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3 Essential European Gambling-themed Movies


The Gambler - Lithuania

3 Essential European Gambling-themed Movies

Gambling can be as entertaining as it is addictive. The thrill of being the winner, the excitement of seeing money pour into your pockets, can be so tempting that filmmakers find gambling to be a perfect subject for their productions. Celebrating the airing of the gambling action mini-series, Deadly Game, Eurochannel has selected three movies on this subject that everybody should see.

The Gambler - Lithuania

Considered by many to be Lithuania’s best film of 2013, The Gambler is a drama directed by Ignas Jonynas. In the film, paramedic Vincentas, a passionate gambler, is forced to make radical decisions to pay his debts. Vincentas is struck by the idea of creating an illegal game related to his profession. After that, love, life and death will all be at stake.

The Gambler was selected as the Lithuanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards but was not nominated. However, it won numerous awards in the festivals’ circuit in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and the Warsaw International Film Festival, as well as in the Lithuanian Film Awards.

Croupier- United Kingdom

Starring Clive Owen, this was the movie that rocketed the actor’s career to worldwide stardom. In the film, Jack Manfred (portrayed by Clive Owen) is an aspiring writer struggling to make ends meet. At his father’s insistence and against his better judgment, he takes a job as a croupier. He then slips into the spiral of the gambling world, breaking the rules of the casino employing him and ruining his romantic life.

Jack eventually writes a successful book about a character based on his life as a croupier. However, he doesn't change anything, continuing to work as a croupier and living in his basement flat, not even buying the new car he dreamed of.

Demons - Estonia

Every game has its flaws, but they are not always as risky as this one. Directed by Ain Mäeots, Demons is a heart-stopping drama about the dangers of gambling. In the movie, Joko, Ants and Reeda have nothing in common but their streak of luck on one night at a casino. As they see their success continue, their greed leads them to discover the darkest corners of their souls, and their very lives will be in danger.

Demons received three nominations at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2012, for Best Film, the Estonian Film Awards, and for Best Cinematography. The movie won the latter.


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Demons - Estonia

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