Some really excellent movies being suggested in this thread (xvimbi, you had some truly obscure ones too, I thought I was the only to have seen them!).
Don Juan: Yes, the Mistery of Kaspar Hauser sounds right.
Here are a few more, trying not to repeat the ones above.
“Eraserhead”
This one makes my top ten list. Be warned, it is not for the squeamish. This in in black and white, and it is David Lynch’s (of “Dune”, “Twin peaks” and “Blue Velvet” fame). The plot concerns this guy who leaves a pretty dreary life in an oppressive state housing complex. Eventually he gets a girlfriend (one of the greatest “dinner with the in-laws” scenes ever) who is even more dysfunctional than he is. They make out, she gets pregnant and after the baby is born she leaves him and the baby. The baby is a grotesque reptilian creature that cries non-stop. I believe this whole movies is an explorations of the theme of “revulsion”, and I have never seen anything quite like it, or so well done. Hats off to David Lynch! (But be prepared, this is truly weird stuff).
“Stevie”
This movie is strictly for people who are into poetry. The movie is the life story of British (female) poet Stevie Smith. She is superbly played by Glenda Jackson. Every single line in the movie is a poem by Stevie Smith. The movie is exhilarating and uplifiting (even though her life was not a bed of roses). I went to see another movie, but it was sold out, so I decided to see “Stevie” instead, having never heard before of her, just on the strength of it being a Glenda Jackson movie. Boy, was I glad that I went. Stevie Smith poetry is wonderful, and this is a gentle and reflective movie.
“Kagemusha”
To date, may favourite Kurosawa movie (yes, I have seen all of them). The story takes place in feudal Japan. A powerful warlord is fatally wounded and his clan decides to keep his death a secret in order not to give any political advantage to his enemies. For this to work, however, they must find a “double” (kagemusha mean “shadow warrior”), which they do, in the person of a humble peasant. Although the physical likeness is uncanny, he has to be educated to behave like a samurai warlord, which he does, and the deception goes on for three years. A huge production (for Japanese standards) with some of the most spectacular field battles I’ve seen, coupled with scenes of unsurpassing beauty, poetry and poignancy. It helps, if like me, you like Japanese traditional culture.
“Sweet Liberty”
Written by Alan Alda (I love his movies – “The four seasons” is also highly recommended), the plot revolves around a history professor (played by Alda) whose book about the American Independence is bought by Hollywood to turn into a movie. A whole movie crew moves into the little historic town where the professor leaves, and soon the locals and the movie people start mingling with hilarious consequences. The professor gets more and more uneasy with the liberties the scriptwriter (Bob Hoskins) is taking, so the scriptwriter asks for his help in doing the movie correct historically. Soon they are both in the director’s black books (Great moment on the movie: when the director tells the professor that the only 3 things the public wants are nakedness, destruction of property and rebellion, and Alda provides all three for the camera). Great soundtrack too! Michael Caine (as an actor playing the main villain) and Michelle Pfeifer (as an actress playing the good guy’s love interest) are in top form.
“Tous les matins du monde” (“All the dawns in the world”?)
This is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen (easily on my top ten). The story revolves around Baroque viola da gamba player St. Coulombe – a man eroded by grief since his wife died. He is acknowledged by all as the supreme virtuoso of the instrument, but refuses to become a Court musician, preferring instead to live in isolation in the country with his two young daughters. Into his hermit’s lair comes one day young and handsome musician Marin Marais (played by Guillaume Depardieu – Gerard’s son in real life). He asks to be accepted as a pupil, and at first St. Coulombe refuses, then because his elder daughter’s intercedes he grudgingly accepts Marais. Eventually, without St. Coulombe’s knowledge, they become lovers. As the story unfolds, Marais abandons his lover and becomes a Court musician – St Coulombe cannot forgive him for that – and marries someone else in the Court. As the years pass, St Coulombe’s daughter grows more and more depressive and eventually commits suicide. Marais (now played by Gerard Depardieu) then returns to St. Coulombe and asks once more to be taken as a disciple. I cannot even begin to describe all the levels in this wonderful movie. The true subject of the movie (besides being a true story based on historical viola da Gamba virtuosos St. Coulombe and Marin Marais) is the nature of music, and the answers it provides are most satisfactory. Highly recommended.
I will be back!
Best wishes,
Bernhard.
Topic: your favorite movies