most controversial film yet from Cuba. Teresa, vividly portrayed by Daisy Granados, is a housewife and mother who works in a textile factory. Her involvement in political and cultural groups incurs the displeasure of her husband, who expects her to be waiting with a hot meal when he comes home at night. The resulting difficulty in their marriage is depicted with compassion and authenticity. Though center stage belongs to Teresa, it is the bond of sexual and emotional empathy between her and her husband (Adolfo Llaurado) that gives the film its intensity and anguish." (from the video jacket)
Rhapsody in August
Akira Kurosawa. 1 VHS cassette (98 mins.): color. Japanese with English subtitles, Feature film. Japan, 1991. Actors: Sachiko Murase, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Richard Gere.
"From Akira Kurosawa, one of the great masters of Japanese cinema, director of the The Seven Samurai, Ran and Academy Award-winners Rashomon and Dersu Uzala comes the 29th film in his extraordinary career. Rhapsody in August looks back on a summer in Nagasaki, a summer of discovery for three generations, changing their lives forever. Four children are staying with their grandmother in Nagasaki when they are invited to visit their American family in Hawaii. But the grandmother has long-sleeping memories awakened by the invitation. The memories conjure up terrible images from August 9th, 1945 - the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Grandmother's stories lead the children back to a time and place never to be forgotten, as the past's dark secrets unravel before them. When an American cousin (Richard Gere) arrives, he too touches upon the secrets of a long forgotten past. He brings their cycle of discovery full circle, and old ghosts are finally confronted, though they may never be put to rest." (from the video jacket)
Ridicule
1 VHS cassette (103 mins.): color. French with English subtitles, Feature film. France, 1996.
"Ridicule is an exceptionally entertaining tale of passion and deceit! In a desperate quest to save his hometown, a young man quickly learns that a sharp wit is the key to open any door in the Versailles court of Louis XVI! But his mission is complicated when he finds himself locked in a dangerous triangle with two very seductive ladies: a sophisticated older woman who can help him . . . and an innocent young beauty with nothing to offer but her love! Wickedly funny humor and outstanding performances highlight this must-see triumph!"
Rififi
Jules Dassin. 1 VHS cassette (113 mins.): BW. French with English subtitles, Feature film. France, 1955.
Riso amaro (Bitter Rice)
Giuseppe De Santis. 1 VHS cassette (108 mins.): B&W. Italian with English subtitles, Feature film. Italy, 1948. Actors: Silvana Mangano, Vittorio Gassman, Raf Vallone, Doris Dowling, Lia Corelli.
"One of Italy's most commercially successful films, 'Bitter Rice' packed theaters around the world -- despite being banned by the Legion of Decency in the United States. Though intended as a scathing indictment of harsh conditions endured by women laboring in Italy's rice fields, the film's enormous popularity was largely attributed to the erotic appeal of young Silvana Mangano. The former Miss Rome became a star overnight for her sultry debut as an impoverished yet voluptuous laborer who turns down the chance to emigrate to a better life in South America in favor of a steamy affair with her best friend's lover. Ironically, Marxist writer and director Giuseppe De Santis, one of the founders of Italy's post-World War II neorealist movement, virtually brought the genre to an end with 'Bitter Rice' by demonstrating that sex was a far greater draw than social criticism." (from the video jacket)
Diego Rivera
Educational Video Network. 1 VHS cassette. Spanish, Biography.
Robert Clary A-5714: a memoir of liberation
Budd Margolis. 1 VHS cassette (60 mins.): color. English, Documentary. U.S.A., 1984. Conference held at Kent State University.
Roma città aperta (Open City)
Roberto Rossellini. 1 VHS cassette (101 mins.): B&W. Italian with English subtitles, Feature film. Italy, 1945. Actors: Anna Magnani, Aldo Fabrizi, Marcel Pagliero, maria Michi.
"In the final hours of Nazi tyranny, Italian resistance leader Pagliero is hidden from the Gestapo by a friend's pregnant girl, Magnani. Whe she is shot, he finds shelter with Michi, a drug-addicted showgirl. Fascism's stranglehold on Itlaian society is brutally exposed when he and sympathetic priest Fabrizi are betrayed and executed, protecting the identity of their comrades to the bitter end. The courage of ordinary people caught in devastating political events is captured by Rossellini's 1945 Neo-Realist classic, shot documentary-style int he streets and apartements of Rome under the threat of actual gunfire. Given these conditions, he was still able to summon unaffected, sensitive performances from his actors; a gritty, passionate Anna Magnani became an international star."
Romero
John Dugan. 1 VHS cassette (105 mins.): color. English, Feature film. USA, 1989.
"Romero is a compelling and deeply moving look at the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who made the ultimate sacrifice in a passionate stand against social injustice and opression in his country. This film chronicles the transformation of Romero from an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader of the Salvadoran people." (from the video jacket)
Rosa Blanca, La (The White Rose)
Roberto Gavaldón. 1 VHS cassette (100 min.): B&W. Spanish with English subtitles. Feature Film. Actors: Ignacio Lopez Tarso, Rita Macedo, Christiane Martel, Begoña Palacios, David Reynoso. Mexico, 1960.
"The 'Condor Oil Company'hits an immovable object in its quest for cil rights: Don Jacinto Yañez, owner of the hacienda 'The White Rose.' Yet the oil company will not take no for an answer. Thus begins the oil companies' land expropriation in Mexcio. Based on the controversial novel by B. Traven, 'The White Rose' is a compelling movie that exposes the most flagrant evils of capitalism, foiled by the peasant's reverence for the land he lives on." (from the video jacket)
Rue Cases-Nègres (Sugar Cane Alley)
Euzhan Palcy. 1 VHS cassette (107 min.): color. French with English subtitles, Feature film. Martinique, 1983.
"Set in Martinique in 1931, Sugar Cane Alley established 28-year-old Euzhan Palcy as a major new filmmaking talent. Her film paints a rich impasto of native life under French colonial rule, filtered through the coming-of-age of a bright, sweetly opportunistic black boy learning to reconcile the value of his shanty- town roots with the educational opportunities that beckon him to the big city. The film traces the young boy's escape from poverty through a combination of ambition, education, a surrogate father's wisdom, and a grandmother's indomitability. Sugar Cane Alley manages to transform a very painful third world subject (colonial exploitation) into a universally accessible humanist cinema." (African Cinema)
Règle du Jeu, La (Rules of the Game)
1 VHS cassette: color. French with English subtitles.
"Jean Renoir's most revered film combines his love for the outrageous with his stinging disdain for the French privileged class. One the eve of World War II, the scandalous erotic charades of the aristocrats at a weekend hunt party are mirrored by the activities of the servants. The arrival of an honorable guest -- one who refuses to play by the rules--throws the game dangerously out of balance, and signals the beginning of events that can only end in tragedy. Rejected by outraged Parisians at the time of its release and later banned by the Nazis, Renoir's masterpiece was years ahead of its time. The original negative was destroyed during the war, but 200 cans of film were later discovered, and the print was meticulously restored in 1959. Today, Rules of the Game stands as the director's timeless condemnation of a corrupt society where appearances are everything and values mean nothing."
NOTE: ** indicates does not circulate.
