8.3

The King's Speech

2010, UK, Australia

• Actors: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi, Robert Portal, Richard Dixon, Paul Trussell, Adrian Scarborough, Andrew Havill, Charles Armstrong, Roger Hammond, Geoffrey Rush, Calum Gittins, Jennifer Ehle, Dominic Applewhite, Ben Wimsett, Freya Wilson, Ramona Marquez, David Bamber, Jake Hathaway, Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce, Patrick Ryecart, Teresa Gallagher, Simon Chandler, Claire Bloom, Orlando Wells, Tim Downie, Dick Ward, Eve Best, John Albasiny
• Genre: Drama, History
• Director(s): Tom Hooper
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

  7.0

Into the Storm

2008, UK, USA

• Actors: Brendan Gleeson, Iain Glen, James D'Arcy, Bill Paterson, Janet McTeer, Emma Hamilton, Robert Pugh, Len Cariou, Patrick Malahide, Terrence Hardiman, Jack Shepherd, Donald Sumpter, Adrian Scarborough, Garrick Hagon, Clive Mantle, Michael Pennington, Michael Elwyn, Aleksei Petrenko, Ben Righton, Patrick Brennan, Mark Lingwood, Geoffrey Kirkness, Morgan Thomas, William Ellis, James Fiddy, Paul Kelleher, Laurence Richardson, Catriona Ryan, Simon John Wilson
• Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
• Director(s): Thaddeus O'Sullivan
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Continuing the storyline of The Gathering Storm, Churchill at War is a look at the former British prime minister's life and career at the end of WWII.

  6.8

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

2006, UK, France, Germany

• Actors: Jordi Mollà, Aimee King, Cate Blanchett, Laurence Fox, John Shrapnel, Geoffrey Rush, Susan Lynch, Elise McCave, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish, Penelope McGhie, Rhys Ifans, Eddie Redmayne, Stuart McLoughlin, Clive Owen, Adrian Scarborough, Robert Styles, William Houston, Coral Beed, Rosalind Halstead, Steven Loton, Martin Baron, David Armand, Steven Robertson, Jeremy Barker, George Innes, Adam Godley, Kirstin Smith, Kelly Hunter, Christian Brassington
• Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
• Director(s): Shekhar Kapur
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Two faiths, two empires, two rulers - colliding in 1588. Papist Spain wants to bring down the heretic Elizabeth. Philip is building an armada but needs a rationale to attack. With covert intrigue, Spain sets a trap for the Queen and her principal secretary, Walsingham, using as a pawn Elizabeth's cousin Mary Stuart, who's under house arrest in the North. The trap springs, and the armada sets sail, to rendezvous with French ground forces and to attack. During these months, the Virgin Queen falls in love with Walter Raleigh, keeping him close to court and away from the sea and America. Is treachery or heroism at his heart? Does loneliness await her passionate majesty?

  6.6

The History Boys

2006, UK

• Actors: Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Andrew Knott, Russell Tovey, Jamie Parker, Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett, Sacha Dhawan, Clive Merrison, Penelope Wilton, Adrian Scarborough, Georgia Taylor, Maggie McCarthy, Colin Haigh, Iain Mitchell, David Killick, Patrick Godfrey, Craig Carruthers
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Director(s): Nicholas Hytner
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In 1980s Britain, a group of young men at Cutlers' Grammar School all have the brains, and the will to earn the chance of getting accepted in the finest universities in the nation, Oxford and Cambridge. Despite the fine teaching by excellent professionals like Mrs Lintott in history and the intellectually enthusiastic Hector in General Studies, the Headmaster is not satisfied. He signs on the young Irwin to polish the students' style to give them the best chance. In this mix of intellectualism and creative spirit that guides a rigorous preparation regime for that ultimate educational brass ring, the lives of the randy students and the ostensibly restrained faculty intertwine that would change their lives forever.

  7.6

Notes on a Scandal

2005, UK

• Actors: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Tom Georgeson, Michael Maloney, Joanna Scanlan, Shaun Parkes, Emma Kennedy, Syreeta Kumar, Andrew Simpson, Philip Davis, Wendy Nottingham, Tameka Empson, Leon Skinner, Bill Nighy, Juno Temple, Max Lewis, Debra Gillett, Barry McCarthy, Julia McKenzie, Adrian Scarborough, Jill Baker, Diana Berriman, Alice Bird, Benedict Taylor, Miranda Pleasence, Jonathan Speer, Stephen Kennedy, Derbhle Crotty, Catherine Drew, Anne-Marie Duff
• Genre: Drama
• Director(s): Richard Eyre
• Available languages:
  • English English.

The bitter, cynical and lonely Barbara Covett is a tough and conservative teacher near to retirement that is loathed by her colleagues and students. In the loneliness of her apartment, she spends her spare time writing her journal, taking care of her old cat Portia and missing her special friend Jennifer Dodd. When Sheba Hart joins the high-school as the new art teacher, Barbara dedicates her attention to the newcomer, writing sharp and unpleasant comments about her behavior and clothes. When Barbara helps Sheba in a difficult situation with two students, the grateful Sheba invites her to have lunch with her family. Sheba introduces her husband and former professor Richard Hart, who is about twenty years older than she; her rebellious teenager daughter Polly; and her son Ben that has Down's Syndrome. Barbara becomes close to Sheba, but when she accidentally discovers that Sheba is having an affair with the fifteen year-old student Steven Connolly, Barbara sees the chance to manipulate and get closer to Sheba, hiding the secret from the school headmaster. When Portia dies and Sheba does not stay with Barbara in the veterinary office to see Ben in a theater play, Barbara plots a Machiavellian revenge against Sheba, creating a scandal and consequent turmoil in their lives.

  6.5

Bright Young Things

2003, UK

• Actors: Simon McBurney, Michael Sheen, Emily Mortimer, James McAvoy, Stephen Campbell Moore, Stockard Channing, Adrian Scarborough, Jim Carter, Fenella Woolgar, Dan Aykroyd, Julia McKenzie, Bruno Lastra, David Tennant, Jim Broadbent, John Franklyn-Robbins, Simon Callow, Guy Henry, Alex Barclay, Lisa Dillon, Lisa Jackson, Neville Phillips, Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, Nigel Planer, Peter O'Toole, Stephen Fry, James Jackson Ritchie, Arturo Venegas, Harriet Walter, Angela Thorne
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
• Director(s): Stephen Fry
• Available languages:
  • English English.

A fool and his money. In the 1930s, Adam Fenwick-Symes is part of the English idle class, wanting to marry the flighty Nina Blount. He's a novelist with a hundred-pound advance for a manuscript confiscated by English customs. He spends the next several years trying to get money and to set a wedding date: he trades in gossip, wins money on wagers then gives it to a drunken major who's suggested he bet on a horse in an upcoming race. Adam tries to get the money back, but can't find the major. Meanwhile, Nina needs security, friends drink too much, and general unhappiness spoils the party. Then war breaks out. Is Adam's bright youth dimming with the fall of an empire?

  7.5

Dirty Pretty Things

2002, UK

• Actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kriss Dosanjh, Israel Aduramo, Yemi Ajibade, Nizwar Karanj, Deobia Oparei, Jeffery Kissoon, Zlatko Buric, Audrey Tautou, Sophie Okonedo, Sergi López, Benedict Wong, Kenan Hudaverdi, Damon Younger, Paul Bhattacharjee, Darrell D'Silva, Sotigui Kouyaté, Abi Gouhad, Jeillo Edwards, Rita Hamill, Ron Stenner, Jemanesh Solomon, Naomi Simpson, Barber Ali, Jean-Philippe Écoffey, Josef Altin, Fisun Burgess, Sabina Michael, Michael Mellinger, Noma Dumezweni
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Director(s): Stephen Frears
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Okwe, a kind-hearted Nigerian doctor, and Senay, a Turkish chambermaid, work at the same West London hotel. The hotel is run by Senor Sneaky and is the sort of place where dirty business like drug dealing and prostitution takes place. However, when Okwe finds a human heart in one of the toilets, he uncovers something far more sinister than just a common crime.

  7.3

Gosford Park

2000, UK, USA, Italy

• Actors: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford, Charles Dance, Geraldine Somerville, Tom Hollander, Natasha Wightman, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, James Wilby, Claudie Blakley, Laurence Fox, Trent Ford, Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Ron Webster, Kelly Macdonald, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Eileen Atkins, Emily Watson, Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, Richard E. Grant, Jeremy Swift, Sophie Thompson, Meg Wynn Owen, Adrian Scarborough, Frances Low
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
• Director(s): Robert Altman
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Set in the 1930's the story takes place in an old fashioned English country house where a family has invited many of their friends up for a weekend shooting party. The story centers around the McCordle family, particularly the man of the house, William McCordle. Getting on in years William has become benefactor to many of his relatives and friends. As the weekend goes on and secrets are revealed, it seems everyone, above stairs and below, wants a piece of William and his money, but how far will they go to get it?