Foreign Films on DVD

One of Spanish cinema’s great auteurs, Carlos Saura brought international audiences closer to the art of his country’s dance than any other filmmaker, before or since. In his Flamenco Trilogy—Blood Wedding, Carmen, and El amor brujo—Saura merged his passion for music with his ongoing exploration of Spanish national identity. All starring and choreographed by legendary dancer Antonio Gades, the films feature thrilling physicality and electrifying cinematography and editing—colorful paeans to bodies in motion as well as to the cinema that so eloquently, and artfully, captured them.

ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE: BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards®, As It Is In Heaven is the story of Daniel, a successful international conductor who returns to his childhood village in Sweden. Soon thereafter, the local church choir seeks him out to solicit his advice. He can't refuse, and nothing in the village is the same again. As the amateur choir develops and grows, he is drawn to the people of his old hometown, makes friends and finds love... A beautiful and engaging film, As It Is In Heaven is a wonderful story about life and love that is sure to inspire and delight. Starring Michael Nyqvist, of the upcoming Millennium series of films, from the books by Stieg Larsson.

2005 Swedish with English subtitles 132 minutes 16:9 Widescreen

Spanish:Mafia, prostitucion, violencia, drogas, y blanqueo de dinero conforman el telon de fondo de la historia de Raul y Valentin, dos hermanos mellizos con vidas muy diferentes: Raul en un violento policia expedientado por su brutalidad que se encuentra en el punto de mira de ETA y de las mafias de prostitucion. Valentin, su hermano, padece de una discapacidad intelectual y vive enamorado de una de las prostitutas del club de carretera donde trabaja como chico para todo. Los destinos de ambos hermanos vuelven a cruzarse dramaticamente cuando Raul decide desaparecer una temporada de la policia y regresa a visitar a su familia.

English:Gangland Violence, prostitution, drug trafficking and money laundering make up the back drop to the story of Raul and Valentin. Identical twin brother with very different lives. Raul, a violent policeman who has been reprimanded due to his brutal conduct, is fixed firmly in the ETA and mafias sights. His brother, Valentin suffers from a mental disability, and has fallen in love with one of the prostitutes in the strip-club where he works. The brother s paths will cross again with disastrous results when Raul is suspended and returns home to visit his family.

Russia released, NTSC (USA and Canada), ALL REGION, DIGITALLY REMASTERED, Anamorphic WIDESCREEN. AUDIO OPTIONS: Dolby Digital 5.1 ENGLISH (movie is completely in English) and Dolby Digital 5.1 RUSSIAN (voice-over). Original Russian artwork.............................................................. SYNOPSIS: After defeating France and imprisoning Napoleon on Elba, ending two decades of war, Europe is shocked to find Napoleon has escaped and has caused the French Army to defect from the King back to him. The best of the British generals, Arthur Welsley was victorious in Spain, but has never faced Napoleon. Welsley stands between Napoleon with a mixed army of Prussians, Mercenaries, Brits and Belgians. Napoleon's victory will plunge Europe back into a long term war. The two meet at Waterloo where the fate of Europe will be decided.

ENGLISH subtitled DVD !!! Import, NTSC (USA & Canada), ALL region, Anamorphic Widescreen. AUDIO OPTIONS: DD 2.0 Stereo, DD 5.1 & DTS RUSSIAN. Original Russian artwork.............................................................. SYNOPSIS: Winner of 5 Nika Awards (Russian Oscars) including Best Film. Somewhere in Northern Russia in a small Russian Orthodox monastery lives a very unusual man. His fellow-monks are confused by his bizarre conduct. Those who visit the island believe that the man has the power to heal, exorcise demons and foretell the future. However, he considers himself unworthy because of a sin he committed in his youth. The film is a parable, combining the realities of Russian everyday life with monastic ritual and routine.

The sly melodies of composer Kurt Weill and the daring of dramatist Bertolt Brecht come together onscreen under the direction of German auteur G.W. Pabst (Pandora’s Box) in this classic adaptation of the Weimar-era theatrical sensation. Set in the impoverished back alleys of Victorian London, The Threepenny Opera follows underworld antihero Mackie Messer (a.k.a. Mack the Knife) as he tries to woo Polly Peachum and elude the authorities. With its palpable evocation of corruption and dread, Pabst’s Threepenny Opera remains a benchmark of early sound cinema. It is presented here in both its celebrated German and rare French versions.

Note: The aspect ratio of this production is 1.19:1. This specifc ratio is particularly rare as it was used only in Germany prior to World War II, and has not been widely used since.

Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 02/24/2009 Run time: 75 minutes Rating: Nr

Adapted from internationally acclaimed author Zulfu Livaneli's novel, BLISS is an unconventional road movie in which the executioner of an honor killing and his victim go on a journey of self-discovery.

When 17-year-old Meryem (Ozgu Namal) is found disheveled and unconscious by the side of a lake, her family believes the worst - that her chastity has been lost and that she has been a willing accomplice in its disposal. They turn to the ancient principle of "tore," a strict moral code governing the rules of sexual practice, which condemns Meryem to death. The duty of defending the family's honor is given to distant cousin Cemal (Murat Han), who must take Meryem to Istanbul and kill her along the way.

The two begin to fall for each other and their journey takes an unexpected turn when they meet Irfan (Talat Bulut), an academic escaping his big city angst, who is also looking for a second chance in life. Set against the impressive backdrop of Turkey's natural wonders, BLISS pits tradition against modernity, urban against rural and East against West, all the while refusing to settle for easy answers.