Décadence x

"Eugenie" is further proof that Jess Franco, despite most of his films being absolute crap, had some legitimate talent as a director and was an auteur. Many of Franco's running themes (sado-masochism, the blurring of fantasy and reality, and escape) are in full-blow in this modernization of Marquis De Sade. Its an admittedly sadistic film at moments and just drenches of Franco's typical euro-sleaze decadence, but its also surprisingly classy and has a lot more depth than Franco's typical style-over-substance mindset allows. For me, it ranks with "The Diabolical Dr. Z" and "Vampiros Lesbos" as the man's finest work. His direction is really impressive this time around. Despite a few out-of-focus shots, there are lush moments of beautiful photography. Also, he keeps it moving at a much quicker pace than he is often known for.

A congressional committee visits occupied Berlin to investigate G.I. morals. Congresswoman Phoebe Frost, appalled at widespread evidence of human frailty, hears rumors that cafe singer Erika, former mistress of a wanted war criminal, is "protected" by an American officer, and enlists Captain John Pringle to help her find him…not knowing that Pringle is Erika's lover.

Following his sumptuous series on Venice, Francesco da Mosto celebrates the art and beauty of Italy - its cathedrals, churches, palaces, opera houses, paintings, sculpture and music. It is a story of the Italy we all know and love, enhanced by a look at the secret side of the country that only an insider can show us. Da Mosta reveals the full glories of Renaissance Italy and the country's astonishing cultural diversity, which was only recently unified under one flag.

Author and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore presents a three-part series uncovering the central role played by religion in creating and maintaining the power of the city of Rome.

Unique documentary series of 3 programmes produced by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) that separately profile the spontaneous growth, flowering and decay of Paris, Berlin and Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s.
In the period between the first and second world wars, Berlin, Paris and Shanghai were notorious hot spots of sin and vice. Debauchery, brutality and corruption commingled with art, culture and political liberties. Tolerance and freedom were pushed to their limits.

If you thought you knew the ancient world, think again. Terry Jones brings the everyday details of the ancient Romans, bizarre, hilarious, or shocking, to life in this entertaining and informative programme. Rome was famed for the decadence of its ruling class, however, what about the ordinary citizens of these ancient cultures? How did they lead their day to day lives in an age when the average life expectancy was little more than forty? Did they believe in the Pagan Gods? What were their sex lives like? What did they do for entertainment? Indeed most Roman citizens didn't live in marble villas with mosaic floors and central heating, it's just that the buildings of the rich are all that remain. How ordinary Romans lived is, for the most part, unrecorded. Theirs is the hidden history of Rome. This programme is packed full of surprising and entertaining little-known facts that throw new light on our understanding of the Romans.

Following his sumptuous series on Venice, Francesco da Mosto celebrates the art and beauty of Italy - its cathedrals, churches, palaces, opera houses, paintings, sculpture and music. It is a story of the Italy we all know and love, enhanced by a look at the secret side of the country that only an insider can show us. Da Mosta reveals the full glories of Renaissance Italy and the country's astonishing cultural diversity, which was only recently unified under one flag.

A wealthy real estate developer takes a young woman from an everyday mundane life and shows her a world of decadence and debauchery that pushes her sexual limits to the brink.

Historian Dan Cruickshank is invited through the closed doors of six of Britain’s greatest private houses in an illuminating and surprising journey through our architectural history. hese fascinating buildings remain private homes and closed to the public, but their owners have allowed Dan Cruickshank to roam the corridors, tease out each home’s story – who built them, lived in them and lost them – and uncover tales of excess and profligacy, power and ambition.