Movies of 1979

After his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple's young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.

Director/choreographer Bob Fosse tells his own life story as he details the sordid career of Joe Gideon, a womanizing, drug-using dancer.

A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.

A working-class Indiana teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl while searching for life goals with his friends.

A young single mother and textile worker agrees to help unionize her mill despite the problems and dangers involved.

In 1924, Oskar Matzerath is born in the Free City of Danzig. At age three, he falls down a flight of stairs and stops growing. In 1939, World War II breaks out.

Set in the late '20s. A thirtyish young man, who heads a small factory, faints at the funeral of a close friend. He decides to go home to his aunt and uncle for a while, but gets involved with a family of five women who had been in love with him at one time though he had apparently loved only one, who, unknown to him, has died since his departure. The women are mainly disillusioned with life or estranged from husbands while the youngest has a crush on him.

Ana is alive and married with Antonio; they arrive in the manor in the countryside of Spain where she worked as a nanny many years ago, for the centennial birthday of the matriarch. In their reunion, she finds that Jose died three years ago; Juan left his wife Luchy; Fernando is still living with his mother and unsuccessfully trying to fly a hang glider; and the three little girls are grown-up. Further, she discovers that the dysfunctional family is completely broken, and Luchy in embezzling mother's money. When Juan arrives for the celebration, he plots with Fernando and Luchy to kill the mother to get the inheritance. Meanwhile, Antonio has a brief affair with Natalia.

A gay brother visits his childhood home where his sister still lives with her lesbian niece and her girlfriend. They reminisce about the better past and their parents.

In this documentary, the director follows the day-to-day activities of his mentally ill, middle-aged cousin Philly, over a three-year period.

A group of young artists, mechanics and environmental activists successfully built the largest electrical generating windmill in the world.

A documentary about the XI Commonwealth Games, held in Canada in 1978.

The Killing Ground examines toxic waste, its effects on public health, and failures by government agencies and chemical companies to keep it contained.

Interviews with people involved with and leading the Madison, Wisconsin area resistance to the Vietnam war.

The life of actor and activist Paul Robeson.

A slice of life of the Roma nomads, dedicated to their festivity called St. George's Day (May 6).

Koryo Celadon remains one of the high points of world art. This Korean pottery style, which was at its peak in the 12th Century A.D., and called by the Chinese "one of the ten most wonderful things in the world," was a truly major achievement in the field of ceramics. Its most important element was its delicate green glaze, a secret formula now lost. As simple and elegant as Koryo Celadons appear, they were the result of intricate craftsmanship that often employed up to four inlays. The distinguished Korean potter Yoo Kun-Hyong, declared a National Living Treasure by the nation of Korea, has come the closest in our time towards recreating the sophisticated beauty of true Koryo Celadon. The documentary short subject "Koryo Celadon" tells the story of these extraordinary creations through the work of master potter Yoo in his lifelong effort to rediscover the secrets of making now-legendary Koryo Celadon.

A film about the manufacturing of nails.

Two young people with Down's Syndrome desire to have a relationship. The film's two Down's Syndrome stars give the story a poignant relevance no professional actors could achieve. Enhanced by a sensitively directed camera, Richard Goss and Laura Jean Ellis touchingly deliver convincing performances to convey this tender statement.

An aged World War II veteran and a young street punk violently meet and discover more in common than anticipated.

This delightfully spontaneous film focuses on the love and affection two young brothers feel for each other. It captures the normal conflicts of early childhood -- the quick changes from happiness to sorrow, from cooperative play to tears and arguments -- all the while keeping these conflicts in perspective; showing them within the framework of the joy that the boys find in each other's presence. A wonderful children's film that enchants adults as well.

Produced by actor Robert Redford, The Solar Film is a part serious live action, part satirical animated educational documentary made to show the history of fossil fuels and why the use of clean solar energy should be the way of the future.

An abandoned baby is repeatedly left on a series of doorsteps in a well-to-do community, only to be rejected by each in turn until the infant arrives at the one social group that shows any concern and compassion.

A lonely old man finds his true love, a blowup doll, in a sex shop, only to lose her. But for lovers, there are sometimes happy endings.

An old man lives in a house on the docks with his old dog Peppy, his old cat Ginger, and his old fish, Lightning. The man and his pets decide they need someone to look after them, so they put out an advertisement looking for a companion.