Half the Town

2 or 3 Things I Know About Him(de)

What would your family reminiscences about dad sound like if he had been an early supporter of Hitler’s, a leader of the notorious SA and the Third Reich’s minister in charge of Slovakia, including its Final Solution? Executed as a war criminal in 1947, Hanns Ludin left behind a grieving widow and six young children, the youngest of whom became a filmmaker. It's a fascinating, maddening, sometimes even humorous look at what the director calls "a typical German story." (Film Forum)

A Yiddish World Remembered(en)

Elliott Gould narrates this affectionate look at life in the shtetls of Eastern Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. "It's unreal that all this could have just disappeared," says Polish native Mariem Adler Stok, one of the seniors whose memories of this "Yiddish world" give this documentary its life. The hour traces Jewish history in Europe and explores Jews' focus on education, their religious customs, clothing, food, music and theater.

Polsko(cs)

Arada(de)

The story of three Turkish men. They all grew up in Switzerland and all got deported after various criminal offenses.

As If It Were Yesterday(fr)

Documents the little-known heroism of the Belgian Resistance who, during the Nazi occupation, hid over 4,000 Jewish children, rescuing them from deportation and extermination, , often risking their own lives. Directed by Myriam Abramowicz and Esther Hoffenberg, children of parents who spent the war in hiding, the film inspired the creation of The Hidden Child, a world-wide network of hidden children, which, for three decades, has organized reunions of hidden children with the families who hid them in Belgium during WWII.

The Prince of Egypt(en)

The strong bond between two brothers is challenged when their chosen responsibilities set them at odds, with extraordinary consequences.

Once My Mother(en)

Australian filmmaker Sophia Turkiewicz investigates why her Polish mother abandoned her and uncovers the truth behind her mother's wartime escape from a Siberian gulag, leaving Sophia to confront her own capacity for forgiveness.

Bucolic(pl)

Danusia and her daughter Basia live far away from the modern world, in tune with the rhythm and laws of nature, among animals and the spirits of the dead. The peace and sense of security offered by their enclave come at a price - the women increasingly long for contact with other people. Bucolic is an affectionate observation of people who live in a different way. It evokes a curiosity about their world and a desire to take a closer look.

The Balcony Movie(pl)

Composed from the conversations that the director holds with people passing by in the street under his Warsaw apartment, each story in 'The Balcony Movie' is unique and deals with the way we try to cope with life as individuals. All together, they create a self-portrait of contemporary human life, and the passers-by present a composite picture of today's world.

The Ugliest Car(pl)

The youngest protagonist of the documentary is Wartburg, an automobile over 50 years of age. The car is still on the road, driven by Bogdan, a 70-year-old who is taking his mother to visit the German factory where she was forced to work during WWII. In this road movie which takes place between Majdanpek and Germany, the trip becomes a journey into the past, retracing memories from the war and revealing a unique relationship between an old son and his elderly mother.

The Deal(en)

Stop-motion animation on the arranging of marriages in 1950/60s set in the Eastern-Polish borderland. The script is based on a part of Mikołaj Smyk's diary, the director's grandfather. The biographical objects used in the animation, such as an authentic headscarf, Polish and Russian books, the copy of Mikołaj Smyk's diary and photographs help situate the story in its original environment.

Klingert's Diving Suit(pl)

Six-year-old Bi has been afraid of water since the flood took her younger brother. Her father, Karl Klingert, dedicated himself to working on the world's first diving suit. Bi thinks the suit is the monster that took over her father. With the help of Peter, a young bully from the river, she tries to destroy it before the whole family leaves Wroclaw forever.

Religulous(en)

Commentator-comic Bill Maher plays devil's advocate with religion as he talks to believers about their faith. Traveling around the world, Maher examines the tenets of Christianity, Judaism and Islam and raises questions about homosexuality, proof of Christ's existence, Jewish Sabbath laws, violent Muslim extremists.

Eight Crazy Nights(en)

Davey Stone, a 33-year old party animal, finds himself in trouble with the law after his wild ways go too far.

Human Lampshade: A Holocaust Mystery(en)

This story follows one man's quest to uncover the origins and reveal the mysteries of a possible Holocaust artifact some historians now say never existed: lampshades made of human skin. When the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina receded, they left behind a wrecked New Orleans and a strange looking lamp that an illicit dealer claimed was 'made from the skin of Jews.'

1979: Big Bang of the Present(de)

Deng Xiaoping's economic and political opening in China. Margaret Thatcher's extreme economic measures in the United Kingdom. Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic Revolution in Iran. Pope John Paul II's visit to Poland. Saddam Hussein's rise to power in Iraq. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The nuclear accident at the Harrisburg power plant and the birth of ecological activism. The year 1979, the beginning of the future.

Detained(he)

Najwa, Nawal, and Siham, three Palestinian widows, live with their 11 children in a house on Shuhada Street in Hebron. Their house lies on the border; the façade is under Israeli occupation, the Palestinian Authority controls the back. At the entrance to the house is a military post; on the roof the Israeli army has placed a watch point over Palestinian Hebron. The three women, trapped in the middle and constantly surrounded by Israeli soldiers, carry on their difficult lives in a perverse situation: the occupation becomes a routine, the absurd becomes a given. This is the story of an occupation that extends to the staircase and the roof of the house, where it encounters poverty, loneliness, pain, but also the small joys of everyday life. This is an internal prison, the external one is the ongoing occupation.

Death of the Serpent God(en)

This film begins, so to speak, where ‘Vol spécial’ left off. The reality of migration bears its teeth: Following a scuffle, 20-year-old Koumba from France is sent back to the place where she was raised – Senegal. She returns to the lost village of her ancestors hysterical, argumentative and unproductively rebellious. Now the mother of a toddler, she continues to come to terms with the two cultures; the outcome is unforeseeable, as is the outcome of this cinematic long-term observation. The risk of its failure due to its protagonist is palpable. But Koumba’s fascinating metamorphosis is also obvious, her body and character have taken on a more harmonious nature. All hope is not lost.

It's Hard By Oneself...(pl)

The documentary takes the viewer to the Polish countryside of the mid-1970s. Andrzej, Leszek, Eugeniusz, Ryszard and Jerzy are young men who dream of finding their other half. The film's protagonists have advertised in newspapers and talk frankly and without inhibition about their search and the dilemmas it involves. The picture is complemented by the statements of their parents, who watch their sons' efforts to start a family with love but also concern. The film also gives an insight into the problems farmers face - not only love but also hard work on the land awaits the chosen one of their hearts. "Either get married or quit this farm", "What's one to do on a farm?" - say the characters in the film. The countryside is not a place made for living alone.

The Auschwitz Trial(de)

The biggest trial of Nazi war crimes ever: 360 witnesses in 183 days of trial - a stunning and gripping portrayal of the most terrible massacre in history.

Six Hours: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda(en)

In the middle of a broadcast about Typhoon Yolanda's initial impact, reporter Jiggy Manicad was faced with the reality that he no longer had communication with his station. They were, for all intents and purposes, stranded in Tacloban. With little option, and his crew started the six hour walk to Alto, where the closest broadcast antenna was to be found. Letting the world know what was happening to was a priority, but they were driven by the need to let their families and friends know they were all still alive. Along the way, they encountered residents and victims of the massive typhoon, and with each step it became increasingly clear just how devastating this storm was. This was a storm that was going to change lives.

Duelo de cabrones(es)

Viva el chubasco(es)

The struggle between two rival families brings many complications into the life of a people. The priest, with the agreement of the women, get a strike of crossed legs until peace is a fact.

Night Life in Reno(en)

A story of love, humor and drama against the background of America's "Biggest Little City." An (interrupted) indiscretion by John Wyatt with a floozy prompts his wife, June, to make a trip to Reno, Nevada in order to get a quickie six-week-waiting-period divorce. John, penitent over his past actions (since he got caught), follows his wife to Reno and manages a reconciliation after a murder gives him a chance to prove his true devotion.

Mad, Mad, Mad Swords(zh)

The star in Mad Mad Mad swords is a common man with numerous weaknesses and a complete worthless student of a prestigious school. To the suprise of all, however, he manages to defeat a string of renowned swordsmen, including the one-armed swordsman and the blind swordsman, by tricks and luck.

Smash TV - Skinemax(en)

Skinemax is Koyaanisqatsi for a generation raised on late night television and B-movie VHS tapes. It's long form entertainment for short attention spans. An hour long VJ odyssey, it will move your body and warp your mind. A nostalgic look back at a half remembered childhood growing up in the 80s and early 90s, Skinemax takes a close look at the culture of that era. The images that motivated, delighted, and terrified us on the silver screen, set to propulsive modern music that pines for a simpler time.

Crazy Crying Lady(th)

A woman is afflicted with an unusual condition; she cries all the time, at the slightest provocation regardless of whether she's happy or sad, beset by anxieties or problem-free. Nicknamed "Madame Ho", this pitiful woman strives to play a more visible role in a household that continually belittles her.

Rewind 3: The Final Chapter(en)

An unfortunate highschooler finds an ancient book that summons Allentown's deadliest maniacs back from the dead.

Bumblebee Kids - 123's, Vol. 2(en)

BumbleBee's 123s is Designed to Give Your Child a Head Start in Math & Counting. Traditional number DVDs teach children to recite sequences of numbers, but fail to teach math or quantitative reasoning skills. BumbleBee's 123s focuses on the presentation of mathematical reasoning skills. Volume 1 of this two DVD set introduces the numbers 1 to 5 as well as the one-to-one correspondence of an object and number when counting. The second volume of this set introduces numbers up to 10 and helps build logical ordering skills. Both volumes of BumbleBee s 123s include interactive games. This set includes two early learning DVDs. BumbleBee s 123s features a fun cast of kids to provide important peer modeling. Supporting materials including flashcards and posters are available FREE on our Website. The set has a 60 minute approximate running time plus interactive games.

Crackula Goes to Hollywood(en)

A mysterious man from Alaska, known to be from the dark side, becomes addicted to sucking crack blood. He single handedly ends up cleaning the streets of Hollywood of all crack users and drug dealers.

Underground(en)

After a wild bachelorette party, a group of young women find themselves trapped in an underground bunker complex. A disturbing finding turns their night into an absolute nightmare. Will they be able to escape from this vast concrete maze?

Stealing a Survivor(en)

Ray Martin is in a bit of a pickle. His father's chauffeur business is failing financially and is on the verge of collapsing. Ray must find a way to save the company. At the same time; Gervase Peterson's career in Hollywood is hanging on by a thread and he needs to salvage whatever is left of his career. Through a chance meeting, Ray wrangles together an eclectic bunch of strangers and friends to get Gervase's career back on track and save his father from bankruptcy.

Try Again(is)

The short film Reyndu aftur (Try Again) follows a young man whose suicide attempt is interrupted by an ex-girlfriend. By mistake, he tells a spontaneous lie that has unpredictable consequences, forcing him to deal with various problems of everyday life and face up to the fact that everybody is burdened with issues of their own. Should he give life a second chance or the just give in to the rope?

Orlando Baxter: Glorified Baby Sitter(en)

Orlando Baxter exploded onto the Boston comedy scene in 2005, and quickly established himself as one of the areas hottest young comics. In 2007 Orlando was a finalist in NBC’s Stand Up for Diversity Showcase. His fresh perspective and unique relatability quickly solidified this high school teacher into a fan favorite. In 2010, he became a finalist in both the New York Comedy Contest and the Boston Comedy festival. And in 2012 he toured across the country with national headliner Jo Koy, as the opening act in the Lights Out tour. In 2014 Orlando made his second TV appearance on AXS TV’s Gotham Live. He was also a finalist at the prestigious Montreux Comedy festival in Switzerland. In 2018, he performed stand-up on TBS’ Conan. Orlando is a regular headliner at numerous comedy clubs throughout New England, and performs all over the country.

The Darktown Revue(en)

With a series of long takes and frontal camera set-ups, Michaeux provides a record of several cabaret acts, using intertitles to separate the individual numbers. This quietly outrageous film begins with the high-toned Heywood Choir singing "Watermelon time" and concludes with Amon David playing a preacher using heavy blackface. Amon Davus was known as "the Back Biting Comedian, Par Excellence", and his sermon is one of Michaeux's many notable send-ups of the clergy.