City of God

City of God 2002

8.43

In the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, two young men choose different paths. Rocket is a budding photographer who documents the increasing drug-related violence of his neighborhood, while José “Zé” Pequeno is an ambitious drug dealer diving into a dangerous life of crime.

2002

A Self-Made Hero

A Self-Made Hero 1996

6.90

Set in France at the end of World War II Albert Dehousse finds out his father wasn't a war hero and his mother is a collaborator.

1996

Os Normais: O Filme

Os Normais: O Filme 2003

6.80

The film shows the day when Rui and Vani first met. It was at their wedding (with other partners). Vani was going to marry Sérgio, and Rui would marry Marta in the same church, following Vani's marriage. While waiting for the ceremony, they begin to talk. Complications ensue.

2003

Golden Balls

Golden Balls 1993

5.40

A libidinous construction worker uses his charm and bravado in an attempt to attain enough finances to build his dream project.

1993

Snowball Fight

Snowball Fight 1897

6.60

Wintertime in Lyon. About a dozen people, men and women, are having a snowball fight in the middle of a tree-lined street. The cyclist coming along the road becomes the target of opportunity. He falls off his bicycle. He's not hurt, but he rides back the way he came, as the fight continues.

1897

Demolition of a Wall

Demolition of a Wall 1896

6.30

Auguste Lumière directs four workers in the demolition of an old wall at the Lumière factory. One worker is pressing the wall inwards with a jackscrew, while another is pushing it with a pick. When the wall hits the ground, a cloud of white dust whirls up. Three workers continue the demolition of the wall with picks.

1896

Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory

Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory 1895

6.70

Working men and women leave through the main gate of the Lumière factory in Lyon, France. Filmed on 22 March 1895, it is often referred to as the first real motion picture ever made, although Louis Le Prince's 1888 Roundhay Garden Scene pre-dated it by seven years. Three separate versions of this film exist, which differ from one another in numerous ways. The first version features a carriage drawn by one horse, while in the second version the carriage is drawn by two horses, and there is no carriage at all in the third version. The clothing style is also different between the three versions, demonstrating the different seasons in which each was filmed. This film was made in the 35 mm format with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, and at a speed of 16 frames per second. At that rate, the 17 meters of film length provided a duration of 46 seconds, holding a total of 800 frames.

1895

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat 1896

7.09

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

1896

Cyclo

Cyclo 1996

7.03

Follows a young cyclo driver on his poverty-driven descent into criminality in modern-day Ho Chi Minh City. The boy's struggles to scratch out a living for his two sisters and grandfather in the mean streets of the city lead to petty crime on behalf of a mysterious Madame from whom he rents his cyclo.

1996

A Saturday on Earth

A Saturday on Earth 1996

5.70

A series of seemingly unconnected events and 50 important speaking parts make this film a jigsaw puzzle to be solved by the viewer. Martin and Claire were separated in childhood, and are brought together by a series of coincidences. A tragic car crash is central to the story, but seemingly unimportant events can hold great significance. Through a montage of different film stock and techniques director Diane Bertrand creates pieces of a puzzle, from which the viewer has to piece together a story. That's the premise of the film, and it is solvable. You just have to work a bit...

1996

Japanese Sword Fencing

Japanese Sword Fencing 1897

4.70

The earliest surviving Japanese film showing the martial art of kendo.

1897

A New Life

A New Life 1993

4.70

In a shock after her mother’s sudden death, warehouse forklift driver Tina seeks out the rich, enigmatic businessman father she has never known and discovers a half-sister, Lise.

1993

Opium Den

Opium Den 1899

5.69

A century-old film depicting opium smokers in French Indochina (Vietnam).

1899

Pistol Duel

Pistol Duel 1896

5.74

Based on a real event that occurred between two deputies, in Chapultepec Park.

1896