6.6

Easy Virtue

2007, UK, Canada

• Actors: Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Kimberley Nixon, Katherine Parkinson, Kris Marshall, Christian Brassington, Charlotte Riley, Jim McManus, Pip Torrens, Jeremy Hooton, Joanna Bacon, Maggie Hickey, Georgie Glen, David Longstaff, Michael Archer, Rebel Penfold-Russell, Stewart Clarke, Oliver Reid, Joe Reid, Stephan Elliott, Sheridan Jobbins, Fizz, Laurence Richardson
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Director(s): Stephan Elliott
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Between world wars, the Whittaker's estate is sinking; only the iron will of Mrs. Whittaker staves off bankruptcy while she awaits her son John's return from the continent. To her dismay, he brings a bride: an American widow who races cars. The bride, Larita, thinks she and John will visit and then go to London, where he'll work and she'll race. But John is to the manor born, and mother is nothing if not a master at plans and manipulation. Soon it's all-out war between mother and bride, with John's father, a burnt out veteran of the Great War, in the bride's corner ineffectually. Mother has a plan to join with the neighboring estate; only Larita is in her way. Can't we all get along?

  7.5

Amazing Grace

2005, UK, USA

• Actors: Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Youssou N'Dour, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Nicholas Farrell, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Jeremy Swift, Stephen Campbell Moore, Bill Paterson, Nicholas Day, Georgie Glen, Nicholas Woodeson, Tom Fisher, Richard Ridings, David Hunt, David Toole, Alex Blake, Angie Wallis, Harry Audley, Chris Barnes, Tom Knight, Andrew Whipp, Andrew Neil, Estelle Morgan, Philip Dunbar
• Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
• Director(s): Michael Apted
• Available languages:
  • English English.

In 1797, William Wilberforce, the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner, Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton, a slave ship captain turned repentant priest who penned the great hymn, "Amazing Grace," Prime William Pitt, and Olaudah Equiano, the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights both public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.

  7.3

Shakespeare in Love

1997, USA, UK

• Actors: Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Steven O'Donnell, Tim McMullan, Joseph Fiennes, Steven Beard, Antony Sher, Patrick Barlow, Martin Clunes, Sandra Reinton, Simon Callow, Judi Dench, Bridget McConnell, Georgie Glen, Nicholas Boulton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Imelda Staunton, Colin Firth, Desmond McNamara, Barnaby Kay, Jim Carter, Paul Bigley, Jason Round, Rupert Farley, Adam Barker, Joe Roberts, Harry Gostelow, Alan Cody, Mark Williams, David Curtiz
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Director(s): John Madden
• Available languages:
  • English English.

Will Shakespeare is a known but struggling poet, playwright and actor who not only has sold his next play to both Philip Henslow and Richard Burbidge but now faces a far more difficult problem: he is bereft of ideas and has yet to begin writing. He is in search of his muse, the woman who will inspire him but all attempts fail him until he meets the beautiful Viola de Lesseps. She loves the theatre and would like nothing more than to take to the stage but is forbidden from doing so as only men can be actors. She is also a great admirer of Shakespeare's works. Dressing as a man and going by the name of Thomas Kent, she auditions and is ideal for a part in his next play. Shakespeare soon see through her disguise and they begin a love affair, one they know cannot end happily for them as he is already married and she has been promised to the dour Lord Wessex. As the company rehearses his new play, Will and Viola's love is transferred to the written page leading to the masterpiece that is Romeo and Juliet.