Central Station
Brazil, 115 minutes
In Rio de Janiero's train station, the stoically indifferent Dora supports herself by writing letters for illiterate passersby. When one of her clients is accidentally killed, Dora resolves to help the woman's nine year-old son Josue to find his father. With acute tenderness and eloquence, their travels across Brazil assume the scale of and epic. Best Picture, Best Actress, Berlin Film Festival.

Elizabeth
England, 124 minutes
This lavish tale of conspiracy, power and sex recounts the story of the brilliant and politically canny English ruler who was crowned at the age of 25. Quickly she learned how the forces of betrayal and conspiracy would constantly test her, as a woman and a monarch. This elegant historical thriller boasts a distinguished cast including Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Richard Attenborough.

Down in the Delta
USA, 100 minutes
Chicago ghetto matriarch Rosa Lynn prefers to pawn the family heirloom rather than see her daughter, a single mother, waste her life. She moves them back to their ancestral roots in Mississippi where big city encounters small town. This tale of redemption, family history and one woman's courage to find meaning in life marks Maya Angelou's directorial debut and stars Alfre Woodard, Mary Alice, and Wesley Snipes.

The Theory of Flight
England, 100 minute
Following a failed artistic experiment, frustrated artist Richard finds himself faced with 120 hours of community service in the person of Jane, a feisty wheelchair bound woman eager for intimacy. Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter star in this warm and witty story of two people who face personal challenge and discover friendship and love along the way.

The Hi - Lo Country
USA, 120 minutes
An enduring bond of friendship, one of common values and easy rapport between two hard-living men is challenged when their passionate desires set on the same woman. Set against the expanse of the American West, post WWII, this tale of camaraderie, love and betrayal is produced by Martin Scorsese and stars Woody Harrelson, Billy Crudup and Patricia Arquette.

Waking Ned Devine
Ireland, 95 minutes
In this delightfully spirited Irish comedy, two life-long friends with a talent for getting info mischief discover someone in their town possesses a winning lottery ticket. In their cozy village, a modest jackpot would go a long way. The two figure it should be easy to sniff out the winner and convince that person to share the earnings...

Living Out Loud
USA, 100 minutes
This heart-warming hilarious portrait of love and loneliness in the big city focuses on the unlikely friendship between the ex-wife of a 5th Avenue doctor and her humble but lovable elevator operator. Holly Hunter and Danny Devito star in this character-driven comedy about people raging against their solitude, the lessons they learn and the power of the human connection.

Little Voice
England, 99 minutes
Young recluse "LV" (Jane Horrocks) has the uncanny ability to sing in the timeless voices of Judy Garland, Billie Holliday and Marilyn Monroe. Her soul mate is an equally shy engineer (Ewan McGregor). Eager to exploit her daughter's talent, a greedy mother and her sleazy impresario boyfriend push her towards the limelight. Michael Caine and Brenda Blethyn also star in this uplifting, funny film.

The General
Ireland/England, 124 minutes
Legendary Irish criminal Martin Cahill is the subject of John Boorman's stylistically audacious screen biography. Cahill's potent mixture of violence, humor and generosity made him a much-publicized colorful figure in 80s Dublin where he lived a public life of daring robberies and an unorthodox private life with two women. Brendan Gleeson and Jon Voight star.Best Director, Cannes Film Festival.

Hilary and Jackie
England, 121 minutes
One of this century's greatest cellists, the flamboyant and richly talented Jacqueline du Pre is the focus of this powerful portrait of an artist. Featuring the sublimely stirring music of Edward Elgar, this first feature probes the tumultuous life of a supremely gifted musician and her relationship with her family, namely her sister. Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths star.

Playing by Heart
USA, 120 minutes
Set in Los Angeles, this sometimes funny, sometimes wistful drama weaves in and out of the lives of eleven interconnected people of varied generations and lifestyles, all of whom are experiencing love in one of its many maddening stages. Sean Connery, Gillian Anderson, Ellen Burstyn. Dennis Quaid and Gena Rowlands are just some of the star-studded cast.

Shakespeare in Love
USA, 113 minutes
A witty and fast-moving comedy set in 1593 London follows the trials and tribulations of a certain struggling young playwright (Joseph Frennes) suffering from a dreadful bout of writer's block. Then he falls for an aspiring thespian (Gwyneth Paltrow) who proves to be the creative muse for his greatest love story. Judi Dench, Ben Affleck and Geoffree Rush also star.

Dancing at Lughnasa
USA/Ireland, 95 minutes
This adaptation of Brian Friel's celebrated play contemplates the unraveling of a tightly knit Irish family in the glorious summer of 1936. Meryl Streep stars as the eldest of the five unmarried Mundy sisters completely unaware of the outside forces about to forever change their idyllic world of laughter, dance and sibling intimacy. Michael Gambon and Catherine McCormick also star.

Hurlyburly
USA, 123 minutes
Set amidst the tanks of the Hollywood power culture, David Rabe's edgy black comedy follows the lives of a group of friends in their own morally bereft world. Roommates Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey and their crowd come dangerously close to self-destruction as they struggle to find meaning in their lives. Also stars Meg Ryan, Chazz Palmintero and Robin Wright Penn.

Life is Beautiful
Italy, 116 minutes
Italian comic Roberto Benigni takes on Hitler and the Holocaust in this Chaplinesque serio-comedy that begins lightly, then acquires deepening layers of pathos when a childlike clown (Benigni) is deported to a concentration camp with his family. To shield his son from the harsh reality, he fabricates an elaborate game. Best Film, Cannes Film Festival.