London's Burning

The King's War on Witches(en)

In the late 16th century Europe was in the grip of a ferocious witch hunt, where thousands were tortured and burnt at the stake. The church was fully behind this terrifying crusade against the imaginary enemies of Christianity. In France and Germany alone up to 40,000 people may have been killed as witches. But England and Scotland were almost untouched by witch persecutions until King James himself decided to launch his own, personal war on witchcraft.

City of Splendour(hr)

A documentary about punk and subculture scene of Pula, Croatia from 1978 to 1991, the city that gave birth to one of the most vivid punk and alternative rock scenes in former Yugoslavia, despite having population of just over 60,000 residents.

Bola de Nieve(es)

Documentarian Jose Sanchez-Montes turns his attention towards the late Cuban musician Ignacio Villa, known throughout the world as Bola de Nieve (Snowball), with this 2003 biographical documentary entitled simply Bola de Nieve. A master pianist, Bola de Nieve was a mainstay through the middle portion of the 20th century, with his music almost omnipresent in South America cinema throughout those formative decades. With Bola de Nieve's famous statement "I'm a sad person, but my songs sound happy" in mind, Sanchez-Montes also looks at the influence of the musician's African heritage and homosexuality upon Bola de Nieve's unique musical style.

Straight Into a Storm(en)

A portrait of a hard rocking band known for their substance-fueled live performances on their evolutionary journey to become one of the greatest cult rock bands of our time.

Anarchism in America(en)

A colorful and provocative survey of anarchism in America, the film attempts to dispel popular misconceptions and trace the historical development of the movement. The film explores the movement both as a native American philosophy stemming from 19th century American traditions of individualism, and as a foreign ideology brought to America by immigrants. The film features rare archival footage and interviews with significant personalities in anarchist history including Murray Boochkin and Karl Hess, and also live performance footage of the Dead Kennedys.

Las Tesoros de San Antonio: A Westside Story(en)

Their individual careers soared in the 1940s thru the 1970s. All of these women once hailed from San Antonio's Westside barrio. Time had almost forgotten them. And now that these "tesoros" or treasures have been rediscovered, these magnificent women are telling amazing stories. Las Tesoros de San Antonio - "A Westside Story". Examines the personal toll and legacy of four South Texas singers of yesteryear. Rita "La Calandria" Vidaurri, Blanquita Rodriguez "Blanca Rosa", Beatriz "La Paloma del Norte" Llamas, and Anita Janet Cortez "La Perla Tapatia" Through their stories and music the audience learns how these women began their careers in a male dominate industry to become successful singer/performers nationally and internationally. As well as their personal tragedies that lead to retirement and then to their present day musical resurgence.

In Search of Beethoven(en)

In Search of Beethoven offers a comprehensive documentary about the life and works of the great composer. Over 65 performances by the world's finest musicians were recorded and 100 interviews conducted in the making of this beautifully crafted film. Eleven interviews are included in the Extras and Six complete movements.

Here We Come A-Wassailing(en)

A documentary on the surviving syncretic pagan midwinter customs of the British Isles, focusing on nine ritual celebrations ranging from the Moray Firth in the north, the Somerset Levels in the south, Humberside in the east, and County Kerry in the west. Featuring music by the Albion Band and narration by John Tams.

Central London Traffic(en)

Traffic chaos and parking pandemonium in London is nothing new around the capital.

Until the Light Takes Us(en)

Chronicles the history, ideology and aesthetic of Norwegian black metal, a musical subculture infamous as much for a series of murders and church arsons as it is for its unique musical and visual aesthetics. This is the first film to truly shed light on a movement that has heretofore been shrouded by rumor and obscured by inaccurate and shallow depictions. Featuring exclusive interviews with the musicians themselves, Until the Light Takes Us explores every aspect of the controversial movement that has captured the attention of the world.

The Early Years(de)

Joe Cocker: Respect Yourself(en)

Shot in Cologne, Germany, the Respect Yourself DVD features one of the true great rock voices of all time delivering an outstanding live performance. Set in an intimate setting at the Limelight club, Cocker performs songs from his 2002 studio album "Respect Yourself", which is included in this amazing Special Edition. The DVD also includes an up close and personal interview with Joe Cocker himself.

Punk Revolution NYC(en)

This documentary film traces the entire history of New York's punk movement; the VU years, the Warhol influence, the Dolls reign, and the handover of power to the bands who shared the sensibilities and attitude introduced to the city by Warhol and the Velvets a decade before. With the aid of performance footage, rare archive, exclusive interviews and some of the most exciting music ever recorded, this programme offers an experience of these events second only to having lived through them. Features new interviews with Richard Hell, Suicide's Alan Vega, Blondie's Gary Valentine and many more.

Safari Ya Gari(en)

This early travelogue film, made in a Kenyan train station, captures an impromptu musical performance. Some passengers eagerly join in while others sleep—blissfully unaware of the performance taking place around them.

London Line No. 373(xx)

A Ghanaian fashion student and a Nigerian squash player are among the Africans making a life in 70s Britain.

U2: Popmart - Live from Mexico City(en)

U2 performs live in Mexico City in support of their 1997 album, "Pop," featuring lavish special effects, cutting edge sound and spectacular multimedia enhancement. /// Tracklist: 1. Pop Muzik 2. Mofo 3. I Will Follow 4. Gone 5. Even Better Than The Real Thing 6. Last Night On Earth 7. Until The End Of The World 8. New Year's Day 9. Pride (In The Name Of Love) 10. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 11. All I Want Is You 12. Desire/La Bamba 13. Staring At The Sun 14. Sunday Bloody Sunday 15. Bullet The Blue Sky 16. Please 17. Where The Streets Have No Name 18. Lemon (Perfecto Mix) 19. Discothèque/Love To Love You Baby/Life During Wartime 20. If You Wear That Velvet Dress 21. With Or Without You 22. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 23. Mysterious Ways 24. One 25. Wake Up Dead Man

i.Mirror by China Tracy(en)

Cao Fei recorded her experiences within the online social platform Second Life. The result is a wistful, surreal vision of an alternative reality sprung from the pop culture fantasies and hyper-consumerism of contemporary urban China, while also trying to transcend its real-life limitations. It can be seen as an answer to the challenge posed by River Elegy: how to envision a new Chinese destiny founded on principles of individuality, creativity, discovery, and freedom. The film also reflects the contemporary condition of the virtual supplanting our experience of the real.

LHR(en)

A colour anamorphic musical look at London's Heathrow airport over 24-hours in November 1971. The subject was shot entirely at Heathrow airport without recording any direct sound. LHR's many layered tracks were all compiled, recorded and laid in post-production.

Bad Reputation(en)

The life and career of rock n' roll icon Joan Jett from her early years ripping it up onstage as the founder and backbone of hard-rock legends The Runaways, to her long time collaboration with Kenny Laguna as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and her enduring presence in pop culture as a rock pioneer and mentor. With her inimitable singles "I Love Rock n Roll," and "Bad Reputation" Joan Jett inspired a generation of young women to rock.

The First World War(en)

Produced by the Fox Movietone News arm of Fox Film Corporation and based on the book by Lawrence Stallings, this expanded newsreel, using stock-and-archive footage, tells the story of World War I from inception to conclusion. Alternating with scenes of trench warfare and intimate glimpses of European royalty at home, and scenes of conflict at sea combined with sequences of films from the secret archives of many of the involved nations.