5.4

The Tempest

2010, USA

• Actors: Felicity Jones, Jude Akuwidike, Reeve Carney, David Strathairn, Tom Conti, Alan Cumming, Chris Cooper, Helen Mirren, Ben Whishaw, Djimon Hounsou, Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Kevin Cannon, Bryan Webster
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
• Director(s): Julie Taymor
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In Julie Taymor's version of 'The Tempest,' the main character is now a woman named Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor's version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it's a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.

  4.9

A Closed Book

2009, UK

• Actors: Daryl Hannah, Tom Conti, Miriam Margolyes, Simon MacCorkindale, Elaine Paige, Matt Kaufman, William Ellis, Craig Painting, Brogan West, Adam Ewan, Matthew Earley, Ty Glaser
• Genre: Thriller
• Director(s): Raoul Ruiz
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Sir Paul, a distinguished author, blinded in a horrific accident, advertises for an amanuensis, an assistant to help him with his writing. He employs the amiable Jane Ryder to be his eyes as he revisits scenes from his past and works on what he intends to be his final opus. Jane appears to be ideal: attractive, intelligent, unruffled by her employer's abrupt eccentricities. But, gradually, we come aware that Jane has another agenda. Incrementally, Sir Paul's familiar surroundings are altered. Strange things happen around the house and he becomes increasingly dependent on his new assistant. Jane plays increasingly sadistic games until their relationship breaks down...

  6.5

Derailed

2004, USA, UK

• Actors: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel, Melissa George, Addison Timlin, RZA, Tom Conti, Denis O'Hare, Richard Leaf, Xzibit, Giancarlo Esposito, Sandra Bee, William Armstrong, Rachael Blake, Catherine McCord, Georgina Chapman, David Oyelowo, Claire Lubert, Jennifer Joan Taylor, David Morrissey, Sam Douglas, Dozer, Ortis Deley, Danny McCarthy, Rayn Romain, Chiké Okonkwo, James Crisman, Marcus Holton, Leo McCoy, Roberto Rangel
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Director(s): Mikael Håfström
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Charles is worn down by his home life where he and his wife struggle to cope with the demands of their daughter's illness and his job. When he meets Lucinda on the train to work in Chicago, there is an immediate spark between them. Soon they are doing lunch; dinner and drinks follow. This leads to an adulterous rendezvous in a hotel. However, no sooner have they torn each other's clothes off than their room is invaded by a thief who beats Charles and rapes Lucinda. Because of the illicit nature of their relationship, Charles agrees with Lucinda who is reluctant to go to the police and soon finds he is powerless to resist the demands of the thief.

  7.1

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

1983, UK, Japan

• Actors: David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryûichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano, Jack Thompson, Johnny Okura, Alistair Browning, James Malcolm, Chris Broun, Yûya Uchida, Ryunosuke Kaneda, Takashi Naitô, Tamio Ishikura, Rokko Toura, Kan Mikami, Yûji Honma, Daisuke Iijima, Hideo Murota, Barry Dorking, Geoff Clendon, Grant Bridger, Richard Adams, Geoff Allen, Michael Baxter-Lax, Mark Berg, Marcus Campbell, Colin Francis, Richard Hensby, Richard Hoare, Martin Ibbertson
• Genre: Drama, War
• Director(s): Nagisa Ôshima
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In 1942 British soldier Jack Celliers comes to a japanese prison camp. The camp is run by Yonoi, who has a firm belief in discipline, honour and glory. In his view, the allied prisoners are cowards when they chose to surrender instead of commiting suicide. One of the prisoners, interpreter John Lawrence, tries to explain the japanese way of thinking, but is considered a traitor.