Forest of the Hanged

Romanian actor and director Liviu Ciulei's Padurea Spanzuratilor (The Forest of the Hanged) adapted from a novel by Liviu Rebreanu, appeared in competition at Cannes in 1965 where it received the Best Director award. The thrilling historical masterpiece takes place during the First World War, presenting a little-seen portrait of Romanian society at the turn of the century as it tells the story of a Romanian officer in the Austro-Hungarian army who refuses to fight against his own. (theauterurs)