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Ambassador New Media Releases For July 2010
African Studies
ABSN34379
AFRICAN JOURNEY WITH JONATHAN DIMBLEBY, AN
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 509.85
Over the course of this three-part series, distinguished broadcaster and ardent cultural ambassador Jonathan Dimbleby challenges prevailing misconceptions of Africa by showing viewers that although it is a land of hardships and conflicts, it is equally a land of energy, imagination, talent, and innovation. “This series is not about failure or despair,” says Dimbleby, “but vitality and hope. It’s about nations in flux, about individuals who are changing the face of this continent.” A Fresh One Production in Association with Dimbleby Partners for BBC. Portions in other languages with English subtitles. 3-part series, 58-59 minutes each.
The Series Includes : A Fresh Look at Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria | A Fresh Look at Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania | A Fresh Look at the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and South Africa
African Studies
ABSN34380
FRESH LOOK AT MALI, GHANA, AND NIGERIA, A
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 169.95
This program focuses on the western African countries of Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria. In Bamako, Ségou, and Djenné, Jonathan Dimbleby learns how mopeds are moving Mali into a better future; meets a traditional wedding singer whose songs are uncustomarily female-empowering; watches enterprising sand-diggers at work in the Niger River; and visits the intricate Djenné mosque. In Kumasi and Accra, he views the Ghanaian Akwasidae Festival; spends time with the progressive King of the Ashanti; stops by the set of the reality TV show Soccer Academy; and attends an important fashion show. And in and around Lagos, he tours a Nigerian-owned and -operated cement-producing plant and meets a pair of homegrown hip-hop stars. A Fresh One Production in Association with Dimbleby Partners for BBC. A part of the series An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby. (Portions in other languages with English subtitles, 59 minutes)
Part of the Series : An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby
African Studies
ABSN34381
FRESH LOOK AT ETHIOPIA, KENYA, AND TANZANIA, A
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 169.95
This program spotlights the eastern African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. In Aksum and Addis Ababa, Jonathan Dimbleby learns about initiatives to improve farming across Ethiopia; follows a pilgrimage to Aksum’s Church of St. Mary of Zion; observes the Eid al-Adha festival in Addis Ababa; attends a session of a coffee-growers’ commodity exchange; and visits some fair trade businesses. In Nairobi and Makutano, he sees firsthand how the cell phone revolution is transforming Kenya; considers the positive social significance of the soap opera Makutano Junction; and explains how new highways are enhancing economic growth. And in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, he takes part in Tanzanian independence day festivities and applauds the nation’s freedom of speech, a vital force for democracy. A Fresh One Production in Association with Dimbleby Partners for BBC. A part of the series An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby. (Portions in other languages with English subtitles, 58 minutes)
Part of the Series : An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby
Anthropology ; Environmental Studies ; Latin American Studies
ABSN34389
LANDS
Cinema Guild
DVD
$ 295.00
Surrounded by the Amazon rainforest, the twin cities of Letícia and Tabatinga and the village of Santa Rosa constitute a triple border between Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Beautifully photographed and researched, Lands explores the social and ecological impact of territorial limits, commerce and modernity on the lives of the local and indigenous population.
Situated side by side, on the same riverbank of the Solimões, Tabatinga and Leticia (capital of the Amazonas state in Colombia) share close economic ties and are connected by a single promenade. A pole with two flags marks the point where Amizade Avenue (Brazil) becomes Internacional Avenue (Colombia). Both cities are home to many Peruvian immigrants and Colombian desplazados fleeing the Farc guerrilla armed conflicts. Directly across the river, at a few minutes distance by boat, is the Peru and the village of Santa Rosa.
Cut-off from the economic centers of their respective countries by the forest and the distance, this frontier region is characterized by the constant transit of people and exchange of goods, the incessant sound of motorcycles and radios, the mixture of traditional and technological knowledge and the coexistence of different cultures and ethnicities.
Directed by noted Brazilian filmmaker Maya da-Rin, Lands maps out the demarcations that, although not always visible, are present in these people’s daily lives. The borders, after all, are everywhere and nowhere in this land. In addition, the film looks at the concept of nationality and territorial limits, the relationship between urban cities and the Amazon, the contact between traditional indigenous cultures and contemporary modes of life, and the exchange between three South American countries.
Directed by Maya da-Rin
2009, 75 minutes
* Winner, Cameras on Diversity Award, 25th Guadalajara International Film Festival, 2010
* Official Selection, Locarno International Film Festival Locarno, 2009
* Official Selection, São Paulo International Film Festival, 2009
* Official Selection, International Leipzig Festival, 2009
"A gorgeous work of art as well as a deliberately low-key commentary on the culture clashes generated by modernity’s encroachment into nature. The vibrant result of three years of research, travel and filming in the remote Amazonia section where Brazil, Colombia and Peru meet… Lands isn’t a celebration of tribalism but an open-eyed view of cultural differences, and a subtle inquiry into the limits of urbanized growth in an ecologically fragile region." – Robert Koehler, Variety
Art/Art History ; Documentary Films
ABSN34353
SOPHISTACATED MISFIT
Passion River
DVD
$ 24.95
Los Angeles-based artists Shag is the subject of this documentary from filmmaker Mark Chervinski. His colorful, quirky paintings a playful nod to a bygone era, Shag offers a glimpse into a time when the martinis were perpetually chilled, and mod style was all the rage. But there's more to Shag's artwork than just simple nostalgia, and the longer one looks at his paintings the more surreal they seem to grow. In the past anyone could afford to own an original Shag, but due to growing demand his works now command exorbitant prices. Everybody wants an original Shag, but only the wealthy can afford one. So stroll on over to the wet bar, pour yourself a stiff drink, and sit back while you get to know one of the great icons of the Lowbrow art movement.
Art/Art History ; Documentary Films
ABSN34371
ART OF THE STEAL
Independent Film Channel
DVD
$ 24.95
Inventor and art collector Dr. Albert C. Barnes made clear in his will that his awe-inspiring collection of Impressionist and Modernist art should never be moved from its Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, location. Nevertheless, an astonishing series of developments after Barnes' death in 1951 eventually led, decades later, to the relocation of the priceless collection to the city of Philadelphia. This documentary reviews the controversial story of the Barnes Foundation. 101 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English; theatrical trailer.
Asian American Studies ; Vietnam War
ABSN34393
WHICH WAY IS EAST: NOTEBOOKS FROM VIETNAM
New Day Films
DVD
$ 125.00
When two American sisters travel north from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, conversations with Vietnamese strangers and friends reveal to them the flip side of a shared history. Lynne and Dana Sachs' travel diary of their trip to Vietnam is a collection of tourism, city life, culture clash, and historic inquiry that’s put together with the warmth of a quilt. The film starts as a road trip and flowers into a political discourse, combining Vietnamese parables, history and memories of the people the sisters met, as well as their own childhood memories of the war on TV. (The Independent)
Subtly explores and cleverly challenges Vietnam's place in the American mind. The film's provocative reflections on war, memory and collective guilt and on the multiple ways in which both Americans and Vietnamese understand the dramatic intersection in their histories makes it an ideal discussion generator for college courses."
Prof. Peter Zinoman, Department of History, University of California at Berkeley
"A sophisticated and culturally sensitive work that captures the essence of a country in transition. I highly recommend this film for all students of the war and modern Southeast Asia."
Prof. Robert Brigham, Department of History, Vasser College
"Brings up questions about what we see, how we see it, and who's doing the seeing. It's an honest, down-to-earth, and vividly sensual film."
Kurt Wolff
San Francisco Bay Guardian
The sound track is layered with the cacophony of bustling city streets, the chirps of cicadas and gentle rustles of trees in the countryside, and the visuals, devoid of travelogue cliches, are a collage of pictorial snippets taken from unusual vantage points.... What comes through is such a strong sense of the place you can almost smell it.
Ted Chen
Chicago Reader
"Captures the Vietnam experience with comprehension and compassion, squeezing a vast and incredible country into an intriguing film."
Dale Basye
Portland Tonic Magazine
Astronomy ; Science
ABSN34350
PHOENIX MARS MISSION: ASHES TO ICE
PBS Video
DVD
$ 44.95
Though mankind's fascination with the planet Mars persists, only a fraction of the attempts to land on that terrain, during the late 20th and early 21st century, hit their intended target. One of the most triumphant missions materialized in the form of the Phoenix Mars Mission, a robotic craft launched in August 2007 that took around nine months to reach the legendary Red Planet, touching down in late May 2008. As originally produced for PBS, the documentary Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice observes the many preparatory events leading up to the initial launch, including testing of the scientific instruments by the University of Arizona, the configuration of the soil analyzer ovens, and much more - all subject to a race against the clock as many individuals struggled to ready the craft for a Cape Canaveral launch before time ran out.
Biology ; Science
ABSN34378
PLANT BIOLOGY: CORE CONCEPTS VIDEO CLIP LIBRARY
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 199.95
Making plentiful use of animation, this comprehensive video clip library of 32 two-to-three-minute segments brings plant biology to life! Visual learners will particularly benefit from the intricate processes and key botanical concepts illustrated in each self-contained video. A versatile teaching tool, Plant Biology is also an excellent student research resource.
Video segments include…
• Classification of Plants
• Plant Cells
• Plant Tissues
• Stems
• Roots
• Leaves and Transpiration
• Photosynthesis
• Cellular Respiration
• Transport of Water/Nutrients
• Seeds and Germination
• Early Seedling Development
• Seedless Nonvascular Plants: The Bryophytes
• Seedless Vascular Plants
• Nonflowering Seed Plants: The Gymnosperms
• Flowering Plants: The Angiosperms
• Life Cycles and Life History of Plants
• Plant Reproduction
• Plant and Seed Dispersal
• Plant Hormones
• Photomorphogenesis and Tropisms
• Photoperiodism and Biological Clocks
• Genetically Modified Plants
• Polyploid Plants
• Plant Nutrients
• The Rhizosphere
• Medicinal Plants
• Fungi/Mycorrhizae
• Fixing Carbon and Carbon Exchange Rate
• Defenses of Plants
• Fermentation and Plant Biotechnology
• Forestry
• Ethnobotany
A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (70 minutes)
Business and Management
ABSN34383
SELLING YOURSELF SUCCESSFULLY
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 389.95
Pursuing a job can be an exciting opportunity for young adults to market a truly unique product: themselves. Filmed in the U.K., Selling Yourself Successfully proves that the job-hunting experience is pretty much the same the world over—and that passion and preparation pay off! Correlates to all applicable National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. Viewable/printable educational resources for each video are available online. 3-part series, 26 minutes each.
The Series Includes : The Job Interview | The Job Application Process | The Career Portfolio
Business and Management ; Guidance
ABSN34384
JOB INTERVIEW, THE
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 129.95
As a part-time college student, Karen takes jobs “just to pay the bills,” a practice that has given her a zigzag resume that leaves would-be employers wondering if she can commit. In this dramatization, career adviser Avril puts job-hopper Karen on the spot with a tough-love approach to interviewing designed to shake Karen out of her complacency and help her land a dream job. Topics include pre-interview research, types of job interviews and interview questions, the STAR interviewing response technique, and more. Correlates to all applicable National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. A part of the series Selling Yourself Successfully. (26 minutes)
Part of the Series : Selling Yourself Successfully
Business and Management ; Guidance
ABSN34385
JOB APPLICATION PROCESS, THE
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 129.95
“Applying for your first job can be a difficult and scary process simply because you haven’t done it before.” Designed for the absolute beginner, this video follows Ben, a high-school grad looking for a part-time job, as he identifies his hidden transferable skills, brainstorms some cool job possibilities, searches for open positions, writes an engaging cover letter, and compiles a solid first resume. Slacker dude no more! Correlates to all applicable National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. A part of the series Selling Yourself Successfully. (26 minutes)
Part of the Series : Selling Yourself Successfully
Business and Management ; Guidance
ABSN34386
CAREER PORTFOLLIO, THE
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 129.95
Emma and Lucy are high school seniors interested in a career in fashion. Their credentials are very similar, and when the two apply for the same retail fashion job and Lucy wins out, it’s her career portfolio that sets her apart from Emma. But what exactly is a career portfolio? How is one created, and how precisely does it fit into the job application process? This video tells all, as it explains the difference between specific and general skills, types of documents to include that illustrate those skills, and how to make use of the portfolio at an interview. Correlates to all applicable National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. A part of the series Selling Yourself Successfully. (26 minutes)
Business and Management
ABSN34394
NEW RECRUITS, THE
PBS Video
DVD
$ 44.95
The New Recruits is a documentary about a battalion of business students armed with a plan to end global poverty: charge poor people for goods and services. The recruits are selected from thousands of applicants to take part in the prestigious Acumen Fund Fellows Program. They will apprentice with "social enterprises" around the world intended to help poor people by treating them as customers rather than recipients of charity.
Cinema Studies ; African Studies ; Documentary Films
ABSN34368
NOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD
Kino on Video
DVD
$ 29.95
Nigeria is a country that may be steeped in poverty, but it has a rapidly growing film culture surpassed only by the U.S. and India. This absorbing documentary takes a look at the Nigerian film movement and profiles influential players in the scene, among them director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, aka "Da Governor," who uses small budgets and inventive homegrown techniques to produce the fun films indicative of the term "Nollywood." 74 min. Soundtrack: English.
Concert & Performing Arts ; Holocaust Studies
ABSN34395
IMAGINE THIS
PBS Video
DVD
$ 44.95
This inspiring, original musical is a personal journey through one of the most devastating periods of world history, The Warsaw Ghetto, Poland, 1942. In this recording of a live performance in London's West End, IMAGINE THIS speaks to the strength of the human spirit; to man's determination to survive in the face of hatred and evil; his quest to be free from oppression; and to love in a world where love seems impossible.
Documentary Films ; Environmental Studies
ABSN34373
HOME
Kino on Video
DVD
$ 29.95
Aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand directed this sobering documentary that employs stunning images of the Earth, taken from high above over 60 countries, to show our planet in a new light and explore how we treat it in an effort to convince people to take better care for the sake of future generations. Narrated by Glenn Close. 118 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1.
Feature Films
ABSN34346
BROOKLYN'S FINEST
Starz/Anchor Bay
DVD
$ 29.95
Due to retire in a week, Brooklyn cop Eddie (Richard Gere) feels overwhelmed by depression. Meanwhile, undercover officer Tango (Don Cheadle) struggles to stay on the right side of the law while infiltrating a drug gang, and Sal (Ethan Hawke) tries to find enough cash to buy his family a new home he can't afford on a policeman's salary. Their destinies clash in this fierce crime drama directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day"); with Wesley Snipes, Lili Taylor. 133 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; deleted scenes; featurettes; more.
Feature Films
ABSN34348
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Music Box Films
DVD
$ 29.95
Brutal and gripping Swedish suspenser, based on the first book in Stieg Larsson's popular "Millennium Trilogy," follows a middle-aged journalist (Michael Nyqvist) hired by a wealthy industrialist to look into his niece's mysterious disappearance decades earlier. Nyqvist joins with a tattooed, twentysomething computer hacker (Noomi Rapace) on a quest that draws the unlikely team into a sordid world of decadent and deadly family secrets. 152 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: Swedish, English; Subtitles: English. In Swedish with English subtitles/Dubbed in English.
Feature Films
ABSN34349
LOST KEATON: SIXTEEN COMEDY SHORTS 1934-37
Kino on Video
DVD
$ 34.95
Following his 1933 firing from MGM, Buster Keaton signed with B-studio Educational Pictures and starred in a series of short films before the company folded. All 16 Educational two-reelers--including "The Gold Ghost" (1934); "Palooka from Paducah" (1935), which co-starred his parents and sister; the Mack Sennett-directed "The Timid Young Man" (1935); "Grand Slam Opera" (1936); and "Love Nest on Wheels" (1937)--are featured in a two-disc set. 5 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; photo gallery.
Feature Films
ABSN34352
SINGLE MAN, A
Sony Pictures
DVD
$ 27.95
In 1962 Los Angeles, a gay professor from England (Colin Firth), distraught over the death of his longtime partner (Matthew Goode) months earlier and the family's refusal to allow him to attend the funeral, prepares his planned suicide. Firth decides to spend his last day on Earth reflecting on his relationship and connecting with an eclectic group of people. Director Tom Ford's poignant adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's novel also stars Julianne Moore, Nicolas Hoult, Jon Kortajarena. 100 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English.
Feature Films
ABSN34354
STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. [ULTIMATE EDITION] [2 DISCS]
Kino on Video
DVD
$ 29.95
Foppish college boy Buster Keaton returns home to visit his riverboat captain father who disapproves of Keaton's effete ways, in this silent comedy. Dad tries to teach his reluctant son the business, but matters really come to a head when Keaton falls for the daughter of his father's arch rival, his dad gets arrested, and a hurricane approaches. Classic Keaton gags abound, including the famous falling housefront scene. Ernest Torrence and Marion Byron co-star. Two-disc set includes alternate version featuring different takes and camera angles. 70 min. Standard; Soundtrack: mono music score; "making of" documentary; bonus footage; photo gallery; more. Silent with music score.
Feature Films
ABSN34355
BOUNTY HUNTER, THE
Sony Pictures
DVD
$ 28.95
Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler sizzle in this fast-paced blend of action and romantic comedy. Butler plays a bounty hunter tapped to track down ex-wife Aniston, a reporter who missed a traffic court date to follow a lead on a murder story. But the job of bringing her in proves tougher than Butler thought as the duo must contend with killers, thugs out to collect a gambling debt, and (of course) the still-burning flames of their passion for each other. Christine Baranski, Jason Sudeikis also star. 111 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French; Subtitles: English, French.
Feature Films
ABSN34356
CHLOE
Sony Pictures
DVD
$ 27.95
Director Atom Egoyan's remake of the French film "Nathalie..." finds a high-priced call girl (Amanda Seyfried) hired by a wealthy gynecologist (Julianne Moore) to help determine if her husband (Liam Neeson) is being unfaithful. Seyfried seduces Neeson and relays every detail of their encounters to Moore whose own growing obsession with the beautiful young prostitute threatens to tear her family apart. Max Thieriot, R.H. Thomson also star. 99 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English.
Feature Films
ABSN34357
FILM NOIR CLASSICS COLLECTION, VOL. 5 [4 DISCS]
Warner Home Video
DVD
$ 49.95
Cornered" (1945) finds Dick Powell in Buenos Aires chasing Nazi collaborators. With Walter Slezak, Nina Vale. "Deadline at Dawn" (1946) follows a sailor out to clear his name after a girl is killed. With Susan Hayward, Paul Lukas. A "Desperate" (1947) trucker gets mixed up in murder. Steve Brodie, Audrey Long star. A master criminal (William Talman) pulls off an "Armored Car Robbery" (1950) at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field. Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens co-star. Wounded vet Gordon MacRae hunts for a friend with his nurse in tow, but will the search "Backfire" (1950)? With Virginia Mayo, Ed Begley. "Dial 1119" (1950) to get the story of a killer who takes a bar full of patrons hostage. Marshall Thompson, Virginia Field star. "The Phenix City Story" (1955) is one of violence as an Alabama lawyer (John McIntire) aims to get his dad elected to office. With Richard Kiley, Kathryn Grant. Director Don Siegel chronicles "Crime in the Streets" (1956) as a social worker tries to deal with a teen gang. James Whitmore, John Cassavetes star. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailers. Four-disc set.
Feature Films
ABSN34358
GIRL BY THE LAKE
Independent Film Channel
DVD
$ 24.95
The killing of a young girl in a small Italian village comes to the attention of a resourceful police inspector (Toni Servillo) who hopes to solve the crime. Unfortunately, many of the local residents appear to be hiding mysterious secrets, making the disturbing case even more baffling. Surprising and suspenseful thriller from Italy co-stars Valeria Golino, Omero Antonutti. 96 min. Soundtrack: Italian; Subtitles: English. In Italian with English subtitles.
Feature Films
ABSN34359
GREENBERG
Universal Studios
DVD
$ 29.95
Ben Stiller shines in this dramedy as Roger Greenberg, a misanthropic has-been who unexpectedly abandoned his musical career to become a carpenter in New York City. After moving back to his hometown of Los Angeles to housesit for his successful brother, he attempts to become a more likeable person while also trying to woo his sibling's assistant and reconnect with his former bandmates. With Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh; written and directed by Noah Baumbach. 108 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), Spanish, French.
Feature Films
ABSN34360
ONLY SON/THERE WAS A FATHER
Criterion Collection
DVD
$ 39.95
Revered director Yasujiro Ozu's first talkie, "The Only Son" (1936), offers the affecting story of a self-sacrificing widow who toils in a silk factory and dearly hopes to see her son educated and successful in spite of the grim economic circumstances faced by the Japanese people. Choko Iida, Shinichi Himori star. Next, "There Was a Father" (1942) in the form of Ozu regular Chishu Ryu, who portrays a widowed parent struggling financially and doing everything possible to raise his son properly. With Shuji Sano, Shin Saburi. 169 min. total on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: Japanese Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; interviews. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Feature Films
ABSN34362
ZIFT
Independent Film Channel
DVD
$ 24.95
Director Javor Gardev and cinematographer Emil Christov collaborate to craft this atmospheric parable about justice, freedom, and social change disguised as a stylized neo-noir thriller following a recently released murder convict as he attempts to navigate totalitarian Sofia of the 1960s. Wrongly convicted of murder and thrown into prison just before the Bulgarian Communist coup of 1944, The Moth is subsequently released and cleared of any wrongdoing. But the world he's about to enter is a far cry from the world he once left behind, because now the Communist state is in full effect. At first optimistic as he navigates gloomy neighborhoods and decaying streets while contending with bizarre developments, eccentric characters on the margins of society, and a passionate former flame, The Moth eventually runs afoul of the Communist state as he is steady drawn towards the flame of catastrophe.
Feature Films
ABSN34363
BLACK NARCISSUS
Criterion Collection
DVD
$ 29.95
A striking drama focuses on the emotional and sexual struggles of a group of nuns in a remote Himalayan convent. An Oscar-winner for its ravishing color cinematography, the Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger classic is a one-of-a-kind experience. Deborah Kerr, Flora Robson, Jean Simmons, Sabu star. 101 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary by Powell and Martin Scorsese; "making of" documentary; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.
Feature Films
ABSN34364
BONG JOON-HO COLLECTION
Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD
$ 49.95
One of South Korea's leading film director, this Bong Joon-ho triple feature including Mother, The Host and Barking Dogs Never Bite.
MOTHER is a unique murder mystery about a mother's primal love for her son.
THE HOST COLLECTOR'S EDITION is about a monster that the government claims to be a host of an unidentified virus.
BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE is about a man s reaction to a yapping dog and the extreme action he takes to deal with his tormentor, an action that will come to haunt him.
Feature Films
ABSN34365
MAY 18TH
Virgil Films
DVD
$ 19.95
South Korean filmmaker Kim Ji-hun collaborates with screenwriter Park Sang-yon for this drama set during a tragic day in Korean history. It was a calm spring morning in 1980 when South Korean troops were ordered onto planes for immediate deployment. Most of the soldiers assumed that they would finally be confronting their enemies to the north, though soon after takeoff they realized they were heading south. Meanwhile, down on the streets of Gwangju, political tensions are running high in the wake of General Chun Doo-hwan's recent military coup. Min-woo and his family are going about their daily business as usual, blissfully unaware that their lives will soon be changed forever. As the military planes land, scores of soldiers flood out on a mission to suppress the student uprising. Their use of force is both excessive and indiscriminate, gunning down students and average citizens alike. As the violence escalates over the course of the next few days, the frightened citizens band together to form a militia. Gwangju is about to explode, and Min-woo is standing directly in the eye of the storm.
Feature Films
ABSN34367
MOTHER (2009)
Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD
$ 26.95
A woman devoted to her son struggles to keep him from spending his life in prison in this drama from director Bong Joon-ho. Do-jun (Weon Bin) is a man in his mid-twenties who isn't especially bright and is easily led. Do-jun lives with his elderly mother (Kim Hye-ja), who loves him fiercely even though she has no illusions about his abilities or his bad habits. Do-jun spends much of his spare time with Jin-tae (Jin Gu), a borderline criminal who takes advantage of Do-jun's credulous nature, much to his mother's annoyance. When Do-jun is arrested by police and accused of the murder of a young woman, his mother is certain he couldn't have done it and sets out to prove her son's innocence to police detectives, who seem more interested in closing the case than researching other possible leads. At first, mother feels certain that Jin-tae has framed her son to avoid being punished himself, but as she digs deeper she suspects the truth is more complicated. Madeo (aka Mother) was an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Feature Films
ABSN34369
RED SHOES, THE
Criterion Collection
DVD
$ 39.95
Moira Shearer is exquisite as the young ballerina torn between the composer (Marius Goring) who can offer nothing but his love and an impresario (Anton Walbrook) who can further her career. Lushly photographed, unforgettable movie experience. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger co-direct. 134 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; interview; photo gallery; theatrical trailer; more. Two-disc set.
Feature Films
ABSN34370
TOWN CALLED PANIC, A
Zeitgeist Films
DVD
$ 29.95
It's a town populated by plastic figures, and in this wonderfully wacky stop-motion animated feature (based on a series of short films seen on Belgian TV), housemates Cowboy and Indian's attempt to build a barbecue pit as a birthday gift for their pal Horse lands the trio in a wild escapade involving a volcano, a giant robot penguin, a sudden downpour of cows, and more craziness. 75 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English; deleted scenes; "making of" documentary; interviews; bonus short "Obsessive Compulsive" (2010). In French with English subtitles.
Feature Films
ABSN34372
CLASS OF THE TITANS (2010)
Warner Home Video
DVD
$ 35.95
The mythical tale of demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) is told once again in this thrilling remake. Reluctant to see himself as the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), Perseus' desire to exact vengeance against Hades (Ralph Fiennes) for the death of his family finds him leading a band of soldiers on a desperate quest to win the head of Medusa and save the city of Argos from the tentacled sea beast, the Kraken. Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Jason Flemyng also star. 112 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English; featurettes; deleted scenes; alternate ending; bonus digital copy; more. Also includes a DVD version of the film.
Feature Films
ABSN34374
PRESENTING SACHA GUITRY
Criterion Collection
DVD
$ 59.95
One of the most acclaimed French films of all time, writer/director/star Sacha Guitry's witty dark comedy "The Story of a Cheat" (1936) follows an elderly gentleman at a Parisian sidewalk cafe as he looks back (via dialogue-free flashbacks) on a life filled with schemes from which he prospered. With Marguerite Moreno, Jacqueline Delubac. Guitry's tour de force "The Pearls of the Crown" (1937) features the filmmaker starring in four roles for a story about the search for the pear-shaped pearls that decorate the royal crown of England. Mixing satire and social history, the film features characters like Napoleon, King Henry VIII, and Madame DuBarry. With Delubac. Playing a servant in "Desire" (1937), Guitry exudes irresistible charm over his employers. Co-stars Delubac, Jacques Baumer. Guitry is one corner of a comic "Quadrille" (1938) involving two men in love with two women--a situation that plays out with enchanting complexity. With Andre Dussollier, Sandrine Kiberlain. 6 1/3 hrs. total on four discs. Standard; Soundtracks: English, French, and Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English. In English, French, and Italian with English subtitles.
Feature Films
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SECRET OF THE GRAIN
Criterion Collection
DVD
$ 39.95
The patriarch (Habib Boufares) of a French-Arab family makes the most of being laid off from his job at the shipyard by setting up his dream business, a restaurant built aboard a derelict boat. The menu is designed to showcase his ex-wife's beloved couscous recipe, but the venture manages to unlock a whirlwind of family issues that threatens to break the family apart. Engaging French ensemble drama co-stars Hafsia Herzi, Alice Houri. 154 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Arabic and French Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English; bonus footage; interviews; theatrical trailer. In Arabic and French with English subtitles.
Feature Films
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UNINVITED
Independent Film Channel
DVD
$ 24.95
This offbeat supernatural thriller concerns a young woman (Marguerite Moreau) with a clinical history of severe agoraphobia, relieved via close physical proximity to walls. For years she has been healthy, but the mental illness returns with a vengeance when spirits turn up in her remotely-situated house and begin to ravage her over the course of one long and grueling night.
Feature Films
ABSN34377
VINCERE
Independent Film Channel
DVD
$ 24.95
The rise of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) is captured with rapturous style in this vivid historical drama. The story follows the young Mussolini as his lover Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) bears him a son but nevertheless ultimately becomes just one more pawn in the leader's ruthless quest for power. Italian-French production co-stars Corrado Invernizzi, Fausto Russo Alesi. 125 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian and German; Subtitles: English. In Italian and German with English subtitles.
Feature Films
ABSN34382
FRESH LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, ZAMBIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA, A
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 169.95
This program concentrates on the central and southern African countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and South Africa. In Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, Jonathan Dimbleby meets a Congolese band whose polio-stricken members sing a message of hope; learns about China’s deep investments in Africa’s infrastructure and future successes; admires the Kimbangist Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; and marvels at how worn-out locomotives are repaired and kept in service. In and around Lusaka, he tours a Zambian-owned and -operated commercial farm and meets a world-champion female boxer and the inventor “Dr. Reason Why.” And in Johannesburg and Durban, he rides with a biker group that spreads a message of empowerment to at-risk South African children; talks with jazz musician/activist Hugh Masekela; attends a modern singing competition in the Zulu tradition; and views Durban’s container ship port—the busiest port in Africa. A Fresh One Production in Association with Dimbleby Partners for BBC. A part of the series An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby. (Portions in other languages with English subtitles, 59 minutes)
Gay and Lesbian Studies ; Documentary Films
ABSN34361
SAVING MARRIAGE
E 1 Entertainment
DVD
$ 19.95
The excitement and suspense surrounding the battle for same-sex marriage serves as the focal point of this documentary from filmmakers Mike Roth and John Henning. November 18, 2003: the day that the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the same right to marriage as heterosexual couples. But while some assumed that this was the end of the battle, it quickly became apparent that it was only the beginning. Almost immediately after the ruling passed, it came under attack by right-wing conservatives. In this film, Roth and Henning offer a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of this epic battle for equality. From the lawyers to the lobbyists to the gay couples who jumped at the opportunity to marry even as state legislators struggled over the constitutional amendment, this film speaks with men and women on each side of the issue while scrutinizing each individual skirmish and detailing Massachusetts' muddled methods of amending its constitution in no uncertain terms.
Health & Wellness
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CHOW DOWN
Virgil Films & Entertainment
DVD
$ 19.95
Three people suffering from heart disease and diabetes decide to combat their disorders by radically altering their diets in this documentary exploring the possibility that simple lifestyle changes - not expensive surgeries and medications - could be the key to reversing the effects of deadly chronic diseases. Heart disease is the number one killer on America, but according to Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic, it doesn't have to be that way. According to Dr. Esselstyn's studies, even the effects of late-stage heart disease can be reversed by switching to a plant-based diet. But if that's the case, why aren't doctors giving their patients information that could potentially save their lives? And why isn't the government working harder to keep the people informed? Follow Charles, Garnet, and John as they strive to lead healthier lifestyles by adopting an alternative diet that might just put them back on the road to good health.
Health & Wellness ; Science
ABSN34351
SCIENCE OF HEALING WITH DR. ESTHER STERNBERG
PBS Video
DVD
$ 24.95
This documentary release from PBS investigates the brain's connection to the body when it comes to healing and recovery from major injury and illness. Doctor and medical researcher Dr. Esther Sternberg leads the examination, offering information based on scientific evidence, as well as her own personal experience.
Health & Wellness ; Urban Studies ; Sociology ; African American Studies
ABSN34388
BEYOND BABYLAND
Cinema Guild
DVD
$ 295.00
Of the thirty most industrialized nations, the U.S. has the worst record of infant mortality, with African American babies dying at three times the rate of whites. In some places, that rate equals those of many third world countries. When filmmakers David Appleby and Craig Leake discovered that their hometown of Memphis has the highest infant mortality rate in the country, they decided to follow those individuals who were working to reverse the statistics. Soon they began meeting some of the young pregnant mothers most at risk, and decided to concentrate much of their efforts on learning more about their particular circumstances.
The film takes us from the neo-natal intensive care unit where doctors and nurses fight for the lives of pre-term babies, to a county cemetery that buries so many infants the residents of the poorest neighborhoods call it “Babyland.” We observe doctors, nurses, church volunteers and social workers as they try to navigate their way through dwindling resources, and we meet three teenage girls whose stories give us a glimpse into the stressful realities of the inner city - conditions that contribute significantly to the high mortality rate.
Directed by David Appleby and Craig Leake
2010, 56 minutes
Health & Wellness ; Psychology
ABSN34396
SECRETS TO LOVE
PBS Video
DVD
$ 44.95
In this film, director Tracie Donahue searches for the answers to finding (and maintaining) a healthy, happy love, by asking real couples and relationship experts the most important questions.
History
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GREAT EMPIRES OF THE PAST: CORE CONCEPTS VIDEO CLIP LIBRARY
Films Media Group
DVD
$ 199.95
This video clip library of 36 two-minute segments provides a concise survey of 12 history-changing empires. Each empire is given an overview segment, including a timeline graphic to place it within the context of world history, and two additional segments that delve deeper into areas of particular importance. Connections to modern life and society are emphasized throughout, to help viewers see ancient history as a living presence in today’s world.
Video segments include…
Ancient Mesopotamia
• Great Empires of the Past: Ancient Mesopotamia
• Ancient Mesopotamia: From Farm to City
• Ancient Mesopotamia: Babylonian Society and Culture
Ancient Egypt
• Great Empires of the Past: Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Egypt: The Great Pyramids
• Ancient Egypt: Religion, Science, and Culture
Ancient Greece
• Great Empires of the Past: Ancient Greece
• Ancient Greece: Politics and Society
• Ancient Greece: Art, Philosophy, and Science
Ancient Rome
• Great Empires of the Past: Ancient Rome
• Ancient Rome: Living and Working in the Empire
• Ancient Rome: Art, Science, and Culture
The Ancient Maya
• Great Empires of the Past: The Ancient Maya
• The Ancient Maya: Social Structure
• The Ancient Maya: Religion and Ritual
Ancient Persia
• Great Empires of the Past: Ancient Persia
• Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire
• Ancient Persia: Art, Science, and Culture
Alexander the Great
• Great Empires of the Past: Alexander the Great
• Alexander the Great: The Beginning of Alexander’s Empire
• Alexander the Great: Art, Science, and Culture Across the Empire
Medieval West Africa
• Great Empires of the Past: Medieval West Africa
• Medieval West Africa: The Ghana Empire
• Medieval West Africa: The Mande People of the Mali Empire
Medieval Islamic World
• Great Empires of the Past: Medieval Islamic World
• Medieval Islamic World: Living in the Islamic Empire
• Medieval Islamic World: Art, Science, and Culture
The Mongols
• Great Empires of the Past: The Mongols
• The Mongols: Government and Society
• The Mongols: Daily Life
The Incas
• Great Empires of the Past: The Incas
• The Incas: Inca Society
• The Incas: Art, Science, and Culture
The Aztecs
• Great Empires of the Past: The Aztecs
• The Aztecs: Aztec Society
• The Aztecs: Religion, Art, and Science
A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (75 minutes)
Immigration & Border Studies ; Latin American Studies
ABSN34390
LA CAMINATA
New Day Films
DVD
$ 199.00
Fed up with the mass migration of their community, the small Mexican town of Alberto creates a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction they call La Caminata, a simulated nighttime border crossing, complete with fake border patrol chasing balaclava-clad coyotes. The experience is a cross between adventure tourism and a way for participants, largely middle class Mexican tourists, to experience firsthand the hardships of the border crossing. La Caminata details the story of this unlikely attempt to save a small community, offering a powerful look at the effect of migration in home communities, and opening a view to the immigration debate on the other side.
"In its short time frame La Caminata sensitively opens our eyes to an as-yet-unexplored side of Mexican migration to the United States: the people left behind."
Karen Cirillo, Programmer, True/False Film Festival and Doxita
Karen Cirillo, Programmer, True/False Film Festival and Doxita
Jamie Meltzer's LA CAMINATA highlights the complexity of immigration in riveting and unexpected ways... We are privileged to see and hear how those who are left behind in a tiny town in Mexico make sense of the difficult and frequently deadly journey across the border.
Deborah L. Jaramillo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Film and Television, Boston University
Middle East Studies ; Holocaust Studies
ABSN34345
AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS
PBS Video
DVD
$ 24.95
MacNeil-Lehrer Productions and the journalist-cum-think tank leader Robert Satloff teamed up to create this unique documentary, directed by William Cran and adapted from a tome by Satloff. The program begins with a key question: given the breadth of Holocaust denial within the Arabic universe, did any Arabs play key roles in rescuing Jews from Nazi annihilation? Satloff sets out to find an Arab hero who filled this role; in the process, he not only found several of these individuals but uncovered a fascinating "lost history" concerning what happened to over 500,000 Jewish men and women who occupied the Arabic lands of North Africa just prior to the Second World War. Among the Righteous documents Satloff's findings.
Native American Studies
ABSN34391
SHELLMOUND
New Day Films
DVD
$ 249.00
Shellmound” is the story of how one location was transformed from a sacred center of pre-historic cultures to a commercial mecca for modern people. What began as a Native American burial ground three thousand years ago, was transformed first into an amusement park, and later an industrial age paint factory. Now, the tainted ancient soil sits beneath the glittering lights of Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, and the AMC movie theaters.
“Shellmound” examines the decisions made during the recent toxic cleanup, excavation, and construction of the Bay Street mall through the eyes of the city of Emeryville, the developer, the archaeologists, and the native Californians who worked on the site.
Shellmound is a carefully researched, objective documentary recounting the history of Emeryville and surrounding East Bay communities from pre-European contact through today. This documentary fills a void for public and higher education libraries seeking to provide documentary resources for a variety of collection areas including East Bay and Emeryville history, history of Native Americans in the SF Bay Area, urban development and public policy.
Teresa Morris, MLS Reference and Instruction Librarian College of San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
Political Science ; Documentary Films
ABSN34366
MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS
First Run Features
DVD
$ 27.95
Was Daniel Ellsberg, the military strategist and high-ranking Defense Department official who leaked thousands of top-secret documents regarding the Vietnam War to the New York Times in 1971, a hero or a traitor? Learn the facts behind the "Pentagon Papers" case, which reached the Supreme Court and affected the course of the conflict and the Nixon Administration, in this revealing documentary narrated by Ellsberg himself. 94 min. Soundtrack: English; interviews; biographies; more.
Political Science ; Sociology ; Anthropology
ABSN34392
NEW AMERICAN SOLDIER
New Day Films
DVD
$ 195.00
New American Soldier follows three immigrant soldiers through training and deployment, as they take steps towards US citizenship. Clarissa Calderón emigrated from Peru as a young girl, and didn’t think of enlisting until a recruiter told her the Army would pay for medical school. Seth Donkor won the visa lottery in Ghana, and is now living out his Rambo fantasy as a private in the US Army. For Victor Toledo Pulido, whose family walked across the US-Mexico border when he was seven, the Army offered a way out of the farmlands of California's Central Valley.
New American Soldier contemplates two of the most debated issues in US politics today: immigration and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through the stories of real people on the front lines, this powerful documentary gives us a better understanding of the people who are fighting this war, and what it means to be American.
"New American Soldier" is an eye-opener. By telling the life and death experiences of several immigrants who joined the US military, this film sheds new light on the meaning of citizenship.
Mae Ngai, Author, "Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America"
This is a powerful film. Its honesty moved me at the gut level, as an immigrant and a Vietnam veteran. It is sure to resonate with anyone interested in America and the integration debate.
Edward Schumacher-Matos Director, Harvard Migration and Integration Studies Project, Kennedy School of Government
At a time when the country is deeply divided over immigration, Cott and Peevey show us that throughout our history, people born abroad have gained citizenship and expanded rights by military service. The stories of today's men and women of diverse backgrounds remind us of the immense contributions immigrants have made to our country.
Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History, Columbia University.
