ARTE Distribution

Here in Uncle Sam's homeland, the Church makes movies! Welcome to Godlywood, a 100% Christian film industry that preaches God's word to put America back on the right track.

Mega-church screenings, thinly disguised propaganda and, above all, ultra-profitable productions. That's all it takes to attract the attention of the Hollywood majors, who are eager to get their share. Is American cinema out to evangelize us all? Following the story of a young Christian director's first film, this documentary sheds light on the meeting of two giants of "soft power", between mutual taming and conquest, attraction and mistrust, tensions, and retreats.

Micro- and nano-plastics are everywhere. However, what we don't know is that scientists have found some of them lodged in our vital organs: liver, lungs, intestines, placenta... The list goes on and on. Is this colonization harmful? Is Homo Sapiens becoming Homo Plasticus? 

Plastic is an elusive enemy: it disguises itself; it hides, it makes itself tiny, right down to the micro or even nano scale. Between in vitro and in vivo studies, and the development of research on human populations, scientists are exploring new leads to understand the effects of micro-plastics on our health. Disruption of the microbiota, saturation of the immune system, inflammation of the lungs and intestines, DNA damage and a risk factor for cancer - the scenario unfolding before the eyes of researchers points to a major public health issue. This unprecedented investigation takes us all over Europe to better understand how plastics colonize our bodies and how they could alter them. 

Ukraine is a land of trains, with an extensive railway network inherited from the Soviet Union. Today, trains are one of the most important symbols in war-torn Ukraine, which has resolutely turned away from the Russian world to align itself with Europe.

Through this documentary journey in Ukraine, war unfolds beyond the train windows, carrying passengers, goods, and the nation's wealth, such as coal. Each passenger carries the scars of conflict, offering intimate tales of heartbreaking farewells, heartwarming reunions, and moments outside of time during long train journeys, day and night. This documentary captures the daily reality of Ukrainians' everyday lives, who are marked by war but carry hope as they forge ahead into an uncertain future.
 
Emmanuel Carrère is a famous French author, screenwriter and film director (Between Two Worlds, 2021).

Trance states, utilized for healing for centuries, now intrigue scientists. Whether induced by psychedelics or other methods, trances offer access to expanded consciousness and potential healing for psychiatric disorders like depression, addiction, or PTSD. Exploring these states illuminates the intricacies of the human mind.

From France to England, from Germany to Belgium, all the way to Brazil and the USA, here's Cécile Denjean's new science investigation (The Gut, Our Second Brain).

Dead at the age of 24 after starring in only three films, James Dean remains the icon par excellence, whose influence endures 70 years after he passed away. More than just a face and an attitude, he transformed the perception of masculinity, embracing his flaws, his doubts, his fragility, his loves, forging himself into an anti-hero. His life continues to inspire, making him a timeless legend and a paragon of freedom. 

Through his distinctive personality and the three films he starred in, Elia Kazan's East of Eden (1955), Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Georges Stevens' Giant (1956), James Dean created breaches in Hollywood rigidities, and helped reinvent masculinity in a more flexible way. His screen presence, marked by vulnerability and rebellion against classic masculine norms, introduced a less rigid male model. Dean, a modern man of many facets (he was openly bisexual), challenged conventional portrayals of manhood, becoming an icon of sensitivity and complexity. His unique contribution has had a lasting influence on the perception of masculinity, establishing a new ideal of the emotional, conflicted man, far removed from the unfailing heroes of yesterday. 

Glenn Close, who is famous for her roles as iconic atypical women such as Cruella in 101 Dalmatians, is an active feminist. She inspires both through her performances and her convictions, prompting us to reflect on the role of women in cinema and society.

Here is the portrait of a woman who embodies neither Hollywood's beauty standards nor its sugar-coated immaculateness. It is the portrait of an actress who plays women fighting for equality, both in their vulnerability and in their ability to rise again. What personal experiences has this woman gone through to bring such authenticity to the screen? How does the actress who, as she puts it, is “made of bits and pieces” draw her strength from her unique capacity for transformation? How does she manage to combine creation and conviction? How does she manage to speak to all generations of women, from my own, born at the end of the last century, all the way to the #MeToo generation?

As the heiress to one of cinema's greatest couple (Vincente Minnelli & Judy Garland), she followed the “golden path". After winning an Academy Award for her memorable performance in Cabaret, she became one of Hollywood's most beloved and much-maligned living icons.

From a very early age, Liza Minnelli was exposed to the fascinating and legendary world of musical comedy, and though she was barely out of the cradle, she started singing, dancing, and acting. From her Oscar-winning performance in Cabaret to electrifying stage presence, the documentary explores her rise amidst the shadows of her legendary parents, Judy Garland, and Vincente Minnelli. Through archival footage and intimate interviews, it reveals her triumphs, struggles with addiction, and resilient spirit. Despite personal setbacks, Liza's talent and determination shine, inspiring audiences worldwide. With poignant insights and memorable moments, the film celebrates Liza's enduring legacy as an entertainment powerhouse and beacon of strength in the face of adversity.

From 1946 to 1970, two fairy tales meet and answer each other. The one of the Czechoslovak New Wave, which participates in the thaw of its country, and of writer Jan Procházka, whose voice mingles with the Prague Spring.

The Czechoslovak New Wave was born in the early 1960s. It would invent a poetic and critical cinema, reveal great filmmakers (Věra Chytilová, Jan Němec, Jiří Menzel, Miloš Forman…) and claim freedom well beyond the country’s borders. Meanwhile, Jan Procházka, a young communist writer, became in no time scriptwriter and producer of films. His ascension merged with the New Wave dynamics, which changed his artistic destiny. This film recounts how this man and this cinematic movement each tried to speak out.