Philip Clarke Movies

As emceed by the celebrated revisionist historian Bettany Hughes, the epic documentary When the Moors Ruled in Europe challenges traditional perceptions of the titular anthropological group as brutal, crass barbarians, and suggests that this image was handed down to successive generations by those who "wrote" history - the Spanish historians whose countries were invaded by the Moors. As a product of careful research, Hughes cuts against the grain of popular thought by detailing the Moors' groundbreaking advancements in such arenas as medicine, agriculture, astronomy, mathematics and architecture. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

The first season of the bawdily hilarious British sitcom Peep Show uses advanced camera and sound techniques to provide a "p.o.v." squint at contemporary manners and mores, as conveyed through the eyes and the innermost thoughts of two twentysomething losers. Mark (David Mitchell) works at a dull job in a duller office, where he obsesses over his co-worker Sophie (Olivia Colman) -- who, alas, prefers the company of go-getter Geoff (Neil Fitzmaurice). Mark's roommate, Jeremy, aka "Jez" (Robert Webb), aspires to be a pop star (his band has already gone through several names, among them Hair Blair Bunch and Spunk Bubble), but lacks such qualities as ambition and drive. Jez' dream girl is Toni (Elizabeth Marmur), the divorcée who lives next door. In the course of the season's six episodes, a third party threatens to disrupt Mark and Jez' friendship, prompting Jez to briefly consider moving in with his manipulative musician buddy Super Hans (Matt King) -- who repays this "compliment" by bedding Toni; Mark manages to embarrass himself in full view of Sophie, Geoff, and half of South London when he gets stoned at the wrong time and wrong place; and finally, Mark finally gets Sophie to go out with him to a funeral, while in a related development Jez uses the imminent death of his uncle as an excuse to lay hands on Toni. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

One of several British series to feature predominantly gay characters, the six-episode seriocomedy Metrosexuality was set in a Notting Hill neighborhood. The emphasis was on a group of friends, acquaintances, and lovers, headed by Ricky Beadle-Blair (who also wrote and directed the series) as Max. The series' hand-held camera seemed to be in perpetual motion, while the basic cast of characters underwent an astonishing number of changes and additions within the series' short lifespan. Metrosexuality joined Channel 4's prime-time lineup on February 21, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Married to the extroverted Mary (Melanie Kilburn), shy engraver Redfern (Ken Stott) enjoys solitary activities -- fishing, carving, and wandering the Yorkshire countryside. He meets the troubled Jean (Juliet Stevenson), separated from her insensitive husband Frank (John Bowler), when he delivers a headstone after the death of Jean's mother. A friendship develops between these two lonely souls. Although their relationship is more platonic than passionate, it nevertheless provides fodder for the local village gossips. Shown at 1998 film festivals (Toronto, Palm Springs). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi