The story behind one of the great works of 19th century Russian literature stars Michael Gambon as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who, to make good on gambling debts paid by his publisher, must write and deliver a novel in a month, or else lose all rights to his works. Hiring stenographer Jodhi May, a young woman similarly starved for funds, Gambon begins dictating his famous tale of a gaming-addicted tutor, with real and fictional events melding together. Also stars Dominic West, Polly Walker and, in her first screen appearance in over 50 years, Luise Rainer. 97 min.

Rome is a critically acclaimed historical drama, produced for television by HBO and the BBC. The show's first season originally aired on HBO between August 28th and November 20th, 2005, and subsequently broadcast on BBC Two in the UK between November 2nd, 2005 and January 4th, 2006. The main plot is centered set during the last years of Julius Caesar's reign, centered on two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, and their families.

The always-adventurous Peter Greenaway offers this sensual salute to "8 1/2," focusing on a British man and his adult son who become inspired by the Fellini film and decide to begin a harem with 8 1/2 women. Among their ladies are Toni Collette, a wannabe nun; the pig-and-horse-obsessed Amanda Plummer; sexual adventurer Polly Walker; and legless Manna Fujiwara. With John Standing, Matthew Delamere and Vivian Wu. 122 min.