Category Archives: Major Actresses

Little Comfort for Southern Nymphets in Wartime Italy – “Ninfa Plebea” 1996

Posted on January 18, 2013 by TR

Lina Wertmüller adapts a traditional novel to create the edgy romantic drama “Ninfa Plebea” [Eng. Title: The Nymph]. Set in an impoverished Neapolitan village in wartime Italy, this Cinderella tale of a young girl finding love and advancing her social … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Cinema, Lina Wertmüller, Stefania Sandrelli | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Almodóvar at his twisted best in “Laberinto de Pasiones” [1982 Spain]

Posted on October 24, 2012 by TR

For those who may not know, early films by Pedro Almodóvar were pretty much underground affairs – he was part of Spain’s counter-culture, and also fronted a music band. The 1982 drama, “Laberinto de Pasiones” [Eng. Title: Labyrinth of Passion] … Continue reading →

Posted in Cecilia Roth, Pedro Almodóvar, Spain | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A tribute to Emmanuelle Béart

Posted on September 28, 2012 by TR

Autumn’s already flooding-in after a rather indifferent English summer. Here’s something to hopefully cheer things up a bit – a video tribute to prolific actress and one of the most recognisable faces from France, the beautiful and talented Emmanuelle Béart. … Continue reading →

Posted in aTributes, Emmanuelle Béart | 7 Comments

Bigas Luna critiques Spanish machismo in “Huevos de Oro” [1993 Spain]

Posted on September 3, 2012 by TR

Whether or not we like the early works of Catalan director Bigas Luna, one thing we have to give him credit for is his determination to never pussy-foot around what he’s trying to say. There is no polite-talk, no ‘birds … Continue reading →

Posted in Bigas Luna, Maribel Verdú, Spain | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Reflections on Jacques Rivette’s “La Belle Noiseuse” [1991 France]

Posted on August 10, 2012 by TR

Jacques Rivette is one of the very few nouvelle vague directors who is impossible to pigeon-hole – he has consistently experimented with cinema using different genres, techniques, and narratives, embodying the true spirit of French New Wave itself. At first … Continue reading →

Posted in Emmanuelle Béart, France, Jacques Rivette | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments