Illuminated Lives: A Brief History of Women's Work in the Middle Ages
★ 10 · 1989 · 5m · History · Animation · Documentary
This animated short challenges enduring myths, spawned by fairy tales and romances, about women in medieval society. It explores the differences and similarities between that distant period and our own, and shows what medieval women’s lives were really like.
More Like This

Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color
2021 · ★ 10
Alma W. Thomas lived a life of firsts: the first Fine Arts graduate of Howard University (1924), the first Black woman to mount a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art (1972), and the first Black woman to have her paintings exhibited in the White House (2009). Yet she did not receive national attention until she was 80.
More info →
The Warrior
2001 · ★ 7
In 1375, China was in chaos between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Coryo (an ancient kingdom of Korea then) sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave to make peace with the new Chinese government. However, this delegation got charged as spies and sent in exile to a remote desert.
More info →
Andrei Rublev
1966 · ★ 7.9
An expansive Russian drama, this film focuses on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Drifting from place to place in a tumultuous era, the peace-seeking monk eventually gains a reputation for his art. But after Rublev witnesses a brutal battle and unintentionally becomes involved, he takes a vow of silence and spends time away from his work. As he begins to ease his troubled soul, he takes steps towards becoming a painter once again.
More info →
Finding Forrester
2000 · ★ 7.1
Gus Van Sant tells the story of a young African American man named Jamal who confronts his talents while living on the streets of the Bronx. He accidentally runs into an old writer named Forrester who discovers his passion for writing. With help from his new mentor Jamal receives a scholarship to a private school.
More info →
Pesta
2022
Contemporary tale of young forbidden love, inspired by Norwegian folklore and medieval gore. Set in Norway during The Black Death, the film turns on the pious noble girl Astrid (18) who falls in love with the pagan outlaw Eilev (18), whose blood is believed to hold a cure for the deadly disease. When Eilev is captured, Astrid faces a devastating dilemma: lose him or become the monster she fears most - Pesta - the plague itself.
More info →
Railway Station
1980 · ★ 4.7
Warsaw's Central Railway Station. 'Someone has fallen asleep, someone's waiting for somebody else. Maybe they'll come, maybe they won't. The film is about people looking for something.
More info →
Another Sunny Day
2017
Imagine how life must be for someone whose skin has no protection whatsoever from the sun. And now imagine living in a country that averages over 80% sunshine during any given year. Welcome to Paulus's life in Namibia.
More info →Crusade in Jeans
2006 · ★ 5.9
Dolf a 15 year old boy is sent back in time by a timemachine. Accidentally he is sent back to the Middle Ages. He is rescued by children who are part of a childrens' crusade, on their way to rescue Jeruzalem. During the trip Dolf finds out the danger is not coming from outside the crusade, but from within.
More info →
Anno Domini 1573
1975 · ★ 6.3
Europe in second half of 16th century was very rough place to live. Peasants of Slovenia and Croatia had even rougher times because of the constant threat of Turk raids and being taxed to death in order to provide defence against the Turks. But, the worst things were arrogant local feudal lords led by Franjo Tahi who were oppresing the common folk. All that led to the great peasant revolt of 1573. The movie is made for the 400th anniversary of the event.
More info →
The Builders of the Alhambra
2022 · ★ 7.1
Kingdom of Granada, al-Andalus, 14th century. After recognizing that his land, always under siege, is hopelessly doomed to be conquered, Sultan Yusuf I undertakes the construction of a magnificent fortress with the purpose of turning it into the landmark of his civilization and his history, a glorious monument that will survive the oblivion of the coming centuries: the Alhambra.
More info →Animals on Trial
1990
Part of BBC Arena's Animal Night, this film chronicles a strange era in history when animals were put on trial in human courts.
More info →
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
1978 · ★ 7.2
Beggar boy Krabat is lured to apprentice for an evil, one-eyed sorcerer. With a number of others, he works at the sorcerer's mill while learning black magic. Every Christmas, one of the lads has to face the master in a magical duel, where the boy never stands a chance because the master is the only person allowed to use a secret spell.
More info →