settima

1970s

Soleil Ô [Oh, Sun] (Med Hondo, 1970)

Dec

10

Human Rights Day

Soleil Ô (1970)

An optimistic Robert Liensol in the city of lights (via). DPs: François Catonné & Jean-Claude Rahaga.

Celebrating human rights on Human Rights Day: the right to work

“Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”

– Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations General Assembly

A Mauritanian immigrant (Robert Liensol) too starts anew in Paris. But first, he'll need a job.

The Lickerish Quartet (Radley Metzger, 1970)

Dec

5

The Lickerish Quartet (1970)

A 70s couple in a grainy black-and-white still. The frame looks damaged, suggesting a stag reel. The seemingly nude blonde pours a drink for her dark-haired man. She holds the cork between her teeth, seducingly. DP: Hans Jura.

– I've never seen a film like this before.

– Oh, it's different, alright.

L'ange et la femme [The Angel and the Woman] (Gilles Carle, 1977)

Dec

3

L'ange et la femme (1977)

Gabriel (Lewis Furey) and the woman he named Fabienne (Carole Laure). DP: François Protat.

A caregiver*

 

A woman is brutally murdered and taken home by a young man. This man – this angel – takes away her wounds, returns her to life, and nurses her. They fall in love.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for December has a few dateless themes. This is one of them.

Surma hinda küsi surnutelt [Ask the Dead About the Price of Death] (Kaljo Kiisk, 1977)

Dec

1

1924

Surma hinda küsi surnutelt (1977)

A woman wearing a crochet skull cap and an ominous look on her face. DP: Jüri Sillart.

 

Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält [Mark of the Devil] (Michael Armstrong + Adrian Hoven, 1970)

Nov

28

cheese

Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält (1970)

A very young, very pretty Udo Kier seated at a dinner table. There are various fruits on a platter and Udo's eating cheese. His outfit suggests the 18th century. DP: Ernst W. Kalinke.

“I accuse you of having trampled on the cross, of having ridden to the Sabbath, of throwing the Holy Cross of our Saviour into manure so that the skies grew dark, and the rain fell upon the earth!”

– Albino

Belle (André Delvaux, 1973)

Nov

28

Belle (1973)

Belle (Adriana Bogdan) in front of her cabin on the moors. DPs: Ghislain Cloquet & Charles Van Damme.

Un comisar acuză [A Police Inspector Calls] (Sergiu Nicolaescu, 1974)

Nov

26

1940

Un comisar acuză (1974)

DP: Alexandru David.

Takes place on the night of November 26-27, 1940.

“Mister Moldovan, this is not for the first time that a criminal case is entrusted to you. It is precisely your political objectivity that made us choose you.”

– Alexandru Dincă

La polizia ringrazia [Execution Squad / The Law Enforcers] (Steno, 1972)

Nov

23

La polizia ringrazia (1972)

Sandra (Mariangela Melato) and Francesco Bettarini (Franco Fabrizi). DP: Riccardo Pallottini.

Ciao Manhattan (John Palmer + David Weisman, 1972)

Nov

21

1971

spoiler warning: click to toggle image Ciao Manhattan (1972)
spoiler warning: click to read

A newspaper, partially obscured blares “[…], Andy's Star of '65, Is Dead at 28”. The article mentions she (Edie/Susan) died “a week ago today”, making the newspaper's date November 21. DPs: John Palmer & Kjell Rostad.

“It's sort of like a mockery, in a way, of reality, because they think everything is smiles and sweetness and flowers, when there is something bitter to taste. And to pretend there isn't is foolish.”

– Susan

Shoot (Barbara Burden, 1971)

Nov

19

1971

Shoot (1971)

Dunlap aiming at Burden at F Space, Santa Ana, California (via). DP: Barbara Burden.

“At 7:45 p.m. I was shot in the left arm by a friend.”

– Chris Burden