James R | On 23, Apr 2016

Heard of BFI Player? Well, there’s also BFI Player+, a subscription service that offers an all-you-can-eat selection of hand-picked classics.

Every Friday, Mark Kermode highlights one of the collection’s titles with a video introduction. This week, it’s Rome, Open City, Roberto Rossellini’s 1945 film, which is credited with starting the Italian neorealist movement. Shot in the aftermath of the liberation of Italy’s capital, the film (which started as a documentary) follows the strands of the resistance during the occupation – a story given added weight by the ravaged streets in the background.

What else is available to stream? Every week, we bring you a round-up of the latest titles on BFI Player+.

Macbeth (2001)

Antony Sher stars in the Gregory Doran’s acclaimed RSC production, lauded as the finest adaptation of the Scottish play for over a quarter of a century.

Underground

The BFI National Archive restoration of one of Anthony Asquith’s finest silent films set in London’s Underground, with a new score.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Lon Chaney stars in this landmark Universal horror film, which is the first ever screen version of Gaston Leroux’s classic novel. Accompanied by Carl Davis’ 1996 score, performed by the Prague Philarmonic Orchestra.

The Bad Sleep Well (1960)

The first film made by Akira Kurosawa’s own production company is a dark tale of greed, corporate corruption and revenge.

La Règle du Jeu (1939)

Renoir’s depiction of an intransigent society teetering towards disaster was derided upon release and only later acclaimed as one of cinema’s most vital films.

Smart Alek (1993)

Sean Lock is a criminal ‘Smart Alek’ in this short film based on the apparently true story of a family holiday turned bloody nightmare.

A BFI Player+ subscription costs £4.99 a month, with a 30-day free trial. For more information, visit http://player.bfi.org.uk

Add to Watchlist