A film by Ali Asgari & Alireza Khatami

2023 - Iran - Drama - 1.78 - 77 min.

Terrestrial Verses follows everyday people from all walks of life as they navigate the cultural, religious, and institutional constraints imposed on them by various social authorities, from school teachers to bureaucrats. These stirring vignettes, humorous and affecting, capture the spirit and determination of people amidst adversity, offering a nuanced portrait of a complex society.

A film by Agnieszka Holland

2020 - Czech Republic/Ireland/Poland/Slovakia - Drama - 2.35 - 118 min.

Inspired by the true story of herbalist Jan Mikolasek, who dedicated his life to caring for the sick in spite of the immense obstacles he faced in his private and public life. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mikolasek wins fame and fortune using unorthodox treatment methods to cure a wide range of diseases. Already a local institution in Czechoslovakia before World War II, the healer gains in reputation and wealth whether during the Nazi occupation or under the Communist rule. One after the other, every regime will want to use his skills and in return gives him protection. But how high shall be the costs to maintain this status as the tide turns?

A film by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

2019 - France/Philippines - Drama - 1.78 - 126 min.

Joy and her six-year-old daughter Angel live in Manila, with her husband, Dante, a small-time criminal. As so often in the past, Dante comes home drunk at night and beats Joy brutally. This time, he also hurts Angel. Joy grabs her daughter and flees to the local police post to finally get him sent to jail. Joy learns that justice takes time at best and is impossible to get at worst. Not without reason, she feels that she and her daughter are increasingly under threat…