Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground
The actual experiences of New York City subway riders are dramatized in a collection of 10 intriguing and very different vignettes. The tales showcase an ensemble of familiar faces, and range from stories of compassion and love to reflections on violence and loss. Among them: a disabled beggar quarrels with a woman and ruins her shoes with his wheelchair, provoking onlookers to wrath and pity; a skittish tourist proves to be her own worst enemy; a newlywed trysts with a mysterious sexpot; a commuter helplessly witnesses a suicide attempt; and, in the most affecting segment, a young woman grieves over her mother's imminent death.
Jonathan Demme
Craig McKay
Adam Brooks
Bob Balaban
Ted Demme
Abel Ferrara
John Guare
Joe Viola
Danny Hoch
Julie Dash
Julie Dash
Alison Maclean
Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Patricia Benoit
Albert Innaurato
Lynn Grossman
Lucas Platt
Marla Hanson
Angela Todd
Casts & Crew
Bill Irwin
KRS-One
Tina North
Paul Lazar
Andre B. Blake
Anthony S. Calypso
Robert W. Castle
Marlon Cherry
Carl J. Ferrazza
Daniel Freedman
Marc Mueller
Paul Mueller
Simon Seven
Joe Toutebon
Daniel Wolff
Mari Danzi
Lara McFarlane
Angie Utt
Audrey Meyers
Denis Leary
Christine Lahti
N'Bushe Wright
Marie Barrientos
O.L. Duke
Ellen Gould
John C. Vennema
Sixto Ramos
Erika Greene
Steve Zahn
Jerry Stiller
Bonnie Hunt
Richard Spore
Mekhi Phifer
JosĆ© RamĆ³n Rosario
Nancy Ticotin
John Ford Noonan
Lili Taylor
Michael Rapaport
Israel Horovitz
Mercedes Ruehl
Zachary Taylor
Peter Sarsgaard
Jeremy Jordan
Bruce Smolanoff
Rob Clasen
Jay Bailey
Sarita Choudhury
Nicole Ari Parker
Ajay Naidu
Danny Hoch
Steven Randazzo
Gi Shen
Kenny Garrett
Sam Rockwell
Sol Frieder
Tammi Cubilette
Kavi Ladnier
Bruklin Harris
Taral Hicks
Daniel Rous
Will Hare
Rosie Perez
Michael McGlone
Gretchen Mol
Gregory Hines
Anne Heche
George T. Odom
Also Directed by Jonathan Demme
Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.
This half-hour documentary by acclaimed director Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs") captures singer-songwriter Neil Young and his hard-rocking backing band Crazy Horse "live" in the studio playing a set of four songs. These sessions took place at the Complex Recording Studios in Los Angeles on October 3, 1994, just one day after Young's critically-lauded Bridge School Benefit concert. Earlier that year, Young and his band had recorded the studio album "Sleeps with Angels" at the Complex studios and came back to film a series of music videos. Jonathan Demme was there to document the recording session, which began at 6:30 pm on a Monday evening and concluded at 4:30 am the next day. "The Complex Sessions" is the result of these sessions. Set List: 1. My Heart (3:08), 2. Prime of Life (4:44), 3. Change Your Mind (14:56), 4. Piece of Crap (3:08).
A documentary about a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.
The second of Jonathan Demme's three Neil Young performance docs.
One of Jonathan Demme's last works, a 2016 short documentary hosted by Tavis Smiley.
This film captures a key moment in the countryās history, as its people celebrate the ousting of the authoritarian Duvalier regime. Music is central to the film, with performances from street drummers and politically engaged artists interwoven throughout, capturing the hearts and hopes of the Haitian people.
Spalding Gray sits behind a desk throughout the entire film and recounts his exploits and chance encounters while playing a minor role in the film 'The Killing Fields'. At the same time, he gives a background to the events occurring in Cambodia at the time the film was set.
This half-hour sitcom anthology series that aired on PBS from 1987 to 1989 is about people struggling with the daily routines of life.
A heartbreaking, must-see Jonathan Demme documentary on a proud New Orleans couple coming to terms with their post-Katrina loss.
A live performance film documenting Big Dance Theater's production Another Telepathic Thing, a piece partially inspired by Mark Twain's "The Mysterious Stranger."
Also Directed by Bob Balaban
Sympathetic look loosely based on the relationship between tobacco heiress, Doris Duke (1912-1993) - think Duke University - and her shy butler, Bernard Lafferty. The icy and mercurial Duke fires her butler for serving a chilled cantaloupe; the agency sends Lafferty, formerly household staff to Liz Taylor and to Peggy Lee. He's an alcoholic, fresh out of rehab. He gradually becomes Duke's gay alter ego as she romps through life sleeping with young men, making shrewd decisions quickly, managing her fortune and orchids as Lafferty manages her New Jersey estate. With a wine cellar to die for, Bernard falls off the wagon. Can he pull himself together when Doris needs him?
Legend is a science fiction Western television show that ran on UPN from April 18, 1995 until August 22, 1995, with one final re-airing of the pilot on July 3, 1996. It was Richard Dean Anderson's first major role after the successful MacGyver series, and also stars John de Lancie, best known for his role as "Q" in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Former two-term President Richard Graves embarks on a Don Quixote-like quest to right the wrongs of his administration and reclaim his legacy 25 years after leaving the White House. His enlightenment takes place just as his wife Margaret Graves decides itās finally time for her to pursue her own political ambitions.
Now and Again is an American television series that aired in the US from September 24, 1999 until May 5, 2000 on CBS. The story revolves around the United States government engineering the perfect human body for use in espionage, but not being able to yet perfect the brain. In an attempt to get the project up and running, they take the brain of overweight family man Michael Wiseman, who is killed by a train. Given a new life, Michael is kept in an apartment where he is trained by government experts, led by Dr. Theodore Morris, in the art of espionage. Despite his new life and new abilities, Michael longs to return to his wife Lisa and daughter Heather, who are themselves discovering that not all is as it seems with Michael's death.
A reclusive aging widower struggling with tax problems has a complete change in his views of life as he has a chance encounter with a young woman who moves in with him briefly.
Biopic of American artist Georgia O'Keeffe and her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz.
Penn Jillette and Teller are called upon to display their unique brand of humor to save civilization from strange extraterrestrial beings who have invaded Earth and who, disgruntled and bored with the mundane nature of human life, threaten to blow up the planet unless someone gives them a good reason not to.
A compilation of episodes from the classic '80s horror anthology TV series "Tales From The Darkside" for the VHS market.
A best man gives an increasingly uncomfortable toast at his friends' wedding reception.
Everyoneās talking about it, but who can explain it? Paul G. Allenās Vulcan Productions and Morgan Spurlockās Cinelan have partnered to produce WE THE ECONOMY 20 Short Films You Canāt Afford to Miss. Each film is helmed by an acclaimed filmmaker, each with their own creative vision. The series aims to drive awareness and establish a better understanding of the U.S. economy. Told through animation, comedy, musical, non-fiction, and scripted films, WE THE ECONOMY seeks to demystify a complicated topic while empowering the public to take control of their own economic futures.
Also Directed by Ted Demme
During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.
A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price.
Follow the life of Peter Dragon, an egotistic Hollywood movie producer who has built his career on the three pillars of sleazy show business - prostitution, nepotism and dishonesty.
Ed Lover and Doctor Dre are two inept barbers. Deciding that maybe they ought to find another line of work, they join the police. A big mistake, as far as their duty sergeant, Sgt Cooper is concerned, who proceeds to harass them at every turn. Despite this, they discover a major crime, and proceed to solve it in their own unusual fashion.
Two men in 1930s Mississippi become friends after being sentenced to life in prison together for a crime they did not commit.
Ticked off comic Denis Leary talks honestly about subjects ranging from smoking, red meat, drugs, his family, rehab, and yes, cancer.
Documentary on the effects of 1970s filmmaking.
A young man leads a tortured existence after apparently killing his lover.
Caroline and Lloyd are a married couple constantly at each other's throats, masters at crafting acid-tongued barbs at the other's expense. Indeed, they are so obsessed with belittling each other that they never stop -- not even at gunpoint. The gunman is Gus, a thief on the run from the police, who kidnaps the couple as an insurance policy, planning to use their home as a hideout. But their incessant bickering proves more than Gus bargained for, forcing him -- for the sake of his own sanity -- into the unenviable role of peacemaker. To make things even worse for Gus, he discovers that he has taken the couple hostage the night of their big Christmas party, and the guests are already on the way. Not wanting to leave Lloyd and Caroline unattended, Gus opts to attend the party, pretending to be the couple's marriage counselor. This naturally leads to a series of comic confusions, as the hostage crisis and marital tensions head towards their inevitable conclusion.
Actor/comic Denis Leary discusses family life, coffee, religion, and other topics in this stand-up special.
Also Directed by Abel Ferrara
Every morning, a married man and his wife enter the subway, buying a newspaper and coffee together before taking separate lines. One day, as the man is standing in the aisle of his train, leaning against the support pole while reading his newspaper, a strange woman touches his hand. She slides his hand down the pole and begins to discreetly pleasure herself with it. The man looks over, only to see that the woman is nonchalantly reading the newspaper, as she continues to pleasure herself with his hand. No words are spoken between them. The next day, the same encounter takes place, with the woman boarding the train and hovering over toward the pole by which the man is standing. This time, his hand is already waiting lower on the pole. These daily, wordless encounters between the man and woman continue over a nine month period.
When Environmental Protection Agency inspector Steve Malone travels to a remote military base in order to check for toxic materials, he brings his family along for the ride. After arriving at the base, his teenage daughter Marti befriends Jean Platt, daughter of the base's commander, General Platt. When people at the base begin acting strangely, Marti becomes convinced that they are slowly being replaced by plant-like aliens.
A documentary directed by Abel Ferrara for the series āBOATS ā Based On A True Storyā about the Padre Pio di Pietrelcina.
A financial struggle between owners of a go-go club threatens its future.
Following the shooting of a film on the life of Jesus called This Is My Blood, Marie Palesi (Juliette Binoche), the actress who plays Mary Magdalene takes refuge in Jerusalem in search of the truth behind the myth. The director of the film, Tony Childress (Matthew Modine), who also plays Jesus, can think of only one thing: self-promotion. In New York, television journalist Ted Younger (Forest Whitaker) presents a programme about the life of Jesus.
A shy and mute seamstress goes insane after being attacked and raped twice in one day. She wanders the New York streets at night in a sexy black dress with her attacker's gun strapped to her garter belt, blowing away any man who tries to pick her up.
A Miami hotel owner finds danger when be becomes romantically involved with the wife of a deposed general from the Dominican Republic where he fought many years back.
A road warrior vigilante avenges his brother's death at the hands of a crazy motorist by using his souped-up pickup to apprehend drunken drivers and others who abuse their driving privileges.
Teenage lovers Tony (Richard Panebianco) and Tyan-Hwa (Sari Chang) tip the balance of power in New York's Little Italy and Chinatown.
Three men, laid off from their factory jobs, plan a gas station robbery.
Also Directed by Julie Dash
A feature length documentary about Vertamae Smart Grosvenor, a world-renowned author, performer, and chef from rural South Carolina who has led a remarkably unique and complex life.
āDraw or Dieā is the divine imperative received by the painter, Hannah, who is being nurtured by her Grandmother, but controlled by her pragmatic mother. When her Granny spirit shouts this command to Hannah, she closes a celebration of personal visions in a dance piece that is close to visionary in itself.
Two sisters, Nova Bordelon and Charley Bordelon, with her teenage son Micah moves to the heart of Louisiana to claim an inheritance from her recently departed father - an 800-acre sugarcane farm.
An African nun is consumed by fear and doubt about her decision to take the solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Her anguish intensifies night after night as she lies on a hard bed in her small room at the convent and listens to the rhythmic, beckoning drums of her village.
A rape victim continues to be stalked by the man who attacked her. Her fiancƩ is no help, so her father hires a bodyguard to protect her.
A privileged, black college student with a fiance falls in love with a white musician she meets on her 21st birthday.
A woman in a Hollywood dubbing studio struggles with race and preconceptions.
Languid look at the Gullah culture of the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia where African folk-ways were maintained well into the 20th Century and was one of the last bastion of these mores in America.
A woman returns to her home town to sort out her troubled marriage and finds new happiness in the rekindling of a broken friendship with her cousin.
Ishmael Huston-Jones physically carries his mother, Pauline Jones, into the improvisational dance space. While she dyes eggs and speaks about family history, he improvises a rhythmic dance-counterpoint to her speech.
Also Directed by Alison Maclean
First-year acting student Stanley mines his girlfriend's family scandal as material for the end-of-year show at drama school. The result is a moral minefield.
From the bowels of the kitchen sink, comes a dark and tender loveā¦ An original and full-blooded short film that combines humour with surrealism and leads the viewer towards the fantasy of horror.
A radio compere is forced to take the late shift and finds her night going places she couldn't have imagined.
On the way to interview a novelist, Lane and Christina are involved in a car crash which leaves literary critic Christina brain-damaged. Lane undertakes the assignment and becomes attracted to the novelist's 15 year old daughter, leading to stormy emotions.
A documentary concerning the detention of Muslim-Americans in the wake of 9/11.
A young man turns from drug addiction and petty crime to a life redeemed by a discovery of compassion.
Mystery and menace abound in this debut film from Alison Maclean (Crush, The Rehearsal). Made when Maclean was an Elam art student, the experimental short plays with gender and racial stereotypes by constantly thwarting narrative expectations. What there is of a plot consists of a woman emerging from the sea and a 'centrepiece' pursuit leading to a confrontation between two characters: a man and a woman.
Nan, recently widowed by Rud, a religious eccentric, treats her idolised son Mark and his family to a Sunday roast. An ironic comedy about a disconnected New Zealand family.
A professor at a West Coast college dreams of marrying a cowboy.
Also Directed by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Two brothers, Lex and younger Mick, are living in Harlem. Mick is a policeman, and Lex, who spent youth years in reformatory because of injustice after he confronted the cop who tried to sodomize Mick on the street, is living with his wife Debbie trying to make ends meet and failing. One day Lex calls Mick - he has a problem...
Seymore is a young man with the mind of a child. He loves three things in life: basketball, sneaking out for cigarettes, and his mother. But all life's simple pleasures are brutally torn from him when he witnesses his mother gunned down by a neighborhood punk. Now Seymore must overcome the child within as he rises up to fight for some kind of justice. It's a fight that will take him out into the streets where there are few friends and many enemies -- and one of them is a killer who wants him silenced.
Also Directed by Patricia Benoit
In the midst of increasing political violence, a young couple, two sisters, and a father and son are driven from Haiti to New York, where they must confront the truths of their interlocked pasts.
Also Directed by Lucas Platt
A runaway teenage girl and a drifter rob a bank, hit the road to elude the Texas Rangers and find love on the run.
Secrets from the Dolly Madison Room This thoughts and feelings of gays with AIDS are revealed in this documentary set in a New York West Village clinic. One of the patients dies during the course of the film. The patients speak with candor and humor about their grave condition, about the support they give each other, and about their preparations for death. The outcome alternates between pathos and the upbeat.