An epic tale spanning 200 years, from Kunta Kinti's enslavement to his descendants' liberation, Roots is a dramatisation of author Alex Haley's family line. When originally aired back in the late 1970s Roots was one of the most watched and critically lauded television dramatisations of the decade, in part because it provided its largely white audience with a palatable history lesson that many had been hitherto reluctant to learn. To watch the series now it seems a little bit over dramatised and
find out more...
ROOTS - DISC 2 (EPS 3 AND 4) (1977)
CertificationPG Our Rating
An epic tale spanning 200 years, from Kunta Kinti's enslavement to his descendants' liberation, Roots is a dramatisation of author Alex Haley's family line. When originally aired back in the late 1970s Roots was one of the most watched and critically lauded television dramatisations of the decade, in part because it provided its largely white audience with a palatable history lesson that many had been hitherto reluctant to learn. To watch the series now it seems a little bit over dramatised and
find out more...
ROOTS - DISC 3 (EPS 5 AND 6) (1977)
CertificationPG Our Rating
An epic tale spanning 200 years, from Kunta Kinti's enslavement to his descendants' liberation, Roots is a dramatisation of author Alex Haley's family line. When originally aired back in the late 1970s Roots was one of the most watched and critically lauded television dramatisations of the decade, in part because it provided its largely white audience with a palatable history lesson that many had been hitherto reluctant to learn. To watch the series now it seems a little bit over dramatised and
find out more...
SIMON SCHAMA'S ROUGH CROSSINGS (2007)
Certification15 Our Rating
A little known passage of British history - the fate of the black men who volunteered for the King's Men in the American War of Independence. At least the Empire didn't abandon them to the slaver George Washington and his thugs, instead dumping them on the desolate Novia Scotia coastline. But where there's life there's hope and enter the radical Thomas Clarkson's brother, a young naval officer named John, who, energised by their living conditions, collected the remnants and shipped them to Freet
find out more...
THAT HAMILTON WOMAN (1941)
CertificationPG Our Rating
Real-life lovers Olivier and Leigh gel perfectly and light up the screen in this portrayal of the rise, decline and fall of a courtesan and one of history's great, but doomed, love affairs. With its great dialogue audiences of the time adored this film, as did Churchill who announced it his favourite!
find out more...
THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE (2001)
Certification12 Our Rating
Hilary Swank plays a fallen aristocrat, in pre-Revolutionary France, whose plot to steal a priceless necklace, a superbly planned con job aimed at the highest of the high, forms the centre piece of this stunning looking period drama. Loosely based round a true story that helped hammer a final nail in the coffin of the decadent and uncaring French ruling class. Excellently scripted and Swank excels.
find out more...
THE DUCHESS (2008)
Certification12 Our Rating
Georgiana was the innocent young breeding filly the politically powerful Lord Devonshire needed to continue his family dynasty. This is her story; of living powerlessly alongside the Duke and his mistress, of her true love and of her rise to being an important powerbroker amid Britain's ruling elite. An awesomely likeable costume drama with obvious latter day parallels.
find out more...
THE LADY AND THE DUKE (2001)
CertificationPG Our Rating
The film is entirely extracted from the diary of Grace Elliot, a doughty royalist residing in France during the turbulent and uncertain period of the Revolution. What makes it of historical interest is that her ex-lover and close friend, le Duc de Orleans, a cousin of the king, was of a different political hue, a revolutionary idealist who believed in parliamentary democracy, but who was swept aside in the violent class upheaval that marked the end of the feudalistic Bourbon court. A sumptuous c
find out more...
WILD CHILD (2007)
Certification15 Our Rating
At the National Institute For The Deaf and Dumb in Paris, a barely clothed and dirty young boy, found in a forest, unable to speak, communicate or function in society, was admitted. Christened Victor by the hospital staff, his case was taken up by Doctor Itard, a lone physician, who had an unyielding dedication to re-integrating the lad into society. But the road to tame the beast was a rocky one and Itard would have to work tirelessly to teach Victor how to reclaim his place in the world...even
find out more...