Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She is a smart girl, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah decides to participate in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from...

"Novice nun Viridiana does her utmost to maintain her Catholic principles, but her lecherous uncle and a motley assemblage of paupers force her to confront the limits of her idealism"--Container. When a young woman who is preparing to become a nun suddenly inherits her wealthy uncle's estate, her attempts to improve the lot of the less fortunate by making her newfound riches available to them backfire.

In 1929, an impoverished fishing village father sells his nine-year-old daughter, Chiyo, to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and she becomes subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. As she grows older, her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo. She is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri,...

A true story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what they've always needed, a voice. Erin Gruwell comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism. She quickly discovers that her unruly classroom is not easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives. This assignment...

Dramatic biography of John Nash, a mathematical genius, who made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over his schizophrenia, and finally, late in life, received the Nobel Prize.

The world's top directors and some of America's top stars create a panoramic portrait of Paris. Find yourself transported by these sexy, romantic, haunting, dramatic, and beautiful stories. "Stories of love from the city of love"--Container.

Recently released from prison, Alex offers a ride to a hitchhiker, only to have her killed instantly when they are involved in a brutal car accident. Alex then approaches the girl's autistic mother, and the events that unfold dramatically change both his life and those of others around him.

A talented college gymnast with Olympic dreams is changed when he meets a mysterious stranger named Socrates who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. The gymnast suffers a serious injury, but with the help of Socrates and an elusive young woman, he discovers that he has much to learn and even more to leave behind before he can become a peaceful warrior and find his destiny.

Einar is a crusty old rancher who does what he can to hold onto his Wyoming ranch. It's been a struggle for years; his son was killed in a car crash, his wife left him, and his longtime friend and helper, Mitch, was recently mauled by a bear. Now, Einar has to care for Mitch and help him recover. Jean and her daughter, Griff, have to leave Jean's current abusive boyfriend. The only place they can go is the ranch of Griff's grandfather, Einar, who...

Lola Delaney is a vulgar, dumpy, less-than-bright "shotgun bride" who is married to recovering alcoholic Doc Delaney. Their unhappy marriage is made even more unhappy when a sexy stranger, Marie, rents a room from Lola. Lola is a tiresome creature who never stops talking, especially about the "imminent" return of her runaway dog Sheba. Doc is having enough trouble staying from the bottle and resigning himself to his marriage without the curvaceous...