The Small Back Room

Go for Broke!

May 1951 •English

A tribute to the U.S. 442nd Regimental Combat Team, formed in 1943 by Presidential permission with Japanese-American volunteers. We follow the training of a platoon under the rueful command of Lt. Mike Grayson who shares common prejudices of the time. The 442nd serve in Italy, then France, distinguishing themselves in skirmishes and battles; gradually and naturally, Grayson's prejudices evaporate with dawning realization that his men are better soldiers than he is.

For the Moment

October 1993 •English

This Canadian film presents and old-fashioned war time romance. It is set during 1942 in Manitoba and traces the doomed affair between a young farmer's wife (Christianne Hirt) whose husband is fighting abroad and a dashing Australian pilot (Russell Crowe). The pilot has come to train in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of Canada. When the pilot, Lachlan, is not training, he is surreptitiously wooing Lill, the farmer's wife. At the other end of town, Betsy (Wanda Cannon) who supports her two kids by bootlegging, charges for her services. She gets involved with Zeek (Scott Kraft), an American flight instructor.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

October 1960 •English

A 22-year-old factory worker lets loose on the weekends: drinking, brawling, and dating two women, one of whom is older and married.

The Frogs

October 1985 •Turkish

In the half-light of dawn, Halil falls down dead, murdered. His wife, Elmas, cries for justice, but, in fact, there will be no investigation. Life goes on for Elmas: during the day she works in the rice paddies with her little boy and, at night, she goes to catch frogs with the other villagers.

A Wreath of Sonnets

September 1977 •Russian

A story of two boys who obstinately, in spite of everything and everyone run to the front when the war was almost over.

Krásna neznáma

January 1976 •Slovak

Sto hodín do zatmenia

January 1979 •Slovak

Wunderland

February 2018 •English

Christmas 1944, The Germans make one final push against the attacking allied armies in the West. Lt. Robert Cappa and his platoon of 2nd Infantry Division soldiers have been ordered to hold a vital road junction against the German aggressors. Cappa and his men must find their faith and strength to stand against their enemy in the epic fight know as "The Battle of The Bulge."

Tawny Pipit

April 1944 •English

Jimmy Bancroft, a fighter pilot, who is recovering from injuries sustained during the Battle of Britain, and Hazel Court, a nurse, come across a pair of rare birds nestling in a field. After a run in with the army, and a couple of thieves, they, with the cooperation of the village people and the Ornithology Society, help the eggs to hatch. A wonderful look at life in a small village, during World War II.

The Mask of Diijon

March 1946 •English

A stage illusionist plots a revenge after a particularly humiliating comeback attempt.

Halls of Montezuma

January 1951 •English

Richard Widmark leads an all star cast of marine leathernecks including Jack Palance, Robert Wagner, Karl Malden, Richard Boone and Jack Webb into battle on a heavily fortified island. This action-packed story follows the squad as they pick their way through enemy-infested jungles on a time sensitive mission to find the source of the enemy rockets. As the mission progresses, the squad and leader overcome many challenges as they are transformed into an effective and efficient fighting unit.

Goebbels and the Führer

July 2024 •German

As Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels creates films and pictures used to prepare the Germans for Total War and the Holocaust. When the war is lost, he conceives his last staging, the most radical propaganda act still possible to him.

All That’s Left of You

September 2025 •Arabic

After a Palestinian teen confronts Israeli soldiers at a West Bank protest, his mother recounts the series of events that led him to that fateful moment, starting with his grandfather’s forced displacement.

Mediterraneo

February 1991 •Italian

Greek Sea, World War II. An Italian ship leaves a handful of soldiers in a little island; their mission is to spot enemy ships and to hold the island in case of attack. The village of the island seems abandoned and there isn't a single enemy in sight, so the soldiers begin to relax a little. Things change when their ship is hit and destroyed by the enemy, and the soldiers find themselves abandoned there.

Educating Rita

June 1983 •English

Rita, a witty 26-year-old hairdresser, wants to 'discover' herself, so she joins the Open University where she meets the disillusioned professor of literature, Dr. Frank Bryant. His marriage has failed, his new girlfriend is having an affair with his best friend and he can't get through the day without downing a bottle or two of whisky. What Frank needs is a challenge... and along comes Rita.

Firelight

May 1998 •English

In 1838, lovely governess Elisabeth agrees to bear a child of anonymous English landowner, and he will in return pay her father's debt. At birth she, as agreed, gives up the child. Seven years later she is hired as governess to a girl on a remote Sussex estate. The father of the girl, Charles Godwin, turns out to be that anonymous landowner. So Elisabeth has to be her own daughter's governess, and she can't reveal the secret of her tie with little Louisa.

Monsieur Hire

May 1989 •French

A French man spies on a lovely younger woman across the way. When he's spotted by the woman shortly after being questioned by the police about a local murder, the man's simple life becomes more complicated.

The Grounds

April 2018 •English

Alcoholic loser Calvin keeps getting fired as a grounds-keeper, but is given one last chance by the assistant to a reclusive millionaire, Jack. Drunk, homeless, and sleeping in the bushes, Calvin gets the job and manages to interrupt Jack’s attempting suicide! As the two become fast friends they decide to live out their days in a haze of weed, booze and women. What could possibly go wrong?

Hodina úsvitu

April 1975 •Slovak

Musical Utena ~ Bud of the White Rose

March 2018 •Japanese

The 2018 Revolutionary Girl Utena musical, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, ran from March 8-18th at CBGK! Theater in Shibuya, Tokyo.