settima

movember

Una libélula para cada muerto [A Dragonfly for Each Corpse] (León Klimovsky, 1975)

May

14

Martedi

Una libélula para cada muerto (1975)

Grimy looking Inspector Paolo Scaporella (Paul Naschy) in intense phone conversation. The wall calendar reads Maggio 29 Martedi. DP: Miguel Fernández Mila.

 

Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Stuart Cooper, 1974)

Scrawdyke

2

Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (1974)

Malcolm Scrawdyke (John Hurt), disgruntled art student. DP: John Alcott.

“So, this month becomes the month of Scrawdyke.”

– Malcolm Scrawdyke

Women in Love (Ken Russell, 1969)

Nov

18

Women in Love (1969)

Bates and Reed in post-jostle bliss, bathing in the fireplace's glow (via). DP: Billy Williams.

A memorable fire or fireplace scene*

“Oh, my God, Gerald! Shall I die?”

– Gudrun Brangwen

Oddly, one barely remembers the fireplace.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Panique [Panic] (Julien Duvivier, 1946)

Nov

7

Panique (1946)

A child probes her dinner with a fork larger than her head while another one is all neat and proper. In the midst of them, as serious table settings require, a large man. His napkin tucked in at the neck, he leans over the first child with something to say. DP: Nicolas Hayer.

“Dead meat always attracts flies.”

– Monsieur Hire

有りがたうさん [Arigatō-san / Mr. Thank You] (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1936)

Nov

6

Arigatō-san (1936)

Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) courteously thanks someone who shares the road for giving way. DP: Isamu Aoki.

A movie that makes you want to travel*

“Arigatō! [Thank you!]”

– Mr Thank You to everyone – poultry included – he passes on his bus

Friendly and helpful, Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) is there for his passengers and non-bus travellers alike. A sweet roadmovie from a Japan now lost to time.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

Jules et Jim (François Truffaut, 1962)

Nov

4

sweaters

Jules et Jim (1962)

A movie with gorgeous sweater fashion*

“She's a strange breed.”

– Jim

Throwing in a little Movember for good measure.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

拳銃は俺のパスポート [Koruto wa ore no pasupōto / A Colt Is My Passport] (Takashi Nomura, 1967)

Nov

3

拳銃は俺のパスポート (1967)

A blurry shot of a man with a moustache in a space with chairs and a round table. DP: Shigeyoshi Mine.

 

Happy End (Oldřich Lipský, 1967)

Sep

1

1889

Happy End (1967)

Butcher Bedřich Frydrych (Oldřich Lipský), born September 1, 1889 in Trumberk. DP: Vladimír Novotný.

Touche pas à la femme blanche [Don't Touch the White Woman!] (Marco Ferreri, 1974)

Nov

23

potato chips

Touche pas à la femme blanche (1974)

Two white Frenchmen – in a University of Columbia and a CIA sweatshirt respectively – comment on the “period piece” they're in. CIA man (Paolo Villaggio) stuffs his face with potato chips. DP: Étienne Becker.

“Whoever dies for the country hasn't lived in vain. I, on the contrary, will live for the country because I'm not that stupid.”

– George A. Custer

Divorzio all'italiana [Divorce Italian Style] (Pietro Germi, 1961)

Nov

9

Divorzio all'italiana (1961)

Ferdinando Cefalù (Mastroianni), all handsome and bored, at a table set with food and wine for one. DPs: Leonida Barboni & Carlo Di Palma.