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.
Divided We Fall (2000)
7.8/10
Director: Jan Hrebejk
Starring: Boleslav Polivka, Anna Siskova
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this stark but sometimes humourous effort is set in a Czech town during World War II where the... 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
The Inheritors (1998)
7.3/10
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky
Starring: Sophie Rois, Simon Schwarz, Lars Rudolph
Set in a small Austrian village at the turn of the 20th century, this compelling tale of loss, defiance and tragedy begins when a cruel and merciless... Read more
Black Cat, White Cat (1998)
8.1/10
Director: Emir Kusturica
Starring: Branka Katic, Bajram Severdzan, Srdan Todorovic
Bosnian born filmmaker Emir Kusturica's acclaimed comedy/drama follows the slapstick rivalry between criminal Gypsy families in a Slovenian town. When... Read more
Gadjo Dilo (1998)
Director: Tony Gatlif
Starring: Romain Duris, Rona Hartner, Izidor Serban
Aka "The Crazy Stranger". This lyrical, poetic slice of cinematic art focuses on a young Frenchman who, while searching for a legendary folk singer, g... Read more
Funny Games (1997)
7.6/10
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Muhe, Frank Geiring, Arno Frisch
At the start of the summer holiday, Anna, Georg and their young son Georgie travel to their idyllic lakeside house; their neighbours, Fred and Eva are... Read more
Too Late (1996)
7.7/10
Director: Lucian Pintilie
Starring: Razvan Vasilescu
Aka "Trop Tard". Dumitru Costa (Razvan Vasilescu), a young trainee Public Prosecutor, is given his first investigation - the suspicious death of a min... 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
Ulysses' Gaze (1995)
7.6/10
Director: Theo Angelopoulos
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Erland Josephson, Maia Morgenstern
Recounts the odyssey of an American filmmaker (Harvey Keitel) who returns to his Greek hometown after 35 years to pursue a dream of finding three reel... Read more
Underground (1995)
8.1/10
Director: Emir Kusturica
Starring: Miki Manojlovic, Lazar Ristovski, Mirjana Jokovic
This Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival centres on Marko (Miki Manojlovic) and Blacky's (Lazar Ristovski) exploits through the war years to... Read more