Criterion Dungeon | Your guide to Boutique Labels

London-based film distributor HB FILMS and leading UK independent film production house Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME) have joined forces to release a slate of F&ME’s co-productions as well as third party acquisitions from their European and US production partners

HBF001

An Oscar nominated foreign language film set in London and the Balkans highlighting the human tragedy involved in civil war. The film was the debut feature of Milcho Manchevski, who was better known for working on pop promo videos.

Street date: 3/23/2009

UPC: 5060103791651

Catalog: HBF001

HBF002

Israeli comedy drama starring Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe as James, a black South African who decides to go on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem. However, when he arrives in Israel, the authorities suspect him of trying to infiltrate the country in order to work illegally and put him in prison. Languishing in his cell awaiting deportation, James sees everything as a test of his faith. His prayers are seemingly answered when his release is secured by illegal immigrant employer Shimi (Salim Dau). For James, this is a sign from God - but in reality the test of his faith has only just begun.

Street date: 7/6/2009

UPC: 5060103791668

Catalog: HBF002

HBF003

HBF004

In mid-30s Tokyo, a hotel maid discovers the corpse of a middle-age man in one of the rooms. One week later, a woman is arrested on suspicion of murder. The most persuasive piece of evidence lies in the dismembered penis found on her person, chopped off her victim's body. This real-life story was also dramatized by Nagasi Oshima as 'Empire of the Senses'.

Street date: 7/6/2009

UPC: 5060103791682

Catalog: HBF004

HBF005

Chusei Sone's version of a classic horror tale, rendered in the Nikkatsu 'romantic porno' style typical of Japanese filmmaking in the early 1970s. A young man becomes obsessed with an alluring and mysterious woman, only to discover that she is actually from the spirit world. An unusual union between them eventually takes place as the ghost enacts a possession of her earthly suitor.

Street date: 7/6/2009

UPC: 5060103791699

Catalog: HBF005

HBF006

Lurid tale of the Tokyo underworld from the great Japanese studio director Seijun Suzuki ('Branded to Kill', 'Tokyo Drifter'). After the end of WWII, a gang of prostitutes make their base in an abandoned building and take a vow to punish anyone who gives away sex for free. But when a handsome thief takes refuge in their home, the women find their dedication to the vow severely tested and begin whipping each other up into a hellcat frenzy which can only end in tragedy.

Street date: 8/10/2009

UPC: 5060103791705

Catalog: HBF006

HBF007

Japanese psychological horror from director Noboru Tanaka. In 1923 Tokyo, the landlord of a downmarket boarding house is obsessed with spying on his guests. One night he sees a prostitute brutally murdering her client, and instead of handing her over to the police, he decides that he has found his soulmate.

Street date: 8/10/2009

UPC: 5060103791712

Catalog: HBF007

HBF008

In 1950s Tokyo, the authorities have decreed that the city's brothels are to be closed down. Tatsumi Kumashiro's 'romantic porno' chronicles the activities of the prostitutes in one such establishment, on the day before the law comes into effect.

Street date: 9/7/2009

UPC: 5060103791729

Catalog: HBF008

HBF009

Shot in Mozambique, but set in an unnamed city, the film depicts the life of an orphan boy, Nelio, whose parents were killed by guerrillas. He escapes to the city and finds magic there and is soon rumoured to possess healing powers, in this violent, yet mythic coming -of-age story. Based on a novel by the popular Swedish writer Henning Mankell.

Street date: 9/7/2009

UPC: 5060103791736

Catalog: HBF009

HBF010

This is a story within a story. Young Muidinga is desperate to find the family he lost while his country was in civil war. He finds a diary that recounts the story of a woman on a ship who is searching for her son. Muidinga, convinced that he is her son, decides to try to find her with the help of wise guardian Tuahirn who he meets on his journey.

Street date: 9/21/2009

UPC: 5060103791743

Catalog: HBF010

HBF011

Psychological thriller about a brother's search for the truth behind his sister's death. Danish Journalist Jacob (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is slowly coming to terms with his sister Julie (Lotte Bergstrom)'s suicide attempt. Now disabled and wheelchair-bound, Julie has developed a relationship with an internet friend, Ankar (Nicolas Bro), and, amidst doubts from Jacob, announces her intention to marry him. Tragedy strikes on their wedding night, however, when Julie is found dead in the bath of their hotel room, apparently having committed suicide. Months later, still consumed by doubts, Jacob finally tracks Anker down to the village of Murk, an isolated, rural community. Here he is shocked to learn that Ankar is soon to wed again. Not only that, but his future bride, Hanne (Laerke Winther Andersen), is a disabled woman. Frantically trying to alert Hanne's unbelieving sister Sonya (Anne Sophie Byder) to the danger, and with the local community closing ranks, Jacob tries to uncover the truth before it's too late.

Street date: 9/21/2009

UPC: 5060103791750

Catalog: HBF011

HBF012

Please help us with information if you know the title and other relevant information.

Street date:

UPC:

Catalog: HBF012

HBF013

Documents the underground Los Angeles lifestyle known as “Freestyle Dance”. It reveals the styles and living legends behind this evolving Hip-Hop phenomenon.

Street date: 12/7/2009

UPC: 5060103791774

Catalog: HBF013

HBF014

Russian adaptation of the popular fairy tale. Nastenka (Natalya Sedykh) is treated like a slave by her evil stepmother, who sends her out into the forest to freeze to death. Before he can find Nastenka, her lover Ivan (Eduard Izotov) is turned into a bear by an evil warlock. Their only hope is the good wizard, Jack Frost (Aleksandr Khvyla), who lives deep in the wintry forest and might just be able to help them.

Street date: 10/19/2009

UPC: 5060103791781

Catalog: HBF014

HBF015

A band of travellers is stranded in a small Transylvanian village when their bus breaks down. As time passes, they note a variety of strange occurences, and are mystified by the presence of the enigmatic and beautiful countess.

Street date: 10/19/2009

UPC: 5060103791798

Catalog: HBF015

HBF016

Low-budget Spanish sci-fi thriller, set in a dystopian future world where gangs of depraved sadists roam the streets, forcing honest citizens to stay behind locked doors. The government tries to fight back by conducting sinister mind-control experiments, but as the violence rages, a mysterious nurse appears and seems to offer salvation to those condemned to die.

Street date: 12/7/2009

UPC: 5060103791897

Catalog: HBF016

HBF017

This cult feature tells of an alternative Japan, where modern technology and ancient myth have evolved side by side. A band of renegades discovers the key to Zipang, the land of Gold. They enter this magical world, but are pursued by a beautiful bounty hunter who is determined to capture their handsome leader Jigoku. Much sword-fighting ensues.

Street date: 1/25/2010

UPC: 5060103791903

Catalog: HBF017

HBF018

Erotic mystery drama, directed by Walerian Borowczyk. When Hugo (Mathieu Carriere) meets enigmatic prostitute Myriam (Marina Pierro) on the Paris Metro, he finds himself becoming increasingly obsessed with her. Following her back to her flat, Hugo sleeps with her, but finds that his obsession has grown until Myriam seems to have total control over him, body and soul.

Street date: 1/25/2010

UPC: 5060103791927

Catalog: HBF018

HBF019

When Triana, a wild gypsy orphan, comes to stay with the beautiful but lonely Lorna, the pair of them soon embark upon a passionate affair. But Triana has many secrets and is plagued by dark fantasies (expressed in a series of shockingly surreal dream sequences) which cause the relationship to develop in a bizarre and unpredictable fashion. Directed by Jose Ramon Larraz, the man behind the cult classic 'Vampyres'.

Street date: 1/11/2010

UPC: 5060103791934

Catalog: HBF019

HBF020

Russian version of the classic adventure tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. Aare Laanemets stars as Jim, the dashing young daydreamer who chances upon an old sea chart showing the location of a cache of lost treasure buried on an island by the notorious Captain Flint. Jim and his cohorts venture on a dangerous sea bound journey to find these ill-gotten gains - but are in for a shock as it transpires that amongst the crew are Long John Silver (Boris Andreyev) and other former members of Flint's gang.

Street date: 1/11/2010

UPC: 5060103791941

Catalog: HBF020

HBF021

Russian adaptation of the classic Arabian legend. Aladdin must use his magic lamp to save himself after he falls in love with a beautiful princess, when the punishment for looking upon her is death. At the same time, an evil wizard has learned of Aladdin's powers, and seeks the lamp for himself.

Street date: 12/7/2009

UPC: 5060103791958

Catalog: HBF021