Let me invite you to the (home) cinema!
Here are some films I've seen numerous times and can still see over and over again.
Titles available on DVD have the covers next to the text. Cover photos are with kind permission from the corresponding publishers; detail on the respective DVD is available via clicking onto the respective cover photo.

Fanny and Alexander/Fanny und Alexander (1982)
Family drama where a mother of three children, after her husband, a theatre director, dies, marries a bishop who's an incarnation of principle and intolerance. She tries to escape, but finds him erecting sort of a virtual prison around her and her children. In this situation she cries for help to her family. While the Ekhdal family may include fallen and crazy characters they all know what to do if any one of them is in urgent need of help.

Actually, the film comprises much more than that dry storyline: Love, mystery, trust and most of all tolerance. One of those quite rare films causing me really to think about myself. Besides it is just a visual masterpiece. By directing legend Ingmar Bergman - perhaps the best of all his outstanding films.


The Piano / Das Piano (1993)
A mute young women from Scotland is married to a man from New Zealand she's never seen before. After arrival with her illegitimate daughter she finds her husband Stewart completely unable to understand her, notably her deep relation to her piano as a substitute for her lost voice. Eventually, their neighbour Baines gets an idea what the piano means to her. This marks the beginning of a complex sexual relation between Ada, Baines and Stewart unavoidably resulting in a catastrophe.

The Piano became a bestseller and won three Oscars (Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, and director Jane Campion). An essential component is the great score by Michael Nyman.



Fly away home / Amy und die Wildgänse (1996)
After Amy's mother dies in a car crash in New Zealand, her father takes her to Canada. There she finds some geese eggs and takes them home. After they hatch their "parents" were scared away because of building measures, thus Amy is their only mother. In fall they have to migrate and someone has to show them the way South. Amy's father suggests using an ultra light plane for guiding them, however, these geese do not follow him but Amy...

Director, Carroll Ballard, should be thanked for this poetic and touching film. Wonderful music by Mark Isham (unfortunately never released on CD!), beautiful aerial photos and a splendid performance by Anna Paquin.



Hilary and Jackie (1998)
Life and death of famous Cellist Hilary du Pre. Actually, however, the film is much more, contrasting her concept of life in limelight with that of her sister Jackie in a tight family in the country. Based on a fine and very sensible book written by Hilary du Pre on the life of her sister. Wonderful soundtrack including sequences of Edward Elgar's cello concerto in e minor, which du Pre became famous with.

Directed by Anand Tucker. With Emily Watson as Hilary du Pre.




Mulholland Drive (2001)
Two girls meet in LA, one being there for a casting and the other one just survived a strange car crash. In the course of time their lives become twisted more and more... One of the mystery films by famous director David Lynch. The film is full of symbols to decrypt and there are several ways to understand it.

Contrary to most David Lynch films, perhaps (a little) less violent but more visually appealing. With Naomi Watts in a great part.



Jane Eyre (1996)
Jane Eyre, a young orphan, grows up at her loveless aunt. Later, she's sent to an orphan asylum with very strict rules. After living there for ten years she gets a position as a private teacher - the first time she is not mistreated but taken on an equal basis. Even more, the master of the house seems to develop some interest in her. However, there is a secret about him and the house...

Based on the classic novel by Charlotte Bronte. While critics had different opinions on this 1996 version, I plainly love it. One of the numerous masterpieces by director Franco Zeffirelli. With Anna Paquin, William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg.



Nachtgestalten / Night Shapes (1999)
A homeless couple, a client in search for a working girl, and an unsuccessful business man, who picked up a coloured boy at the airport during one night while the Pope (virtually) visits Berlin. A film throwing light onto a few people living on the shady side of Berlin. 

Directed by exceptional German director Andreas Dresen with a remarkable sense for human dignity of underprivileged. With Susanne Bormann in a demanding, but outstanding performance.



Verbotene Liebe (1989)
18-year old Georg and 13-year old Barbara have been playing together as children. Play becomes love later, which leads to a catastrophe, as their parents are hostile (like Romeo's and Juliet's) leading to file a report to the court, as Barbara is still under age. One of the last DEFA productions, and one to remember. Not yet available on DVD, unfortunately.

Directed by Helmut Dziuba. With Julia Brendler aged 14 (!) at the time of shooting - none of her later parts comes close.



Three colors: Blue / Drei Farben: Blau (1993)
A woman has to find back into life, after her husband, a famous composer, and her daughter were killed in a car accident. While trying to reconstruct some work of her husband, she makes quite unexpected discoveries on his life.

By director legend Krzystof Kieslowski. With Juliette Binoche in an exceptional performance - perhaps the best ever, as far as I can judge. Augmented by a wonderful score by Zbigniew Preisner.



Fucking Amal / Raus aus Amal (1998)
Åmål is a small insignificant Swedish town where nothing ever happens. Young Elin has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to guys. Another girl in her school, Agnes, is in love with her but is too shy to do anything about it. - Was a great hit in Sweden, but passed nearly unnoticed in Germany.

Directed by Lukas Moodysson who became famous for that film. With Rebecka Liljeberg, who unfortunately, dropped out of film business later.



Der Himmel über Berlin / Wings of Desire (1987)
Two angels land over Berlin as a (yet) divided town. They take you by the hand and learn you carefully watching of detail. Finally, one of them becomes uneasy with his state and wants to change immortality for love to a human girl. The red line is a Poem "When the child was a child" by Peter Handke.

A wonderfully poetic and sensitive film by Wim Wenders. With Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, and Solveig Dommartin. Later US re-make City of Angels was mediocre compared to the original.



Der Ruhm meines Vaters/Das Schloss meiner Mutter /
La Gloire de mon père / Le Château de ma mère (1990)
Scenes from the childhood and youth of Marcel Pagnol (who became an important figure for French Cinema later) around 1900 in the French Provence. After his autobiographic novel trilogy, worth reading as well. A lively description of childhood in good old times, you literally see the glow of the highlands, you hear the cicadas, smell the lavender. You feel Marcel's feelings for his first love Isabel - and get an impression what values a truly good friend and a working family can be. Pure luck to see.

One of the very rare DVDs rated 5/5 stars by users at Amazon.de, and I'd certainly rate it 5, too. Directed by Yves Robert with a remarkable cinematography by Robert Alazraki and a wonderful catch song score by Vladimir Cosma.




Online since 1997 - Latest update: 20 April 2009