Eastern European Cinema
Again this category lumps a lot of countries together where the Alice collection is not large enough to warrant separate shelf-space for each country represented. Eastern European films are often categorised by a healthy black humour, an ability to look hardship in the eye and laugh - if somewhat bitterly at times. Included here are films from Poland, Austria, Yugoslavia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. To look for films from a specific country refer to the 'By Country' link on the left.
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In Bloom (2013)
7.7/10
Director: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß
Starring: Lika Babluani, Mariam Bokeria, Zurab Gogaladze
Set in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1992. Friends Eka and Natia look to leave childhood behind as they ignore societal customs and work to escap... Read more
In Darkness (2011)
7.3/10
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Starring: Herbert Knaup, Benno Furmann, Maria Schrader, Agnieszka Grochowska, Robert Wieck...
From acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland ("Europa Europa"), "In Darkness" is based on a true story. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in... Read more
Intimate Lighting (1965)
7.6/10
Director: Ivan Passer
One of the finest works of the Czech New Wave, Passer's film is a quietly funny film that has a lot to say about our lives and what we do to get by. I... Read more
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Blu-ray) (1975)
7.8/10
Director: Chantal Akerman
Starring: Delphine Seyrig
A lonely widowed housewife does her daily chores, takes care of her apartment where she lives with her teenage son, and turns the occasional trick to... Read more
Katyn (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Starring: Andrzej Chyra, Maja Ostaszewska, Artur Zmijewski, Danuta Stenka, Jan Englert
Lauded Polish director Andrzej Wajda details the tragic events surrounding the 1940 massacre of 15,000 Polish army officers by Soviet troops in the Ka... Read more
Knife in the Water (1962)
7.6/10
Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Leon Niemczyk, Jolanta Umecka, Zygmunt Malanowicz
An absorbing drama that grows out of the tensions created when a couple off for a sailing weekend pick up a student hitchhiker. Polanski's first featu... Read more
Kolya (1996)
7.8/10
Director: Jan Sverak
Starring: Zdenek Sverak, Andrej Chalimon, Libuse Safrankova
This warm and witty seriocomedy follows a down-and-out cellist and confirmed bachelor who agrees to a marriage of convenience with a friend's beautifu... Read more
Last Stop Paradise (1998)
Director: Lucian Pintilie
Starring: Costel Cascaval, Dorina Chiriac
Aka "Terminus Paradis". On the outskirts of Bucharest one hot summer day, Norica, a young waitress, and Mitu, a pig-farmer, meet, flirt with each othe... Read more
Leben fur Leben ( Life for Life ) (1991)
Director: Krzysztof Zanussi
In 1941, a young Silesian, Jan, manages to escape from Auschwitz. In retaliation, the camp commandant condemns 10 prisoners to the 'starvation bunker... Read more
Life is a Miracle (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Emir Kusturica
Starring: Slavko Stimac, Vesna Trivalic, Vuk Kostic, Natasa Solak, Stribor Kusturica
In 1992, war is brewing in Bosnia, but the city fathers in the town of Golobuci are going ahead with their plans to build a railroad they hope will br... Read more