Movies and TvShows featuring "literature-history" theme.

Paris, France, February 2, 1922. The novel Ulysses, by Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941), is published by US poet Sylvia Beach (1887-1962), owner of the small bookstore Shakespeare & Co. The book, whose writing consumed seven years of Joyce's life, years in which his family was in financial need, would have a profound and unprecedented impact on 20th century literature and culture.

A radical cinematic investigation into the myth of Hamlet, the avenging prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare's creature; his origins and his unending influence on many diverse cultures.

Who was Homer, and what is the meaning of The Odyssey? In this documentary we follow the footsteps of Ulysses, also known by his Greek name Odysseus—a hero as relevant today as he was nearly three thousand years ago, on a journey across some of the most fascinating landscapes and seascapes of the Mediterranean region. With the help of prominent international scholars, we seek to resolve the questions that still surround one of humanity’s greatest literary works and its enigmatic author.

The Trials of Oscar Wilde follows the life of the famous playwright and poet as he faces a scandalous trial and societal backlash due to his homosexuality. Set in the late 19th century, the movie explores themes of homophobia, societal hypocrisy, and class distinction. Wilde's relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas and the subsequent blackmail threats add to the drama and complexity of the story. It is a captivating portrayal of the struggles faced by Wilde and the impact of his trial on his personal and professional life.

Everyone knows Heidi. But who knows Johanna Spyri, her inventor? The documentary film "Heidis nightmare" (Heidis Alptraum (German title) / Le cauchemar de Heidi (French title) looks behind the Heidi cliche and undertakes a search for traces in the life and work of the Zurich writer. A journey with, amongst others, Japanese animator Yoichi Kotabe (character designer and animation director of "Heidi, girl of the Alps", 1974), filmmaker and screenwriter Petra Volpe (Heidi, 2015) and the voice of actress Marthe Keller. Heidis Nightmare is the very first documentary about the life and work of Swiss female writer Johanna Spyri, whose world famous story has been adapted by international cinema for more than 20 times, for the first time in 1920 and in 1937 by Hollywood.

The story of Fantômas, the first villain of modernity, from his birth in 1911 as a novel character to his contemporary vicissitudes, passing through Louis Feuillade, André Hunebelle, surrealism and Moscow.

In 1991, American Psycho, the third novel by controversial writer Bret Easton Ellis, provoked heated discussions among critics and readers alike; an extraordinarily disturbing book that transported its readers into the mind of Patrick Bateman, a cynical mergers and acquisitions executive obsessed with brands, inconsequential details, pop culture and brutal murder.

Between 1967 and 1976, Italian writer Goliarda Sapienza (1924-76) wrote The Art of Joy, a subversive novel about the dazzling social ascent of a rebellious heroine; too scandalous to be published at that contradictory time.

At his Long Island beach house, and on the occasion of the publication of his masterful nonfiction novel In Cold Blood, reporter Karen Dennison interviews celebrated writer Truman Capote, who displays his exuberant personality, makes witty jokes, shares his thoughts on writing, reflects on various aspects of the book and, in a sweet and endearing voice, reads and explains some of its highlights.

A look at the world of US writer Paul Auster, on the occasion of the publication of his new novel, an exploration of human identity and the soul of New York, the city that Auster has portrayed as no one else has ever done.

A Word After a Word After a Word Is Power is a documentary that delves into the life and work of Margaret Atwood, one of the most influential writers of our time. Through interviews, archival footage, and insights from Atwood herself, the film explores the themes that have shaped her writing, including feminism, totalitarianism, and ecology. From her childhood in Ottawa, Canada, to her rise to literary fame, the documentary offers a portrait of an artist who has used her words to challenge and provoke. It also touches on Atwood's personal life, including her battle with dementia and her love for ornithology.

In 1847, British writer Emily Brontë (1818-48), perhaps the most enigmatic of the three Brontë sisters, published her novel Wuthering Heights, a dark romance set in the desolation of the moors, a unique work of early Victorian literature that stunned contemporary critics.

The extraordinary life story of science fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) who, in spite of remaining for many years on the sidelines of the mainstream literature, managed to be recognized as one of the most remarkable US writers of all time, due to the relevance of her work and her commitment to the human condition.

In the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, 'Words for an End of the World' delves into the consequences of fascism on freedom of speech. The film sheds light on the conspiracy theories and political repression prevalent during the 1930s in Salamanca, Spain. Through the lens of a renowned Spanish writer, it reflects the anti-fascist sentiments and the struggle to preserve Spanish literature and culture.

An account of the life and work of the Spanish poet Luis García Montero; a journey through his experiences, his mentors, his influences and his contact with other artists, both from the literary world and from other disciplines.

A first-person account of the life and work of Spanish writer Antonio Gala.

A look at the intimacy of the US writer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), a man infinitely more complex than his public image suggested, through the story of his relationship with his four wives.

How Don Quixote de la Mancha, the immortal character created by Miguel de Cervantes in 1605, has been depicted in cinema, television, cartoons, theater, opera, ballet and other artistic disciplines. An adventure that began more than four hundred years ago in the pages of a book and is far from coming to an end.

The convoluted and moving story of Russian writer Vassili Grossman (1905-64) and his novel Life and Fate (1980), a literary masterpiece, a monumental and epic account of life under Stalin's regime of terror, a defiant cry that the KGB tried to suffocate.

An analysis of The Kindly Ones, Jonathan Littell's controversial novel, published in 2006, which dissects the ruthless mechanisms of the Shoah from the detached point of view of Maximilian Aue, a high-ranking Nazi officer.