Films & books for you
Dead Poets Society
What is it about? About passion, frienship and courage. The action takes place at Welton Academy – an elite school for boys. John Keating (great Robin Williams!) is a new teacher. He is exceptional because he teaches the boys to show their feelings and to follow their hearts. Pupils belonging to a secret Society of Dead Poets meet in a cave and read poetry. For everybody who likes Robin Williams and for everybody who has dreams. Not only for boys!
Director: Peter Weir, Year: 1989
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
What is it about? About a thief and hooligan who, wanting to avoid going to prison, pretends he is insane and goes to an asylum. Although he had thought it would be a safe harbour, it appears it is actually a place you only can rebel against. Mc Murphy’s rebelious actions have unexcpected and far-fetched results – for him and other patients… For everybody who likes challenging topics as the director asks very important questions about the boundary between the normal and the abnormal. The boundary apperes to be blurred…
Director: Milos Forman, Year: 1975
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
What is the film about? About a not very happy life of a teenager, who must earn for his family: an obese mother, retarded brother and two sisters. One day she meets a girl who will make him dream about changes in his life. For everybody! Elso because we can see brilliant Johny Depp, Leonardo Di Caprio and Juliette Lewis!
Director: Lasse Hallstrom, Year: 1993.
Pulp Fiction
What is it about? Difficult to summerise: tells a story of a few people whose histories will connect and influence each other. The comedy jeers at gangsters and action movies being at the same time such a movie itself. You must see it! For everybody who loves interesting and unconventional plots, turns of action, and for the admirers of Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman.
Director: Quentin Tarantino, Year: 1994.
Forrest Gump
What is it about? About a man whose heart is bigger than his mind… Despite his low IQ, he happens to be in the centre of the most important events in the history of the USA. His success is inspiring for people around. For everybody who likes the quotation from the film: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get…’
Director: Robert Zemeckis, Year: 1994.
All about my mother
What is it about? As most Almodovar’s films, it is about women. It is about solidarity of women, who could be perhaps called abnormal by the ‘normal’ society. In the world in which the only two men we meet are a transvestite and an old man with Alzheimer, women win. Also beautiful Penelope Cruz as sister Rosa. For everybody who likes Almodovar because it is one of his best films, and for everybody who doesn’t know Almodovar – for the same reason.
Director: Pedro Almodovar, Year: 1999
Truman Show
What is it about? Imagine that your life was not real, but was only a part of a TV show? Truman (Jim Carrey) does not know that he lives in a TV scenery and his family and friends are actors. But suddenly he starts realizing… For everybody who didn’t belive Carrey can be a good actor and for everybody who wanted to take part in Big Brother show.
Director: Peter Weir, Year: 1998
Did you know that…
In 1987, J.H. Timmis made the longest film in history. It is called “The cure for insomnia” and it is 85 hours long!
Did you know that…
The most expensive film in history of 20th century was “Titanic”, which starred Leonardo
di Caprio and Kate Winslet. Director of this movie, James Cameron, spent over $200 million.
Improve your vocabulary!
exceptional – wyjątkowy
cave – jaskinia, grota
insane – szalony, obłąkany
asylum – zakład dla psychicznie chorych
harbour – port, dawać schronienie
boundary – granica
blurred – zamazany
obese – otyły
mentally retarded – opóźniony w rozwoju
plot – fabuła
quotation – cytat
Did you know that…
One of the best film directors of all time, was Alfred Hitchcock, who created such movies like “Psycho” and “The Birds”, but never won an Oscar.
Did you know that…
Charlie Chaplin was the most famous actor in the world in the 1920s, but he did not win an Oscar until 1972.
Did you know that…
The worst money-maker and the least successful film in the history has been “Heaven’s Gate”, made in 1980.
Did you know that…
The most successful and the most frequently played film in the history has been “Gone with the Wind” from 1939.
Did you know that…
Scarlett Johanson and George Clooney have been chosen the sexiest people on the globe this year.