Author Archive: Retro

Six stories of life in Italy, many featuring Allied soldiers and nurses during WWII. English subtitles.

Six stories of life in Italy, many featuring Allied soldiers and nurses during WWII. English subtitles.

The film starts with the narrator stating that “this is a true story.” Ciro, a young man living in Rome during WWII, would rather go swimming than find a job to help support his family. His father is a night watchman, and works long hours, but cares for his family. He buys a new pair of shoes for Ciro, but Ciro carelessly loses them. Ciro and his friends plot to steal a pair to replace them, but clumsily steal two left shoes. Iris, his neighbor, is in love with Ciro, but he treats her badly. She helps with chores around his house while Ciro sleeps late and acts like one of Fellini’s vitteloni. After the war, Ciro does not change his ways, and is involved in shady situations. He is involved with another man’s wife, but breaks it off. He and his friends hang out in bars and run small-time scams. Although he promises Iris [...]

In a 17th-century Danish village, an old woman is accused of witchcraft. In the shadow of her flight, capture, confession, andburning at the stake, the young wife of the town’s aging pastorfalls in love with the pastor’s son. Her confession of this illicitaffair to her husband brings on his death. At his funeral, hismother denounces the widow as a witch. Will her lover come toher defense or has the day of wrath returned?

After an accidental explosion in the lab, its inventor slips in and out of dream-like hallucinations, realizing that he had given the formula to one of his colleagues, who he tries to stop before it is too late.

The story of Britain’s ill-fated 1911 expedition to the South Pole, and their race against an expedition from Norway which has the same agenda. Produced by Michael Balcon. Dir. Charles Frend

The story of Britain’s ill-fated 1911 expedition to the South Pole, and their race against an expedition from Norway which has the same agenda. Produced by Michael Balcon. Dir. Charles Frend