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.
Lost Times (2009)
7.1/10
Starring: Csaba Czene
1997. Young car mechanic Iván lives in a godforsaken village in eastern Hungary. He looks after his mentally disabled sister Eszter and earns extra mo... Read more
Lourdes (2009)
6.9/10
Director: Jessica Hausner
Starring: Elina Lowensohn, Bruno Todeschini, Lea Seydoux, Sylvie Testud
This subtly satiric, yet sometimes touching, examination of faith, desire, and religion stars Sylvie Testud as Christine, a woman suffering from multi... Read more
Love ( Szerelem ) (1971)
6/10
Director: Karoly Makk
Starring: Lili Darvas, Mari Torocsik
Based on two short stories by Hungarian author Tobor Dery, this film explores how individuals survive in the face of adversity and the absence of a lo... Read more
Loves of a Blonde ( A Blonde In Love ) (1965)
7.7/10
Director: Milos Forman
Starring: Hanna Brejchova, Vladimir Pucholt, Vladimir Mensik
Milos Forman's great comedy is an acute satire of Czech daily life. The film focuses on the relationship of a factory girl and a touring piano player.... Read more
Man of Iron (1981)
7.5/10
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Starring: Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Marian Opania
Winner of the Golden Palm (Best Picture) at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, Andrzej Wajda's film is a continuation of the story of Maciej Tomczyk (Jerz... Read more
Man of Marble (1976)
7.9/10
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Starring: Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Krystyna Janda, Tadeusz Lomnicki, Jacek Lomnicki, Michal Ta...
Perhaps Andrzej Wajda's most important film, this documentary-style expose of Stalinist corruption paralleled attempts of the contemporary regime to c... Read more
Mephisto (1981)
7.9/10
Director: Istvan Szabo
Starring: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Krystyna Janda
Istvan Szabo's powerful, Academy-Award winning film stars Klaus Maria Brandauer as an actor in pre-war Germany whose quest for success leads him to su... Read more
Morgiana (Blu-ray) (1972)
7.2/10
Starring: Josef Abrham, Petr Cepek, Iva Janzurová
Klara and Viktoria are sisters. Their father dies, leaving most of his property to Klara. When Klara becomes involved with a man that her sister loves... Read more
Mother Joan of the Angels (1961)
7.7/10
Director: Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Starring: Lucynna Winnika
A brilliantly filmed and at times unsettling exploration of faith and repression, the film is based on the documented story of the possession of a gro... Read more
My Twentieth Century (1989)
7.1/10
Director: Ildikó Enyedi
Two twin sisters, who grew up separately, Dóra, a pseudo-aristocrat, and Lili, an anarchist bomber, are reunited through Z, a mysterious traveller of... Read more