History: 92

Kundun (1997) is an American epic biographical film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. Covering the years 1937 to 1959, the majority of the film takes place in Tibet, with some brief scenes occurring in China and India. The story follows the search for the next Dalai Lama, beginning with Reting Rinpoche’s vision. A group of disguised lamas finds a promising candidate in a child from a farming family near the Chinese border in Amdo province. To confirm his identity, they give him a test involving objects that belonged to the previous Dalai ...

Based on the 1881 novel by Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1996) is a British-American film directed by Jane Campion and adapted by Laura Jones. Isabel Archer, a striking woman, has turned down multiple potential suitors including Lord Warburton and Caspar Goodwood, whom she had initially given hope to. Her close friend Henrietta arranges for Caspar’s visit, as she deeply cares for Isabel. Isabel’s fierce personality and independent nature are admired by her cousin Ralph Touchett, who convinces his father ...

Directed by Michael Hoffman with a screenplay by Rupert Walters, Restoration (1995) is a historical drama adapted from Rose Tremain’s namesake novel published in 1989. Robert Merivel, a young doctor, enters into the service of King Charles II of England after rescuing his beloved spaniel. Initially consumed by indulgent behavior and popularity at court, Merivel’s lifestyle takes an unexpected turn when he is forced to marry Celia, a royal mistress who has fallen out of favor. The purpose of this orchestrated ...

The erotic historical drama film Total Eclipse (1995), directed by Agnieszka Holland, is based on Christopher Hampton’s 1967 play. In a Paris café, Paul Verlaine meets Isabelle, the sister of Arthur Rimbaud. Isabelle and her mother ask Verlaine to give them any remaining copies of Rimbaud’s poems so they can burn them. Verlaine reflects on his relationship with Rimbaud, which began when the young poet sent his work to Verlaine from his home in the provinces in 1871. Impulsively, Verlaine invited him to his wealthy father-in-law’s home in Paris where he ...

Braveheart (1995) is an epic historical drama set in late-13th century Scotland. Directed and produced by Mel Gibson, the film follows Sir William Wallace, a brave Scottish warrior who leads his people in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. After the Scots’ king dies without an heir, Edward I, also known as ‘Longshanks’, conquers Scotland in 1280. Witnessing the brutal execution of several Scottish nobles by Longshanks, young William Wallace loses both his father and brother when they resist the English. He then goes to live with his uncle, Argyll. As years pass, ...

Royal Deceit (1994) is a drama adventure film co-written and directed by Gabriel Axel. Prince Amled witnesses the murders of his father, King Hardvendel of the Danes, and brother, leading him to enter a semi-catatonic state. This saves him from being killed like his family members by Fenge (the king’s brother) and his henchmen. The king and prince’s bodies are brought back to Amled’s distraught mother, Geruth, at their castle. Fenge claims he arrived after the murders and offers support to Geruth as she mourns her loss. He is eventually crowned king and declares Geruth as queen. During the funeral ...

The American historical comedy-drama film, Princess Caraboo (1994), tells the story of a woman who deceives Regency England by posing as an exotic princess speaking an unknown language. Directed and written by Michael Austin and John Wells respectively, the movie is based on a true 19th-century character. When she is discovered in the fields, dressed extravagantly and speaking unintelligibly, the Worrall family takes her in. However, their Greek butler Frixos immediately suspects her to be a fraud. While Mr. Worrall sends her to face charges of vagrancy, Mrs. Worrall ...

The film, Little Buddha (1993), was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and written by Rudy Wurlitzer and Mark Peploe. It follows a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks from Rinpung Dzong monastery in Bhutan who are on a search for a child believed to be the reincarnation of their revered teacher, Lama Dorje. Led by Lama Norbu, the monks believe they have found their candidate: Jesse Conrad, an American boy living in Seattle with his architect father and teacher mother. Eager to meet him, the monks travel to Seattle where Jesse ...

The romantic comedy film, Much Ado About Nothing (1993), is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. After quashing an uprising led by his half-brother Don John, Don Pedro of Aragon and his comrades pay a visit to their friend Leonato in Messina. Accompanying Don Pedro is Benedick, a quick-witted man who has a history with Leonato’s clever niece, Beatrice. Claudio, a young count and friend of Benedick’s, also joins them. Despite his previous rebellion, Don John seems to have reconciled with his brother. Claudio has been enamored with Hero, Leonato’s daughter, since before he ...

The Age of Innocence (1993), an American historical romantic drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, is an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s 1920 novel. Set in 1870s New York City, it follows the story of gentleman lawyer Newland Archer, who is engaged to the respectable young May Welland. May’s cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, has returned to the city after a disastrous marriage to a dissolute Polish Count. Though initially ostracized and subjected to vicious rumors, the countess is eventually embraced by New York’s elite families thanks to May’s ...

The film 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Roselyne Bosch, tells the story of Christopher Columbus’s quest to sail westward to Asia. Despite knowing that the world is round, Columbus faces challenges in securing a crew and ship for his journey. The Catholic theologians at the University of Salamanca strongly oppose his plan, as it goes against the teachings of Ptolemy. However, Columbus finds support from Martín Pinzón, a shipowner from Palos, who introduces him to banker Santángel. In exchange for bringing back ...

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) is an American action adventure film based on the timeless English folk tale from the 12th century. The film’s director, Kevin Reynolds, sets the story in 1194, where we meet our protagonist Robin of Locksley, a nobleman who had been imprisoned in Jerusalem for years after following King Richard on the Third Crusade. Along with his companion Peter Dubois, they manage to escape with the help of a fellow prisoner named Azeem, whom they save from mortal danger. Before passing away from his injuries, Peter makes Robin promise to protect his sister Marian. With Azeem by his side ...

The French film All The Mornings of the World (1991) is an adaptation of Pascal Quignard’s book of the same name. It tells the story of aging court composer Marin Marais, who reflects on his former master, Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe – an unmatched viol player and strict Jansenist. Following his wife’s death, Sainte-Colombe finds solace in his music, raising his two daughters on his own and teaching them to play instruments. They form a consort and perform for nobles in their local area. Eventually, word of Sainte-Colombe’s talent reaches King Louis XIV and an envoy named Caignet is sent to ...

The drama film Hamlet (1990), directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is an adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy. After the death of his father, the King, Hamlet returns to Denmark where he discovers that his mother Gertrude has married his uncle Claudius, who is now the new King. Both Gertrude and Claudius encourage Hamlet to marry Ophelia, but soon he is visited by the ghost of his father. The ghost reveals that he was murdered by Claudius and Gertrude, leaving Hamlet with a difficult decision between passively accepting his fate or seeking revenge, which could have tragic ...

Kenneth Branagh’s directorial debut, Henry V (1989), is a British historical drama film adapted from William Shakespeare’s famous play. The opening scene features Chorus, portrayed as a modern person, walking through an empty film studio and setting the stage for the main action to unfold. Throughout the film, Chorus makes multiple appearances to guide and enhance the storytelling. The act divisions in the film follow the structure of Shakespeare’s original play.

Glory (1989) is a historical war drama film by Edward Zwick that follows the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Captain Robert Gould Shaw, having been injured at Antietam, returns to Boston on medical leave with the help of his influential father. Shaw is later promoted to colonel and given command of the 54th regiment, with his friend Cabot Forbes as his second-in-command. The initial recruit for their unit is Thomas Searles, an intelligent African-American who previously worked as a secretary for the Shaw family. ...

Dangerous Liaisons (1988) is an American romantic drama film set in pre-Revolution Paris. Directed by Stephen Frears and written by Christopher Hampton, it is based on Hampton’s play Les liaisons dangereuses, which was adapted from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 French novel of the same name. The story revolves around the Marquise de Merteuil seeking revenge on her ex-lover, the Comte de Bastide, who ended their relationship. In order to embarrass ...

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), an epic religious drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader with contributions from Scorsese and Jay Cocks, is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ controversial 1955 novel of the same name. The film depicts Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter living in the Roman client state of Judea, struggling with conflicting desires and his understanding of God’s plan for him. ...

The Mission (1986) is a British historical drama directed by Roland Joffé and written by Robert Bolt. It follows the journey of Jesuit priest Father Gabriel as he travels to the eastern Paraguayan jungle in the 1750s to convert the native Guaraní people to Christianity. While attempting to make contact with them, another priest is tragically thrown off Iguazu Falls. Father Gabriel then ventures to the falls himself, playing his oboe in hopes of reaching out to the Guaraní. However, one of the natives breaks his instrument in half. Despite this, Father Gabriel remains ...

Fort Saganne (1984) is a French war film directed by Alain Corneau and starring Gérard Depardieu. Set in 1911, it follows the story of Charles Saganne, a determined man from peasant stock who enthusiastically enlists in the military. Assigned to the Sahara Desert under Colonel Dubreuilh, Saganne catches the eye of Madeleine, daughter of the regional administrator. As he earns the admiration of Arab warrior Amajan, Saganne also embarks on a passionate affair with a journalist while on a diplomatic mission to Paris. However, his focus ultimately returns to Africa where he ...