Rina Fraticelli Movies
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker David Paperny tells the remarkable tale of Canadian ex-patriot William Sampson, who was working in Saudi Arabia when he was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death for a car bombing he didn't commit. Arrested on suspicions of terrorism and tortured into confessing by the Saudi Arabian authorities, Sampson was only able to maintain his sanity by convincing his captors that he was completely mad. In addition to rejecting Canadian envoys and even his own father, Sampson refused to be clothed, repeatedly destroyed his cell, and covered both himself and his cell with his own feces. Thirty one months later, Sampson was released but where was the Canadian government during his darkest hours, and why weren't they attempting to secure his release? By recreating the inhuman conditions that Sampson endured during his imprisonment, director Paperny aims to raise awareness about the dangers of geo-politics, and highlight the attempts to the former prisoner to hold the Saudi government accountable for their flagrant human rights violations. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Sheen
- 1993
This Canadian documentary chronicles the heyday of Lesbian-oriented pulp romantic fiction in the 1950s, an era when titles such as "Odd Girl Out" spoke volumes to the isolated and confused young lesbians of the era. The scriptwriter for this documentary, Ann Brannan was one of the authors of these novels. Nine women from the period describe their lives at that time, and the comfort they gained from these minor works of fiction. Among other things, they were forced to resort to "safe" dates with homosexual men in order to hide their orientations. If they chose to hang out at bars, they ran the constant risk of police raids, the result of which was having their identities revealed publicly. Being shunned by their families for their orientations was in some ways the least of the dangers they faced. The desperate measures resorted to by the protagonists in the novels are shown to have been tame compared to the experiences of these real women. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephanie Morgenstern, Lynne Adams, (more)
This concert and interview documentary features the racy wit of Canada and the U.S.'s most popular female comedians, including Jenny Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Phyllis Diller, Ellen DeGeneres, and Paula Poundstone. In addition to screening their stand-up gigs and providing interviews with these funny ladies, the documentary provides some historical perspective about the origins of present-day feminine humor using clips of performances by Eve Arden, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, (more)
This Canadian drama from director Cynthia Scott centers on eight elderly women strangers who find themselves depending on each other and becoming fast friends when they're suddenly stranded in the rural countryside. Traveling through a largely uninhabited area, the ladies' bus breaks down and, as they await help, they are forced to fend for themselves. Finding refuge in a rustic and empty farmhouse, the women begin talking and eventually share many of their life experiences and memories with each other, forming an indelible bond. In an attempt to create an air of reality and spontaneity, Scott used a nonprofessional cast and encouraged improvised dialogue. Strangers in Good Company was nominated for several honors at Canada's 1991 Genie Awards, ultimately winning the prize for Best Editing. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Diabo, Constance Garneau, (more)
