Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. He was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie.
After LIVE FLESH, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, and VOLVER, director Pedro Almodóvar and his muse Penélope Cruz unite for a fourth time with this drama. Here, Almodóvar delves into noir style to tell a tale...
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Lluís Homar, Blanca Portillo, José Luis Gómez, Tamar Novas, Rubén Ochandiano
Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
Script: Pedro Almodóvar
Producer: Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García
Set at the end of the eighteenth century, The Duchess is the story of the beautiful and, glamorous Georgiana Spencer, the most fascinating woman of the age.
While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous. Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, intimate of ministers and princes, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator and darling of the common people. But at the core of her story is a desperate search for love.
Cast: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling u.c.
Directed by Saul Dibb
Script: Jeffrey Hatcher
A young man, Enrique (played by Fele Martinez) is working as a film director. He is visited by a childhood friend Ignacio Rodriguez (played by Gael Garcia Bernal), who is looking for work. Before he leaves Ignacio gives Enrique a book that he has written called 'The Visit'. The story centres around the lives of two young boys who attend a Catholic School. Enrique decides to make a film based on the book which is set to resurrect his own childhood. The film visits three time periods. The past features the Catholic School where two young boys come of age and begin to have feelings for one another and the influence their teacher has on their lives, priest Father Manolo (played by Daniel Gimenez Cacho). The director Pedro Almodovar weaves the story through the 70s and 80s, and pre and post-Franco Spain. A compelling drama.
Carmen, a beautiful Spanish woman with a tendency to lose her temper at the drop of a hat, is about to married to Barnaby, a caring, wealthy, but slightly boring Englishman. While out with friends on her 'hen night' she encounters a stranger who suddenly sparks a passion that has been sleeping within her. As her wedding date approaches, she finds herself struggling to put this newcomer out of her mind, but his effect on her keeps growing stronger. What is it that he sees in her, and why does she feel like she's being pushed inevitably into his arms?
Set in the 12th century, the film focuses on a young blacksmith who becomes a knight and helps defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders. There is also a love story, as the young knight falls in love with a princess.
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Eva Green, Edward Norton
Four unsuccessful outlaw brothers who steal a magic sombrero that makes them invisible. With it they hope to pull off a bank robbery and make their mother proud. Based on Lucky Luke comic book.
Starring: Eric Judor, Ramzy Bedia, Til Schweiger, Marthe Villalonga, Said Serrari, Romain Berger.
French language with latvian and russian subtitles.
Life story of Spaniard Ramón Sampedro, who fought a 30-year campaign to win the right to end his life with dignity. The film tells the story of Ramón's relationships with two women: Julia (Belén Rueda) a lawyer who supports his cause, and Rosa (Lola Due?as), a local woman who wants to convince him that life is worth living. Through the gift of his love, these women are inspired to accomplish things they never previously dreamed possible. Despite his wish to die, Ramón taught everyone he encountered the meaning, value and preciousness of life. Though he could not move himself, he had an uncanny ability to move others. A truly joyous experience, The Sea Inside celebrates the nature of freedom and love, and the mystery and beauty of life.
The Sea Inside has been recognized by critical acclaim and nominations for awards the world over, including: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film; Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film; Jury Grand Prize and Best Actor Awards from the 2004 Venice Film Festival and National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Film.
Starring: Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Lola Due?as, Clara Segura, Mabel Rivera, Celso Bugallo, Tamar Novas
Spanish language with latvian and russian subtitles.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) has a unique talent for discerning the scents and smells that swirl around him, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. Strangely lacking any scent of his own, he becomes obsessed with capturing the irresistible but elusive aroma of young womanhood. As Grenouille's obsession turns deadly, twelve young girls are found murdered. Panic breaks out as people rush to protect their daughters, while an unrepentant and unrelenting Grenouille still lacks the final ingredient to complete his quest.
Based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Süskind.
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Ben Whishaw
Directed by Tom Tykwer
English language with subtitles in Latvian and Russian.
The story takes place in the 17th century imperial Spain under the reign of Philip IV, a weak and easily manipulated monarch dominated by a corrupt court. Intrigue and betrayal, duels and battles, love and hatred are the stage for the adventures of "Captain Alatriste". In His Majesty's service, a proud soldier in Flanders and in times of peace, a hired sword in Madrid and Seville. He wasn't the most virtuous of men, nor the most devout, but he was a man of valour. His name was Diego Alatriste!
Based on Arturo Pérez Reverte's best sellers, published in more than 50 countries and translated into more than 25 languages.
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Elena Anaya, Ariadna Gil, Javier Camara, Antonio Dechent, Pilar Bardem, Fransesc Garrido
Directed by Agustin Diaz Yanes
From two-time Academy Award® winning director Milos Forman and three-time Academy Award® winning producer Saul Zaentz, 'Goya's Ghosts' is a sweeping historical epic, told through the eyes of celebrated Spanish painter Francisco Goya (STELLAN SKARSGARD). Set against the backdrop of political turmoil at the end of the Spanish Inquisition and start of the invasion of Spain by Napoleon's army, the film captures the essence and beauty of Goya's work which is best known for both the colorful depictions of the royal court and its people, and his grim depictions of the brutality of war and life in 18th century Spain. JAVIER BARDEM is Brother Lorenzo, an enigmatic, cunning member of the Inquisition's inner circle who becomes infatuated with Goya's teenage muse, Ines (NATALIE PORTMAN), when she is falsely accused of heresy and sent to prison.
Casting: Natalie Portman, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Randy Quaid, Blanca Portillo
Directed by Milos Forman
Script: Milos Forman, Jean-Claude Carri?re
Producer: Saul Zaentz
English language with latvian and russian subtitles.
Laura spent the happiest years of her childhood growing up in an orphanage by the seaside, cared for by the staff and fellow orphans whom she loved as brothers and sisters. Now, thirty years later, she returns with her husband Carlos and Simon, their 7-year-old son, with a dream of restoring and reopening the long-abandoned orphanage as a home for disabled children. The new home and mysterious surroundings awaken Simon's imagination and the boy starts to spin a web of fantastic tales and not-so-innocent games...
A troubling web that begins to disturb Laura, drawing her into the child's strange universe which resonates with echoes of long-forgotten, deeply unsettling memories of her own childhood. As the opening day draws near, tension builds within the family. Carlos remains sceptical, believing that Simon is making everything up in a desperate bid for attention. But Laura slowly becomes convinced that something long-hidden and terrible is lurking in the old house, something waiting to emerge and inflict appalling damage on her family.
Cast: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Geraldine Chaplin, Montserrat Carulla, Mabel Rivera
Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
Casting: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes, Blanca Suárez, Jan Cornet
Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar