Foreign Films - Page 24

Manufacturer: MHz Networks

(In Italian with English Subtitles)Before Detective Salvo Montalbano became the seasoned and mature chief detective we already know, he was just Salvo, new to Vigata and new to being a police chief. He didn't always live in that glorious house by the sea, or have Deputy Chief Mimi Augello as a best friend, or Fazio as a loyal assistant. He didn't always go out with the beautiful Genoese architect, Livia Burlando. Perhaps the only constants have been his unbridled quest for good food and the inability of his overly enthusiastic deputy, Catarella, to pronounce anyone s name correctly. In this prequel series to Detective Montalbano, watch the genesis of the friendships, the rivalries and the romance as the players arrive to take their places in the beautiful Sicilian town of Vigata. In the crucible of solving crimes together among the unforgettable people of Vigata, they become a team. Savor these stories that set the stage for the group s transformation from rookie cops to the experienced crime-solving ensemble we ve come to know and love. Episode 1: The First Case A promotion brings young Detective Salvo Montalbano from a small mountain village to the city of Vigata. There he finds himself supervising a group of agents that include Carmine Fazio, many years his senior, and quirky Sicilian Catarella. Together they investigate a murder that's been pinned on a young woman who may be smarter and angrier than anyone knows. Episode 2: New Year's Eve A bullet shot from outside a hotel kills a guest in his room on New Year's Eve. Montalbano learns that rooms were switched just before the shooting, which changes the tenor of the investigation. HIs work isn't made any easier when Dr. Pasquano from forensics arrives to check out the body, without giving much respect or deference to the young police chief. Episode 3: Back to Basics Montalbano finds himself threatened by the arrival of Deputy Chief Mimi Augello. They investigate a kidnapping case together while Montalbano secretly wonders whether his new colleague is friend ...

Manufacturer: Kino Lorber Brand: KINO INTERNATIONAL

In 1954 a reclusive ex-soldier (Viggo Mortensen) is thrown into the woes of rebellion when he's ordered to escort a villager (Reda Kateb) accused of murder to prison during the Algerian War. As their journey leads them through a deadly fire-fight between settlers and rebels, the two men on opposite sides of the conflict must join forces to survive in this adaptation of Albert Camus short story The Guest .

Manufacturer: Mhz Networks Home Brand: Mhz Networks Home

Murder, betrayal, office politics and temptation are all in a day's work for Detective Montalbano, the unconventional, intuitive and romantically challenged investigator from the best-selling international mystery novels by Andrea Camilleri. Featuring his unforgettable cadre of flawed and quirky characters, The Mystery of the Terracotta Dog, The Artist s Touch and A Trip to Tindari are vividly brought to life against the breathtakingly magnificent backdrop of sun-washed Sicily.

Manufacturer: Criterion Collection Brand: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT Model: 17597976 Color: black & white

In this poetic and atmospheric horror fable, set in a village in war-torn medieval Japan, a malevolent spirit has been ripping out the throats of itinerant samurai. When a military hero is sent to dispatch the unseen force, he finds that he must struggle with his own personal demons as well. From Kaneto Shindo, director of the terror classic Onibaba, Kuroneko (Black Cat) is a spectacularly eerie twilight tale with a shocking feminist angle, evoked through ghostly special effects and exquisite cinematography.

Manufacturer: Kino Lorber Brand: KINO INTERNATIONAL

Having defined the espionage genre with Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler, Fritz Lang returned to the genre with this surprisingly fast-paced and remarkably grim thriller. Rudolf Kleine-Rogge stars as Haghi, the head of an elaborate criminal empire, and Willy Fritsch is the undercover agent assigned to topple the diabolical king from his throne. Filled with the sexual intrigue and high-tech gadgetry that continue to define the genre, Spies remains remarkably contemporary, more than 85 years after its original release.Special Features: 2K Digital Restoration by the F.W. Murnau Stiftung, Piano score by Neil Brand (2.0 Stereo), Spies: A Small Film With Lots of Action (68 Min.), Original theatrical trailer (5 min.)

Manufacturer: Magnolia Home Entertainment Brand: Magnolia Pictures

PUSHER PUSHER II- WITH BLOOD ON MY HANDS PUSHER III - I'M THE ANGEL OF DEATH

Manufacturer: Criterion Collection (Direct) Brand: CRITERION COLLECTIONS

Seven drafted German schoolboys die defending a worthless bridge against Allied tanks.

Manufacturer: Mhz Networks Home Brand: MHz Networks Corp.

Terence Hill (famous for his partnership with Bud Spencer in spaghetti westerns such as They Call Me Trinity and My Name is Nobody) stars as Don Matteo a thoroughly ordinary Catholic priest with an extraordinary ability to read people and solve crimes. He's a parish priest who never met an unjustly accused person he didn't want to help. In fact he never met anyone marginalized he didn't want to help: the elderly the homeless the immigrant the unemployed. He sees them all as he bicycles along the streets and through the countryside of his parish. He's a hometown boy who was baptized and ordained in Gubbio and is beloved by just about everyone in this stunning Italian mountain village. His easygoing manner endears him to people making it easy for them to reveal their secrets when they get into trouble. His friend and chess partner is policeman Marshal Cecchini who slips him information about new cases much to the chagrin of the police chief who isn't at all thrilled about the collaboration. But he's in agreement with Don Matteo about one thing: the importance of justice being served. Don Matteo has one more concern besides justice: to bring a word of hope to the culprit no matter what the crime. These simple tales of redemption and humanity will bring inspiration a chuckle and a smile. This DVD Set includes episodes 1-8: The Stranger A Routine Operation The Courage to Speak The Bad Apple The Antique Rose Anna Ageless Love and A Matter of Smell

Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Brand: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Pedro Almodovar broke into the art-house mainstream with this wild, manic comedy about a gaggle of women and their various problems with men, be they married lovers, cheating husbands, fiancés, or terrorists. Almodovar's long-time leading lady, Carmen Maura, stars as an actress (famed for her laundry detergent commercial as the mother of a sloppy serial killer) who's just been dumped by her married lover. In the midst of trying to track him down for a face-to-face confrontation, she crosses paths with her lover's son (Antonio Banderas), his unbalanced wife (Julieta Serrano), and his new girlfriend (Kiti Manver). Adding more fuel to the fire is the hapless friend (Maria Barranco) who got involved with a Shiite terrorist and is now being hunted by the police. Almodovar, a master of farcical screwball comedy, manages to keep all these balls in the air in dizzy, hilarious style without once losing his momentum. Chock full of the director's over-the-top stylization, in terms of both story and sets, the film is a hilarious yet heartfelt marriage of kitsch and drama, verging on parody but never going entirely over the top. Maura is absolutely breathtaking as the unhinged lover, dispensing wise advice to others while trying to keep a semblance of sanity, and the supporting cast is quintessential Almodovar, including a brief but memorable turn by Banderas in what could have been a bland, go-nowhere role. Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1989. --Mark Englehart