Cinema Directory

Languages: Commentary by David Arquette and Director/Co-Writer Ellory Elkayem, Unknown

Comments: Do you hate spiders? Do you really hate spiders? Well they don't like you either.

Summary: A small mining community is overrun by giant spiders after a batch of radioactive material falls into one of their water sources. The smart kid with mucho insect knowledge attempts to warn everyone else about it, but just like in most "monster movies", he is ignored until it is almost too late. The ravaging of a small town by spiders...ensues.

Summary: Ost-berliner Familie geht auf Segeltour. Unterwegs lernt Tochter Nana den jungen Mische kennen und mit ihm die liebliche Havellandschaft... Nett "ostalgisch".

Summary: Pauline and Tobias wish themselves a "Wahrmacher", which lets their lies become true. Especially Tobias needs it now urgently, because his annual school report contains a 4 for math. Brother and sister hide the bad school report in the coal cellar, from their father. Parents feel deceived: The teacher would bring a new report past with a far better note for math. And actually: Their lies come true! Everything that they express, goes at one time into fulfilment. Tobias can cross the whole lake underwater, Pauline has a bag full of 500 DM notes or suddenly a new sports bike.

But then they become uncareful and get themselves caught into their own web of lies. In a fight they throw themselves the worst insult words to the head. And everything becomes true. How will this end?

Summary: Simon is a police officer who recently lost custody of his six-year old son in a divorce. In desperation, he abducts his son and takes him to the country where they hide out in a vacated summerhouse. Simon wants to spend one last holiday alone with his son, but their week together brings back a nightmare from his own childhood, reviving bad memories, and soon the ghosts from his past threaten to drive Simon mad.

Languages: English, DTS 5.1; English, Dolby Digital 5.1; Commentary by director Rob Bowman and film editor Kevin Stitt, Unknown

Comments: She's the last thing that stands between good and evil.

Summary: Elektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins.

Summary: In rural northern Sweden of the early 1950s, little Elina goes to school again after recovering from tuberculosis, the same illness that has killed her father a few years earlier. Elina's family belongs to a Finnish-speaking minority frowned upon by a staunch schoolmistress who starts hounding Elina for speaking Finnish in class and questioning her authority. Elina's mother, sister, and a liberal young male teacher all try to mediate the ensuing battle of wills between Elina and Miss Holm. Elina finds consolation in wandering out on the dangerous marshlands to have imaginary conversations with her dead father.

Summary: ELISA c'est l'hstoire émouvante d'une adolescente (Vanessa PARADIS impressionnante de charme et de charisme) à la recherche d'un père qu'elle n'a pas connu (Gérard DEPARDIEU grandiose). Le film est poignant, mais toujours empreint d'amour, d'humour, d'amitié. Clotilde COURAU et le jeune SEKKOU SALL, amis fidèles contribuent avec talent à donner vie à ce trio sympatjique et attachant. A voir et à revoir. Une place d'honneur dans toutes bonnes dvdthèques.

Summary: After her mother's death, a young girl is separated from her abusive father and is sent between her various friends and relatives, always longing to find a place to call home.

Languages: English

Summary: Eloise is just a little girl, trying to get people to notice her in bad and good ways. She wants to go to the Debutante Ball but has no one to take her. When she overhears someone saying that a prince is coming to stay at the plaza, she immidiately wants the prince to take her to the ball. When she stumbles across a 9-year-old boy, who IS the prince but Eloise doesn't know it until the end, she asks him to help her look for him. Eloise also takes him around New York and they have all kinds of fun.

Summary: This French drama explores the desolation felt by a young girl whose divorced concert pianist mother and businessman father are too self-absorbed to give her any attention. Louise (Sophie Rochut) stoically attempts to carry on, despite the disregard of those around her. Her stoicism is shattered by a few moments of incidental friendliness from a journalist. She runs away to find him, despite not even knowing his name or address. She returns home, unsuccessful, and throws herself in the river. This suicide attempt momentarily brings mother and daughter together, but we are left with little hope that things will really be better in the long run. Writer/director Michele Rosier tells this sad story with a minimum of melodramatics, which makes it even more effective. - Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Languages: Deutsch

Summary: Young Emil Tischbein gets robbed on the train as he travels to the big city for a visit with relatives. In Berlin he enlists the help of a band of young "detectives" to track down the evil Max Grundeis (Jürgen Vogel), the man who relieved him of his money.

Summary: EMMA AND DANIEL - THE MEETING is a touching drama for children/family, based on a book by well renowned children's author Mats Wahl. Several of Wahl's books have been filmed previously. 12-year old Emma lives with her father Anders in a fishing camp, way up in Lappland in the Northern part of Sweden. Life consists of fishing trips, forest expeditions and a quiet life. Emma's father has met a woman, Sara from Stockholm, through a personal ad. To Emma's horror, she is planning to visit them over the summer, together with her 12-year old son, Daniel. The nature loving Emma, who's still mourning her dead mother, doesn't appreciate the visit from the big city at all. Neither does Daniel, a computer freak who hates the idea of being stuck with grumpy Emma in the middle of nowhere, without electricity and everything! In an attempt for some peace and quiet, Emma decides to join the old fisherman Isak for a three-day fishing trip up the river in the wilderness. To her disappointment, Daniel decides to join them. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a peaceful fishing trip, turns into unexpected drama, and Emma and Daniel find themselves all alone with just one another, forced to help each other to be able to find their way back home.

Summary: Martin has been left in charge of the class. What exactly, does this new responsibility mean?

Comments: The love every parent fears.

Summary: Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, Endless Love is a contemporary variation on the Romeo and Juliet theme, starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt and featuring early screen appearances by Tom Cruise and James Spader. It is a story of the power of love... the power of an emotion so strong, so forceful that it consumes and affects everyone around it. The film is about the many facets of love. The love between husbands and wives; the love that exists between mothers and daughters; between daughters and fathers; between fathers and sons. And the overwhelming sensual love of a boy and girl....

Summary: A successful businesswoman thinks she has found her daughter, whom she lost when she was six months old...

Summary: The small port town in Brittany in this movie has its charms, but they are largely invisible to the children growing up there. In the first place, they are deeply disturbed at the sudden death of an elderly woman who is one of their favorite teachers under what appear to them to be suspicious circumstances. They launch an investigation and start a little newspaper to report their findings in, as a result of which the workings of their little town are made extremely clear. When "suspects" refuse to cooperate with them, they persecute him (or her) with pranks until they do. Naturally, their teacher's replacement has her work cut out for her, but she eventually accomplishes this by taking an interest in her predecessor and the student's investigations.

Summary: Pierre Esteban is a middle-aged technology teacher, divorced from Hélène, who has two children. Jeanne Lancry is a lively estate agent in the same situation : a divorcée with two children. They discover they love visiting empty apartments together and...more than just that! Life would be just wonderful if they were fifteen years earlier. But there are the children. It would be fine to live altogether in the same place. The question is : will the kids get on well with each other?

Summary: A young boy and his young sister are playing on a rubbish dump, acting out their parents' divorce. For this they use their father's things which their mother brought to the dumping ground out of anger. The girl only wants to use their fathers things, but the boy finds something that he finds much more interesting.

Summary:

Summary: François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom, a microcosm of contemporary France. As amusing and inspiring as the teenaged students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher's enthusiasm for the low-paying job. François insists on an atmosphere of respect and diligence. Neither stuffy nor severe, his extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods...

Summary: A series of shorts featuring children of all ages, portraying sketches in everyday life in Russia.

Summary: “The Shelter” deals with eight year old Ane. In her imaginary world, she shuts out a gloomy and noisy reality. Her dream-world consists of colour and music, but it is vulnerable. We see Ane playing with a hermit crab and are fascinated by the crab changing its shell. Ane’s friend is finally released, with his colourful shelter.

When parents fight and argue, they usually forget that it isolates their children.

Summary: Ten-year-old Eric has a show and tell project due at school and he can’t decide on a topic. His grandfather, who’s helped look after Eric since his father died, offers to help by showing him a treasured painting of insects that Eric’s father loved when he was a boy. On closer examination, the painting has some truly magical powers and Eric quickly finds himself living in the land of insects and seeing the world from their size. It seems that insects are much like humans when it comes to intruders and the unknown. If Eric is going to find the answers he needs to return to his world and complete his school project on time many challenges lay ahead least of which involves not getting stood on.

Combining live-action with computer animation, Eric in the Land of Insects takes us on a visually stunning journey charting the lifecycle of insects and humans, love, death and friendship.

Summary: Triest in the year 1911. Ernesto is the priviliged, seventeen year old son of a jewish mother and a non-jewish father, who has deserted his family. He is raised by his uncle Giovanni and his moaning aunt Regina, who send him to work at the office of a trading company. Ernesto doesn't take his new job very serious, he wants to become a violin player. One day when he is alone in the storage, he is approached by a young stablehand, to whom he has given working orders before. They agree to meet. Ernesto is very aware of the sexual intentions of the man. He is curious and starts having sex with the man frequently. But after an overwhelming heterosexual experience with a prostitute, he decides to avoid any further contact with the man. He quits his job and concentrates on studying the violin. During a concert, Ernesto meets a 15 year old violin player of classic beauty called Emilio. The two boys start an intense friendship that is troubled by jealousy and possessiveness. Untill Emilio introduces Ernesto to his twin sister Rachele. Then Ernesto becomes insecure and confused. Does he want the brother or the sister?

Languages: Deutsch

Summary: There’s young Bertil, sitting in the lounge, minding his own business when a fully grown moose (or elk, same difference!) crashes through the roof and lands right in front of him! Not only is it a fully-grown Alces alces, a member of the Cervidae family of the order of artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates), but one that can talk and fly!

Answering to the name of Mr. Moose, our animated hero claims he was on a test flight with Santa when he lost control of the sleigh and crashed. Young Bertil is ecstatic, even if he’s really long since stopped believing in Santa. He’s finally found a friend with whom he can get up to all sorts of crazy stunts, someone who can protect him from the other kids at school and, most importantly, understands him.

It would be a dream come true for Bertil were it not for the rude and shabby landlord, Mr. Pannecke, who, instead, sees his dream come true – the opportunity to hunt moose at last! And if that wasn’t enough, Father Christmas himself arrives, and he wants Mr. Moose back. What’s Bertil to do?

Summary: A world unlike any you've ever known! Matt Spencer (Jeff Speakman), a workaholic attorney and single father, is struggling to raise his three rebellious teenagers in the wake of his wife walking out on him. Chris Spencer (Breck Wilson), Matt's eldest son, is a handsome, over-achieving, straight-laced 18-year-old who is angry with his father about the divorce, even though his mother is the one who left. Daughter Claudia (Mercedes McNab) is a typical 16-year-old mall rat with too much time on her hands and the good looks that usually spell trouble. Youngest son Adam (Justin Burnette) is a hip 13-year-old with a big mouth and a smart-alec attitude to go along with it. In an attempt to bring his family together again, Matt charters a sailboat for a 10-day surprise cruise to the Bahamas. The kids, selfishly un-excited about the trip, try to talk their father out of it, but he is steadfast in his determination to spend some quality family time together. Upon landing in Florida, the Spencers arrive at the dock to board the Wind Dancer, a beautiful 90-foot sailboat that, according to the brochure, perfectly combines "performance sailing and luxury living." Not quite! It turns out to be a rundown, yet still seaworthy schooner, complete with mildewy sails and a hull that is in desperate need of a paint job. The ship's captain, Liam Gallagher (Tim Thomerson), is a salty, bedraggled man who drinks too much and seems to be in worse shape than his vessel. Not one to be deterred, Matt, having been convinced the Wind Dancer has passed a recent safety inspection, sets off with his family on a bigger adventure than any of them had planned.

Languages: English, Dolby Digital 5.1; Commentary by Director John Hough and Actors Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, Unknown

Comments: Escape To The Unknown!

Summary: Two mysterious orphan children have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire. But where do these kids really call home?

Summary: Once upon a time there was a couple living in an isolated house in the middle of nowhere. They had three children who kept them happy for a period of time. Once upon a time there was a man created by the sun, who came into their lives...

Languages: Spanish, Dolby Digital 1.0

Summary: In Castile c.1940, a travelling movie theatre brings James Whale's b/w film classic "Frankenstein" (1931) to a village. (Admission 1 peseta for adults, 2 reales for children.) Two young girls, Isabel and Ana, determine to find the Monster.

Languages: Français

Summary: Set in a bleak suburban housing project, Games of Love and Chance follows a group of teenagers, poor and immigrant for the most part. Many are involved in a class production of Marivaux’s 18th-century classic “Les jeux de l’amour et du hasard.” The rehearsals, both in and out of the classroom, are often the stage for their daily interactions. Krimo, whose dad is in prison, leaves his long-time girlfriend to pursue Lydia, a petulant girl who plays the lead role. Although he has no theater experience and the performance is days away, his infatuation leads him to take the part of Arlequin to play opposite Lydia – making a fool of himself in the process. Arguments among the group quickly surface as Krimo’s sudden love interest turns into a source of gossip and tension. His ex-girlfriend accuses Lydia of luring him away while Krimo’s friend begs Lydia to tell Krimo if she is interested in him. Although Games of Love and Chance reveals a lot about France’s multiethnic youth culture, the film is almost more about the French language than anything else with the juxtaposition between the teenagers’ multi-ethnic slang and the polished rhetoric of the 18th century.

Summary: Camilla is 14. During her holidays, she divides her time between diets and love affairs. Between the crazy friends, multicoloured characters and busy adults, Camilla has also a sentimental delusion, that of finally becoming a teenager.

Summary: (It Happened Near The Sea) The story takes place in a Soviet sanatorium / boarding school for children with spine conditions. A new girl arrives and tries to find her place among the peers, which is not always easy. The newcomer is subjected to cruelty surprising among kids who share the same problems.

Summary: Feature film based on the television series Eva & Adam (1999)

Summary: Eve (Phoebe Jojo Kut), a precocious nine year-old with an overactive imagination, was born in the Year of the Fire Horse, notorious among Chinese families for producing the most troublesome children. Dinners around Eve's family table are a raucous affair, where old world propriety and new world audacity mix in even measure. But as summer approaches, it seems like Eve's carefree childhood days are behind her.

When her mother chops down their apple tree - a superstitious omen - bad luck worms its way into their family in unexpected, tragic ways. Forced to grow up too fast, Eve learns to take pleasure in life's small gifts - like a goldfish she believes to be the reincarnated spirit of her beloved grandmother. Meanwhile, Eve's older sister Karena is going through changes of her own, exploring a newfound fascination with Christianity. Soon, crucifixes pop up next to the Buddha in the family's house, and Eve must contend with a Sunday school class where her wild imagination is distinctly out of place.

Caught between her sister's quest for premature sainthood and her own sense of right and wrong, Eve faces the challenges of childhood with fanciful humor and wide-eyed wonder. A lyrical, lighthearted look at a young girl's spiritual experience, EVE & THE FIRE HORSE offers a wondrous yet deeply felt journey, where family life is strange, childhood lonely and religion perplexing.

Comments: The story of a father's love that changed a nation

Summary: Abandoned by his wife, Doyle does his best to make it as a single dad, raising his kids alone in Ireland in 1953. Their life isn't easy--but above all else in the world, Doyle loves his children. Unfortunately, when his wife's mother reports her daughter's abandonment to the authorities, the power of the Church and the Irish courts take his children away and put them in orphanages. Doyle is devastated. Vowing to reunite his family, he enlists the help of new friend Bernadette Beattie, her solicitor brother Michael, their American lawyer friend Nick and Nick's mentor Tom Connolly. Together they attempt to do what has never been done before--challenge a law before the Irish Supreme Court. Doyle's fight to keep his family intact becomes an uplifting testament to the strength of a father's love and the power of the human spirit.

Languages: English, DTS; English, Dolby Digital 5.1

Summary: Based on the real-life Russian cannibal who went on a killing rampage between 1983 and 1990, allegedly killing and eating around 500 people.

Languages: English, Dolby Digital 5.1; English, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Commentary by director William Friedkin, Unknown

Comments: Something beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street, in this house. A man has been called for as a last resort to try and save her. That man is The Exorcist.

Summary: Based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty, The Exorcist marries three different scenarios into one extraordinary plot. A visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, a young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother's terminal sickness. And, book-ending the story, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy.

Comments: She found her voice in the ocean... And within herself.

Summary: Following her mother's death, 14-year-old Alyssa (Carly Schroeder) travels to the Bahamas to meet her estranged father, Hawk (Adrian Dunbar), in this heartwarming family film. It turns out, dad's a dolphin researcher. Soon, Alyssa discovers she shares her father's gift for communicating with dolphins, leading to a heartfelt friendship with a wild dolphin. Her father, however, has scientific concerns about her interacting with a wild animal. But, when greedy outsiders threaten to shut down her father's research station, it's Alyssa and her dolphin buddy that leap into action to save the day!

Summary: A young girl is sent to Nantucket to care for her invalid grandmother, but instead becomes involved in a strange and dangerous "game" between her grandmother, a ghost, and the sea. Eventually, she learns the truth behind the "game."

Summary: Two street smart kids fall for an email scam and find themselves embroiled in mobster activities. A good way to spend a 100 minutes or so. Certainly not to be taken too seriously but the superb acting by some of these kids combined with a fanciful plot won't leaveyou upset about how you spent your time. Emma Kinghorn is going to be a star, see her now.