A modern tale of avarice and peasant unpleasantry, adapted from Marcel Pagnol's novel, Jean De Florette depicts a naïve city dweller (Gerard Depardieu), who inherits a farm in turn of the century Provence. However, his dreams of building a rabbit farm are ruined by his greedy neighbour (Yves Montand). As the tragedy unfolds, the realisation that he was responsible for killing his own illegitimate son hits Montand - and us - especially hard.
Endearing family film from Disney, about three pets - Bodger, a bull terrier, Tao, a Siamese cat, and Luath, a Labrador retriever - who are thrown into the (beautifully photographed) Canadian wilderness and must survive the hazards of a 250-mile journey to reunite with their owners. The film's furry heroes all have wonderfully human qualities, and the 'ahhh' factor really takes hold when they finally make it home at the end of their adventures.
Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey turn in wonderful performances in Steven Spielberg's takes on Alice Walker's controversial novel of African-American womanhood. The film follows the story of Celie (Goldberg) - raped and abused by her stepfather, then by her husband, denied a voice because she's female, black, poor and ugly – isn't supposed to be the stuff of blockbusters, but Spielberg's skill and sentimentality and the quality of the acting make it a heartbreaking watch.
Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard sparkle to the memorable refrain of 'Moon River' in this charming fairy tale about a lost girl looking for love in the big city. Romantic comedy is a difficult genre to perfect, and it has rarely been done as well as it is here. Hepburn and Peppard create the kind of screen chemistry that comes along all too rarely and there isn't a dry eye left in the house when the two of them finally get it together in the New York rain.
The cream of British acting talent appears in this deeply nostalgic take on the passing of old England. Robert Donat's Mr Chips recalls his life as a schoolteacher, from his first arriving at the school to becoming one of its elder statesmen and the impact he has had on the lives of many generations of children. Thanks to Donat's performance, it is impossible not to be moved by moments like the passing of his wife, Greer Garson, in childbirth and his close relationship with his students.
Peter Weir's highly effective retelling of the Anzac's attempt to take control of Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War. Mel Gibson and Mark Lee are two Australian lads, who join the army, become sprint rivals and finally, friends. They are sent to the Dardanelles to take part in Australia's disastrous campaign to free the region. As Gibson races to deliver a message that would save the life of his friend, the soldiers are ordered over the top to their deaths. The shot of Mark Lee sprinting towards the guns to his death, is one of cinema's most moving scenes.
One of his earliest films, Ken Loach's raw, truthful re-telling of Barry Hines' gritty story is a moving account of a boy's alienation and isolation in a Yorkshire mining town of the 1960s. Awkward teenager Billy Caspar (David Bradley) has a miserable home life and a lousy existence at school. A chance discovery of a baby kestrel gives Billy a opportunity to nurture and develop, and the cruel murder of the bird by Billy's brother pains us for Billy, as much as for the baby Kes.
Beautifully crafted 193-minute opus from the master of epic cinema, David Lean. A turbulent love story set against the fiery backdrop of the Bolshevik revolution. Omar Sharif charms both Julie Christie and Geraldine Chaplin, and the rest of the female world, as the handsome and poetic Yuri. Doctor Zhivago was savaged by the critics on its release, but audiences flocked to it and the film has become a famous weepy. The tears flow Zhivago chases Christie, through the city streets, only to die before he can reach her.
Lars Von Trier won a sackful of plaudits and awards for this disquieting and confrontational film - a howling commentary on love, religion and death. Emily Watson is the newly wed Bess, whose husband insists that she sleep with other men after he is crippled in an accident. Although reluctant at first, Bess becomes convinced that her sacrifice will make God cure him and events spiral downwards towards a truly heartbreaking conclusion.
George Lazenby briefly stepped into 007's shoes for one of the best films in the series (the only one in which Bond gets married). Gambling all in a grudge match against Telly Savalas' Blofeld, who is threatening to unleash biological warfare, Bond's loyalties are torn between his country and the woman he loves (Diana Rigg). The scene in which 007 loses his wife, and the credits roll to the sound of 'All The Time In The World', is all the more moving for being one of the few times Bond seems truly vulnerable.
