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.
The Red and The White (1967)
7.8/10
Director: Miklos Jancso
Starring: Tibor Molnar, Andras Kozak, Josef Madaras
Brilliantly photographed drama in which director Miklos Jancso examines Hungarians fighting in the Red Army in 1918 during the bloody civil war in Rus... Read more
The Firemen's Ball (1967)
7.6/10
Director: Milos Forman
Starring: Vaclav Stockel, Josef Svet, Josef Kolb
A milestone of the Czech New Wave, Milos Forman's first colour film "The Firemen's Ball" is both a dazzling comedy and a provocative political satire.... Read more
Coach To Vienna (Blu-ray) (1966)
Director: Karel Kachyna
Starring: Iva Janzurová
A WW2 story of a young Austrian soldier running from the Russian army and a woman whom he forces to come along in order to save his wounded mate. Read more
The Round Up (1966)
7.6/10
Director: Miklos Jancso
Starring: Andras Kozak
In Hungary, the national movement led by Kossuth has been crushed and the Austrian hegemony re-established, but partisans carry on with violent action... Read more
father (Apa) (1966)
7.2/10
Director: Istvan Szabo
A boy in Budapest lost his father in 1945, when he was the age of six. He does not remember much of the father but fantasize that he performed various... Read more
Closely Watched Trains ( aka Closely Observed Trains ) (1966)
7.7/10
Director: Jiri Menzel
Starring: Vaclav Neckar, Jitka Bendova, Vladimir Valenta
An ironic, funny film about a young man on his first job in a small town railroad station, trying to get sexually initiated (in hilarious scenes) who,... 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
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
My Way Home (1964)
7.5/10
Director: Miklos Jancso
In the final days of World War II, a young Hungarian is making his way home, through countryside full of the debris of war, when he is captured and im... Read more
Roman Polanski Collection: Knife in the Water / Repulsion / Cul-de-Sac (1962)
Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Donald Pleasence, Francoise Dorleac, Ian Hendry, Jolanta Umec...
'Knife in the Water' (90 mins): An absorbing drama that grows out of the tensions created when a couple off for a sailing weekend pick up a student hi... Read more