Click each image to play the film in full at SBS On Demand. Please note that the films on this list expire at various times throughout the month (If there is no 'play' button in the image, the film is no longer available).
Pan's Labyrinth
MA15+
Spain, Mexico, Estados Unidos, 2006
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, War
Language: Spanish
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdu
What's it about?
In 1944 fascist Spain, a girl, fascinated with fairytales, is sent along with her pregnant mother to live with her new stepfather, a ruthless captain of the Spanish army. During the night, she meets a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the centre of the labyrinth. He tells her she's a princess, but must prove her royalty by surviving three gruesome tasks. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdu. (From Spain, in Spanish) (2006)
[link title="Pan's Labyrinth Review" url="node/5242"]
Source: SBS Movies
Boy
M
New Zealand, 2010
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: James Rolleston, Taika Waititi
What's it about?
Boy is a dreamer who loves Michael Jackson. He lives with his brother Rocky, a tribe of deserted cousins and his Nan. Boy's other hero, his father, Alamein, is the subject of Boy's fantasies, and he imagines him as a deep sea diver, ware hero and a close relation of Michael Jackson. In reality, he's "in the can for robbery". When Alamein comes home after seven years away, Boy is forced to confront the man he thought he remembered, find his own potential and learn to get along without the hero he had been hoping for.
[link title="Boy review: A rose-coloured ode to the '80s" url="node/5152"]
Source: SBS Movies
The Fifth Element
PG
France, 1997
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Ian Holm, Gary Oldman
What's it about?
The 23rd century, in a strange and colourful universe where all hope of survival is impossible without the discovery of the Fifth Element, an unusual hero confronts evil to save mankind.
[link title="My Favourite Film: The Fifth Element" url="node/735"]
Source: SBS Movies
Gloria
MA15+
Chile, 2012
Genre: Drama
Language: Spanish
Director:
Starring:
What's it about?
Gloria (Paulina García) is a 58-year-old divorcée. Her children have all left home but she has no desire to spend her days and nights alone. Determined to defy old age and loneliness, she rushes headlong into a whirl of singles’ parties on the hunt for instant gratification – which just leads repeatedly to disappointment and emptiness. But then she meets Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), an ex-naval officer seven years her senior to whom she feels romantically inclined. She even begins to imagine a permanent relationship. However, the encounter presents unexpected challenges and Gloria gradually finds herself being forced to confront her own dark secrets.
[link title="Gloria: Sebastián Lelio interview" url="node/1602"]
[link title="Gloria Review" url="node/6249"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: Gloria" url="node/57474"]
Source: SBS Movies
Fish Tank
MA15+
UK, 2009
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Andrea Arnold
Starring: Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender
What's it about?
Fish Tank is the story of Mia (Katie Jarvis), a volatile 15-year-old, who is always in trouble and who has become excluded from school and ostracised by her friends. One hot summer’s day her mother brings home a mysterious stranger called Connor (Michael Fassbender) who promises to change everything and bring love into all their lives.
[link title="Fish Tank Review" url="node/4937"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: Fish Tank " url="node/23278"]
Wuthering Heights
MA15+
United Kingdom, 2000
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Director: Andrea Arnold
Starring: Kaya Scodelario, James Howson
What's it about?
Andrea Arnold's raw and gritty take on Emily Bronte's classic novel, about a poor boy of unknown origins rescued from poverty and taken in by the Earnshaw family. There, he develops an intense relationship with his young foster sister, Cathy. Theirs is a passionate tale of elemental love that creates a storm of vengeance.
[link title="Wuthering Heights Review" url="node/5885"]
Source: SBS Movies
Calvary
Ireland, United Kingdom, 2014
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Chris O'Dowd, Aidan Gillen, Marie-Josée Croze, Dylan Moran
What's it about?
Brendan Gleeson is electric as good-natured priest Father James Lavelle, who is intent on making the world a better place, but is continually shocked and saddened by the spiteful and confrontational inhabitants of his small country town. One day, when his life is threatened during a confession, the priest decides it's time to fight back against the dark forces around him.
[link title="Calvary Review" url="node/13823"]
Source: SBS Movies
The White Ribbon
M
Germany, 2009
Genre: Drama, Crime
Language: German, Italian, Polish
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Ulrich Tukur
What's it about?
Michael Haneke's masterpiece about the fruits of fascism is a tautly constructed whodunit set on the eve of World War I in a staunchly Protestant village in northern Germany. The village is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents – the doctor tumbles from his horse, a farmer’s wife falls to her death from a barn loft – which become increasingly more sinister and brutal. Neighbour turns against neighbour, even as the cruelty pervading the village breeds fresh atrocities.
[link title="The White Ribbon Review: A compelling, gripping thriller" url="node/4777"]
Source: SBS Movies
A Dangerous Method
MA15+
United Kingdom, 2012
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Biography
Language: English
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon
What's it about?
David Cronenberg explores the physical effects of mental disturbance with the real-life story of Sabine Spielrein (Keira Knightley in a magnetic performance), a troubled Russian woman whose case was at the forefront of the birth of psychoanalysis. Seduced by the challenge of Sabina's case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes her on as his patient, using the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). But soon, both men fall under Sabina's spell.
[link title="A Dangerous Method: David Cronenberg interview" url="node/843"]
[link title="A Dangerous Method Review" url="node/5802"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: A Dangerous Method " url="node/17044"]
Source: SBS Movies
Broken Embraces
M
Spain, 2009
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Romance
Language: Spanish
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Blanca Portillo, Penélope Cruz, Lluís Homar
What's it about?
Fourteen years ago, a writer (Lluís Homar) was involved in a brutal car crash on the island of Lanzarote. After the accident, in which he loses his sight, and Lena (Penelope Cruz), the love of his life, the man takes his literary pseudonym and tries to forget the past. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2010 Golden Globes.
[link title="Broken Embraces Review" url="node/4909"]
Albert Nobbs
M
Ireland, United Kingdom, 2011
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Rodrigo García
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, Janet McTeer, Glenn Close
What's it about?
Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) struggles to survive in late 19th century Ireland, where women aren't encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man so she can work as a butler in Dublin's most posh hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.
[link title="Albert Nobbs: Glenn Close & Rodrigo García interview" url="node/764"]
[link title="Albert Nobbs Review" url="node/5723"]
Noise
MA15+
Australia, 2007
Genre: Thriller
Language: English
Director: Matthew Saville
Starring: Richard Cawthorne, Maia Thomas, Nicholas Bell, Brendan Cowell
What's it about?
When a train massacre rocks a small Melbourne community, a local cop is pressed into service at a mobile police van near the murder scene. All the while suffering from intense ringing in his ears, his discussions with locals gradually become more crucial to the case. Meanwhile, a young girl – the lone survivor of the massacre – lives in fear.
Me and Orson Welles
PG
United Kingdom, 2008
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Christian McKay, Ben Chaplin, Zac Efron, Claire Danes
What's it about?
Teenage student Richard Samuels (Zac Efron) lucks his way into a minor role in the legendary 1937 Mercury Theatre production of Julius Caesar, directed by a youthful Orson Welles (Christian McKay). Over the course of a magical week, Richard makes his Broadway debut, finds romance with an ambitious older woman (Claire Danes), and experiences the dark side of genius after daring to cross the imperious, brilliant Welles. Richard has to grow up fast.
[link title=""Me and Orson Welles: Christian McKay interview " url="node/420"]
[link title="Me and Orson Welles Review" url="node/5118"]
The Guard
MA15+
Ireland, 2011
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Director: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Don Cheadle, Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong, Brendan Gleeson
What's it about?
Three drug-dealers are planning to land half a billion dollars’ worth of cocaine off the west coast of Ireland. The only men standing in their way are a straight-laced FBI Agent Everett (Don Cheadle) and a hard-living Galway Guard (Brendan Gleeson). A riotous buddy comedy that could only be made in Ireland, it rightly netted Gleeson an Oscar nomination.
[link title="The Guard: John Michael McDonagh interview" url="node/670"]
[link title="The Guard Review" url="node/5531"]
[link title="The Guard: Crime comedy, Irish style" url="node/13863"]
Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleeson in ‘The Guard’. Source: SBS Movies
Locke
MA15+
United Kingdom, 2013
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Starring: Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Tom Hardy
What's it about?
A family man and successful construction manager, Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), is about to confront the biggest challenge of his career. On the eve of this new project, Locke receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his life and that of his family's. The action takes place in the course of a single drive home.
[link title="Locke: An existential road movie in which nothing and everything happens" url="node/16540"]
[link title="2014 Sydney Film Festival: Locke - Interview" url="node/17826"]
[link title="Locke Review" url="node/17894"]
Wings of Desire
PG
Germany, 1987
Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Language: German
Director: Wim Wenders
Starring: Bruno Ganz, Peter Falk
What's it about?
Daniel (Bruno Ganz), a lonely, trenchcoated angel, watches over Berlin, silently comforting its citizens in their hour of need. But when he is captivated by a beautiful French trapeze artist (Solveig Dommartin), Damiel decides to trade his gentle, angelic life for the torturous emotions of the secular world. With his divine position in jeopardy, he must choose to either give up love, or lose his eternal wings forever.
[link title="Wings of Desire review: A joy from start to finish" url="node/164753"]
The Art of Love
France, 2012
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language: French
Director: Emmanuel Mouret
Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, François Cluzet
What's it about?
In this romantic comedy, a string of people engage in intrigues of the heart. The characters include a serious wife offering to "loan" her husband to a friend, a bachelor confused by his teasing, yet prude, young neighbour, and the many singles who can't see what's in front of them.
Circumstance
[country], 2011
Genre: Drama
Language: Persian-Farsi
Director: Maryam Keshavarz
Starring: Sarah Kazemy, Nikohl Boosheri, Reza Sixo Safai,
What's it about?
In Tehran's underground art scene, two teenagers, Atafeh and Shireen, attend illicit parties and experiment with sex, drinking, and drugs. But the strict government, and Atafeh’s brutish drug-addict brother, threaten to tear their blossoming relationship apart. A beautifully-crafted film that gives an insight into youth culture and homosexuality in modern Tehran, and won the Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
In Tehran's underground art scene, two teenagers, Atafeh and Shireen, attend illicit parties and experiment with sex, drinking, and drugs. But the strict government, and Atafeh’s brutish drug-addict brother, threaten to tear their blossoming relationship apart. A beautifully-crafted film that gives an insight into youth culture and homosexuality in modern Tehran, and won the Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
[link title="Circumstance Review" url="node/5314"]
Source: SBS Movies
A Man Called Ove
[classification]
Sweden, 2015
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: Persian, Swedish
Director:
Starring:
What's it about?
A grumpy 59 year-old is deposed as president of his housing estate's body corporate, but that doesn't stop him looking over the neighbourhood with an iron fist. When a pregnant woman and her family move into the terrace house opposite Ove and she accidentally back into his mailbox, it sets off a series of unexpected changes in his life.
[link title="Tom Hanks to star in remake of Swedish hit comedy 'A Man Called Ove'" url="node/156956"]
The Big Blue
M
France, 1988
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: French, Italian
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Griffin Dunne, Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette
What's it about?
/The Big Blue/ charts the competition and friendship between Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) and Enzo ((Jean Reno) first in their youth, and then when they meet again at the World Free Diving Championships in Sicily years later. A dreamy adolescent, Jacques has grown into a solitary man, caught between the solidity of the real world and the spiritual beckoning of 'the big blue'—and in particular the dolphins swimming below. He possesses a unique connection to the sea, the ability to slow his heartbeat and circulation on deep dives, a phenomenon previously only observed in whales and dolphins. Enzo, however, has become the World Champion at his sport with a very different approach. Their rivalry reignited, the pair spur each other on to deeper and deadlier dives.
[link title="The Big Blue review and interview" url="node/60297"]
Source: SBS Movies
Beautiful Lies
M
France, 2000
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language: French
Director: Pierre Salvadori
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila
What's it about?
One fine spring morning, Emilie (Audrey Tautou) receives a love letter. It's beautiful, inspired, but it's also anonymous. She initially throws it into the trash can, before realising that it could be the way to rescue her mother (Nathalie Baye), who has become isolated and alone since the departure of her husband. Without thinking further, she immediately sends the letter on to her. But Emilie doesn't yet know that Jean (Sami Bouajila), her shy employee, is the letter's author.
[link title="Beautiful Lies Review" url="node/5539"]
Harry Brown
United Kingdom, 2009
Genre: Thriller
Language: English
Director: Daniel Barber
Starring: Ben Drew, Jack O'Connell, Emily Mortimer, Michael Caine
What's it about?
An elderly ex-serviceman and widower (Michael Caine) looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice.
[link title="Harry Brown Review" url="node/5036"]
[link title="Why You Should Watch: Harry Brown" url="node/16895"]
Source: SBS Movies
Room in Rome
MA15+
[country], 2010
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: Italian, Russian, Spanish
Director: Julio Medem
Starring: Elena Anaya, Enrico Lo Verso
What's it about?
When Alba (Elena Anaya) seduces fellow tourist Natasha (Natasha Yarovenko) in a bar, the two women agree to limit their passionate affair to a one-night encounter in a hotel. Their physical adventure also leads them to share their life stories with each other. Available to watch via SBS on Demand. (Recently screened as part of SBS Movies' The Film Festival of 100 Clicks).bathrobes_704.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Stranger Than Paradise
M
USA, 1983
Genre: Drama, Cult
Language: English
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: John Lurie, Eszter Balint
What's it about?
A Jim Jarmusch classic. Eva has come from Budapest to live with her Aunt Lotte in Cleveland. Much to her cousin, Willie's surprise, she stops off at his apartment in New York for ten days while her aunt is recovering from surgery. Willie is a seedy young guy living in a seedy part of New York City and he's not keen on the idea of baby-sitting his young cousin. Eva is stuck in Willie's apartment with nothing to do except watch television with Willie and smoke. Due to complete boredom they decide to take a road-trip to visit their aunt in the wastelands of Cleveland. This film launched the career of director, Jim Jarmusch and won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and Best First Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1985. Stars Eszter Balint, Cecillia Stark, John Lurie, Richard Edson. (From the US, in English) (Indie) 1983 M (L,A) CC
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