Though the story is really rather slow to get going, I did quite enjoy this seaside comedy romance. It's all about the young "Marius" (Horst Buchholz) who can't quite decide between a life at sea or a more pedestrian one at home with his girlfriend "Fanny" (Leslie Caron). His decision making isn't really helped by his dad "Cesar" (Charles Boyer) who wants him to stay at home and take over their little brasserie, nor by the elderly "Panisse" (Maurice Chevalier) who has eyes on his girlfriend. Anyway, with the scene set it now falls to these four to engagingly walk us through a series of admittedly contrived, but still quite entertaining scenarios that are well and truly stolen by the bickering rapport of best pals Boyer and Chevalier who keep threatening to kill each other when they don't get their way. The antics of the youngsters are usually the cause of this, and when she becomes pregnant - well choices have to be made that only serve to further complicate matters as the newly arrived young "Cesario" (Joël Flateau) starts to grow up believing his dad to be, well you can guess... It's a bit on the long side this, but when the writing is at it's best it allows these four characters to deliver quite a characterful drama that raises a smile treading just on the right side of slap-stick and farce. True, Buchholz isn't maybe the best actor, but his boyish Bogarde-esque looks help him to play a good foil to the equally boyish Caron and both of them work well with the two elderly gents who look like the are having quite a bit of fun making this film that swipes at sexism, ageism and stereotypes in quite an amiable fashion. There are also a few fun contributions from her mother (Georgette Anys); Raymond Bussières also adds a light extra light-heartedness as the "Admiral" and by the end, this parody of small-town family life set amongst the fish markets and the sunshine worked well.
Emmi Kurowski, a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali. Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.
In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.
Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.
A young transgender man explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska.
Two musicians witness a mob hit and struggle to find a way out of the city before they are found by the gangsters. Their only opportunity is to join an all-girl band as they leave on a tour. To make their getaway they must first disguise themselves as women, then keep their identities secret and deal with the problems this brings - such as an attractive bandmate and a very determined suitor.
An alcoholic ex-football player drinks his days away, having failed to come to terms with his sexuality and his real feelings for his football buddy who died after an ambiguous accident. His wife is crucified by her desperation to make him desire her: but he resists the affections of his wife. His reunion with his father—who is dying of cancer—jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.
A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he attempts to persuade a girl to run away to Italy with him.
Three activists cobble together a kidnapping plot after they encounter a businessman in his home.
A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
In the style of a documentary this tragic comedy tells the story of a relationship crisis between two married couples and their longing to break out of their miserable daily lives. In this East German post-wall movie Andreas Dresen introduces the sad everyday life of two couples from Frankfurt an der Oder in a honest and tolerable manner.
Clarence marries hooker Alabama, steals cocaine from her pimp, and tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke try to reclaim it.