Sony Pictures Classics (Firm)

Das Leben der Anderen = The lives of others by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck( Visual )

9 editions published between 2006 and 2007 in German and held by 1,992 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

This critically-acclaimed, Oscar-winning film (Best Foreign Language Film, 2006) is the erotic, emotionally-charged experience Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) calls "a nail-biter of a thriller!" Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's population was closely monitored by the State Secret Police (Stasi). Only a few citizens above suspicion, like renowned pro-Socialist playwright Georg Dreyman, were permitted to lead private lives. But when a corrupt government official falls for Georg's stunning actress-girlfriend, Christa, an ambitious Stasi policeman is ordered to bug the writer's apartment to gain incriminating evidence against the rival. Now, what the officer discovers is about to dramatically change their lives - as well as his - in this seductive political thriller Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) proclaims is "the best kind of movie: one you can't get out of your head."

Volver by Pedro Almodóvar( Visual )

6 editions published between 2006 and 2012 in Spanish and English and held by 1,917 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The central focus in Volver is a family of women: mother and grandmother Irene, her daughters Raimunda and Sole, and Raimunda's 14-year-old daughter Paula. Irene is dead: She died with the girls' father in a fire many years ago in their birth village in La Mancha. Raimunda lives in Madrid with Paula and her shiftless husband, who is malevolent, irrelevant, or absent. Separated Sole runs an unlicensed beauty parlor in her apartment. Their old aunt, Paula, still lives in the village and speaks about her sister Irene as if she were still alive. When the aunt dies, some things change, many things return, and Raimunda's troubles become extremely complicated. She bustles through them with passionate determination, a hard-working woman pulled in fifty directions, making a life for her family, reveling in every emotion but self-pity

An Education by Lone Scherfig( Visual )

14 editions published between 2009 and 2014 in English and held by 1,862 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

In the early 1960's, 16-year-old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in a London suburb. She is smart, pretty, and working toward her goal of being accepted into Oxford. Her life will take a big turn when she meets David, a man twice her age. Now she must decide if she will pursue an education at Oxford, or if she will choose to learn all that a charismatic, older man can teach her

The Fog of War : Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara by Errol Morris( Visual )

10 editions published between 2003 and 2013 in English and held by 1,783 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The story of American politics and military policies as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense, under President Kennedy and President Johnson, Robert S. McNamara. McNamara is a controversial and influential political figure. He offers a candid journey through some of the most seminal events in contemporary American history. He offers insights into the 1945 fire bombing of Tokyo, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the effects of the Vietnam War

Searching for Sugar Man by Malik Bendjelloul( Visual )

6 editions published between 2012 and 2013 in English and held by 1,771 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

In the early 1970s, Sixto Rodriguez was a Detroit folksinger who had a short-lived recording career. Unknown to him, his musical story continued in South Africa where he became a pop music icon. Long rumored there to be dead, a few fans in the 90s decided to seek out the truth of his fate. What follows is a heartening story in which they found far more in their quest than they ever hoped, while a Detroit construction laborer discovered that his lost artistic dreams came true after all

Call me by your name by Luca Guadagnino( Visual )

9 editions published between 2017 and 2018 in English and held by 1,771 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

It's the summer of 1983 in Italy, and Elio, a precocious 17-year-old, spends his days in his family's villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading and flirting with his friend Marzia. One day, Oliver, a charming American scholar arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio's father, an eminent professor. Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever

Rachel getting married by Jonathan Demme( Visual )

15 editions published between 2008 and 2009 in 3 languages and held by 1,757 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Kym is a former model. Kym is in rehab. Kym's family is well healed but extremely dysfunctional. Kym is responsible for a horrible tragedy that no one will talk about. Her sister, Rachel, is about to be married, and Kym is granted a leave to attend. Kym wants desperately to fit in, to be a normal person, but she doesn't know how. In her slouchy dark clothes, with a choppy, angular haircut, she seems programmed to shut everyone out. Kym, as a participating member of the wedding, finally comes to understand that giving up a certain amount of control in the interest of a mutual good is a fair definition of the state of marriage, and sometimes, you have to take the risk and see what happens, for better or for worse

William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare( Visual )

3 editions published in 2005 in English and held by 1,720 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"Antonio, a successful but cash-poor merchant, approaches Shylock, a wealthy moneylender, for a loan to help his young friend Bassanio woo the fair Portia. Despite being longtime enemies, Shylock grants the request, but demands one pound of Antonio's flesh if the debt is not repaid on time. When Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock seeks what is legally owed him but soon learns that those to whom evil is done, do evil in return"--Container

The lady in the van by Nicholas Hytner( Visual )

8 editions published in 2016 in English and French and held by 1,687 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The film tells the true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who "temporarily" parked her van in Bennett's London driveway and proceeded to live there for fifteen years

Shi mian mai fu = House of Flying Daggers by Yimou Zhang( Visual )

16 editions published between 2004 and 2007 in 3 languages and held by 1,681 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"China 859 A.D. The once-mighty Tang dynasty is in decline. The emperor is weak and incompetent. His corrupt government no longer controls the land. Unrest sweeps the country. Village by village, an underground alliance forms: The House of Flying Daggers. Based near the imperial capital the House of Flying Daggers moves in the shadows. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor, they earn the support of the people. At the same time, they are feared and hated, by their bitter rivals, the local deputies."--Title screens. Local captains Leo and Jin set out to investigate a blind young dancer named Mei, who is believed to have ties to the Flying Daggers. Leo arrests Mei, only to have Jin break her out in a plot to gain her trust and lead the police to the new leader of the secret organization. Things are, however, far more complicated than they seem