World Cinema Classics Box Set

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Synopsis

JEAN DE FLORETTE

French director Claude Berri’s stunning adaptation of the acclaimed Marcel Pagnol novel is the world’s most popular foreign language film ever. City-dweller Jean de Florette (Gérard Depardieu) moves his family to the Provence countryside to forge a new life as a farmer. But his proud, cocky neighbour Le Papet (Yves Montand) schemes with his simple-minded nephew Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) to ensure the novice owner never discovers an all-important natural spring on the property. A wholly captivating, emotionally powerful and beautifully photographed tale of innocence, evil, greed, envy and revenge.


TALK TO HER

In this ravishing tale of romantic obsession, loneliness and friendship, Academy Award® winning Director Pedro Almodóvar crafts a life affirming story of two women and the men who love them. After a chance encounter at a theatre, Benigno and Marco meet at a private clinic where Benigno works. Lydia, Marco’s bullfighter girlfriend, has been injured and is gravely ill. Benigno is looking after another woman in the clinic, Alicia, a young ballet student. The lives of the four characters flow in all directions, past, present and future, urging them towards an unexpected destiny.

*2002 Winner - Best Original Screenplay


THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL

Springtime in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia. A family of nomadic shepherds assists the births of their camel herd. One of the camels experiences an excruciatingly difficult delivery but, with help from the family, eventually delivers a rare white calf. Despite the efforts of the shepherds, the mother rejects the newborn, refusing it her milk and motherly love. When any hope for the little one seems to have vanished, the nomads send their two young boys on a journey through the desert, in search of a musician and a miracle...


KAGEMUSHA

Powerful warlord Shingan has become as legendary as the motto emblazoned on his banners: “Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, fierce as the fire, immovable as the mountain.” As he lies dying from battle wounds, Shingen orders his clan to find a double to replace him – to keep his death secret so that his enemies will not attack. The man chosen for this role is called Kagemusha (the shadow warrior), who must somehow transform himself into a great leader and command the allegiance of 25,000 samurai warriors in this epic drama from the director Akira Kurosawa.

Academy Award® Nominated 1980 - Art Direction - Set Decoration, Foreign Language Film


THE CHORUS

The year is 1948. Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot), an unemployed music teacher, finds a job as proctor in a correctional boarding school for boys in post-war France. He is stunned by the harsh reality of the school’s routine - particularly the extreme, largely ineffectual policies of the school’s director Rachin (François Berléand). Mathieu sets out to change the pupils’ lives by acquainting them with the magic and power of music...

*Academy Award® Nominated 2004 - Best Foreign Language Film, Best Song