Pamela proposed Babette’s Feast, Saving Grace and Some Like It Hot.
Babette’s Feast. Beautiful but pious sisters Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and Philippa (Bodil Kjer) grow to spinsterhood under the wrathful eye of their strict pastor father on the forbidding and desolate coast of Jutland, until one day, Philippa’s former suitor sends a Parisian refugee named Babette (Stéphane Audran) to serve as the family cook. The film won the 1987 Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
March: V for Vendetta
Andrea and Mario proposed V for Vendetta, The Duellists and The Lives of Others.
Following world war, London is a police state occupied by a fascist government, and a vigilante known only as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressors of the world in which he now lives. When V saves a young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) from the secret police, he discovers an ally in his fight against England’s oppressors.
April: Catherine Called Birdy
Chris proposed Catherine Called Birdy, Young Frankenstein and The Straight Story.
The year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financial ruin by marrying her off to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy, like all the great teen heroines, is spirited, clever and adventurous – and ready to put off any suitor that comes calling in increasingly ingenious ways. Her imagination, defiance and deep belief in her own right to independence put her on a collision course with her parents. When the most vile suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.
May: Rembetiko
Theresa proposed three films Rembetiko, Brian and Charles, and The Woman King.
The story of a group of Rembetes, singers and musicians of the Greek equivalent to the blues, in the early decades of the 20th century, seen through the eyes of a young female singer. Unfortunately (as you can see), I’m unable to embed a YouTube clip from the film – but you should be able to click and visit the clip yourself.
June: Amal
Kerry proposed Amal, Stella and The Last Samurai.
Autorickshaw driver Amal is content with the small, but vital, role he serves – driving customers around New Delhi as quickly and safely as possible. But his sense of duty is tested by an eccentric, aging billionaire, who, moved by Amal’s humility, bequeaths him his entire estate before passing away. With only one month to discover and claim the inheritance, Amal’s struggles with duty and wealth are threatened by all those around him – from a young injured beggar girl and a lovely store merchant, to the danger of the old man’s upper-caste friends and siblings, all seeking to claim their share of the riches.
October: Wild Tales
Jayne proposed Wild Tales, Woman At War and Our Little Sister.
Wild Tales is a 2014 Spanish-language black comedyanthology film. The film is composed of six standalone shorts with a common theme of catharsis, violence and vengeance and has an ensemble cast. Wild Tales is based on Szifron’s understanding of Western capitalist society as a cage, and depicts the moment at which some people become so frustrated by their surroundings they cannot behave in the socially expected manner.