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Ihmemies [Wonderman] (Antti Peippo, 1979)
Sep
21
Peace Day
Olli Ruusunen (Antti Litja) in a diner enjoying a small hamburger with a cup of coffee (via). DPs: Pekka Aine & Juha-Veli Äkräs.
TV reporter: We are not alone in the world. An increase of national income in developing countries is absolute requirement for world peace at the end of this century.
Martti Tuomola: Bullshit.
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Het gangstermeisje [A Gangstergirl] (Frans Weisz, 1966)
Sep
20
Sophia Loren – 1934
Cast and crew study a map of Rome (via). DP: Gérard Vandenberg.
Italy or Sophia Loren for La Loren's birthday (1934).
“Film is kijken naar mensen die kijken.”
– Remco Campert, Het gangstermeisje (1965)
A writer tasked with writing a screenplay based on his novel Het gangstermeisje suffers from writer's block. Some time at his friends' house in France brings the inspiration needed but also a few twists and turns, similar to his book, leading him to Cinecittà.
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Die Republik der Backfische [The Republic of Flappers] (Constantin J. David, 1928)
Sep
20
1928
The Berliner Zeitung (a rag of a paper that's still around to this day) of September 20, 1928. It blares something about America and Graf Zeppelin, the then-new airship. DP: Mutz Greenbaum.
Depending on the language version you watch, you'll see a 1928 newspaper headline dated September 20 (a Thursday), January 10 (a Tuesday), or January 9 (a Monday).
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Smrt si říká Engelchen [Death Is Called Engelchen] (Ján Kadár + Elmar Klos, 1963)
Sep
19
ER – 1994
Pavel (Jan Kačer) recovering face-down in his hospital bed. DP: RudolfMilič.
An emergency room: ER debuts on this date in 1994.
A paralysed Czechoslovak partisan recovering from a shot in the back in an emergency ward, feverishly remembers the events that brought him to that moment. He particularly remembers Engelchen, the SS Sturmbannführer who killed his best friend and massacred the local villagers.
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The UFO Incident [Interrupted Journey] (Richard A. Colla, 1975)
Sep
19
Betty Hill (Estelle Parsons) observed from above. It's night, and tire tracks are visible. DP: Rexford L. Metz.
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Слънцето и сянката [Slantzeto i syankata / Sun and Shadow] (Rangel Vulchanov, 1962)
Sep
18
National First Love Day
The two young lovers (Georgi Naumov and Anna Prucnal). DP: Dimo Kolarov.
First love for National First Love Day (USA).
A boy and a girl fall in love at a resort at the Black Sea. He's the son of an architect, an optimist who sees creation where possible. She's the daughter of a nuclear scientist, the future an inevitable apocalypse.
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Äppelkriget [The Apple War] (Tage Danielsson, 1971)
Sep
17
National Apple Dumpling Day
Locals and a centaur – half man, half papier-mâché – enjoy a drink. DP: Lars Swanberg.
– What are you gonna do with tons of apples? They can't be sold! Ask any apple farmer! They just pile up and rot!
– The apple farmers?
– No. The apples!
A beautiful, picturesque part of Sweden will become… Deutschneyland! At least, that's the brilliant business plan Herr Volkswagner has. But the local apple farmers – a large family that's half human, half mythological creatures – have no need for an amusement park on their grounds.
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A Sunday in September (James Hill, 1961)
Sep
17
1961
Television documentary about the nuclear disarmament demonstration at Trafalgar Square on September 17, 1961 (description via aforementioned link in the caption).
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Sep
16
El Grito de Independencia
Grinning seminary boys hang from monkey bars. DPs: Salvador Gijón, Rubén Gámez & Segismundo Pérez de Pedro 'Segis'.
El Grito de Independencia: ¡Viva México!
“¡Mexicanos!
¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria!
¡Viva Hidalgo!
¡Viva Morelos!
¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez!
¡Viva Allende!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros!
¡Viva la independencia nacional!
¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!”
Accompanied by Juan Rulfo's poem, Gámez explores Mexico's identity, and loss thereof. Crying out for the Mexican with Coca-Cola in the blood.
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The War Game (Peter Watkins, 1966)
Sep
16
“In the next world war, I believe that both sides could stop before the ultimate destruction of cities so that both sides could retire for a period of ten years or so of post-attack recuperation, in which world wars four to eight could be prepared.”
– a leading American nuclear strategist