Movie Guide

The following summaries of current widely shown films are provided to help readers plan what to see. If additional coverage of a film has appeared in the Monitor, the date of the article is given in italics after the summary. Inclusion of a movie does not imply Monitor endorsement. The movie guide is scheduled to appear on the first and third Thursdays of the month. DIARY FOR MY CHILDREN - In 1946 a teen-age girl returns to Hungary from exile in the Soviet Union and confronts her sternly Communist guardian with ideas of her own. Sensitively but not excitingly directed by the capable Hungarian filmmaker Marta Meszaros. (Not rated.) Nov. 30. FALLING IN LOVE - Two married subur banites fall for each other and spend a year wondering what to do about it. There's little fire to the story, as directed by Ulu Grosbard, but the performances are strong and it's refreshing to see a romance that limits the lovers to one unconsummated bedroom tryst. (Rated PG-13; contains sexually related subject matter.) Nov. 29. GHOST DANCE - Two young women talk philosophy, compare notes about love and sex, and try to hunt up ghosts during an episodic ramble through London and Paris. Written and directed by Ken McMullen, who balances a pretentious sound track with a lot of stunning imagery. (Not rated; contains vulgar language and brief violence.) HOT MOVES - California high-schoolers in search of sun, surf, and sex, sex, sex. Inanely directed by Jim Sotos. (Rated R; contains nudity, sex, and vulgar language.) THE KILLING FIELDS - Gripping, intelligent, provocative drama based on the true experiences of two journalists, an American and a Cambodian, who were caught in the fall of Phnom Penh to the fanatical Khmer Rouge Army. Incisively directed by newcomer Roland Joffe, although the story sags in spots and the beginning is draggy. (Rated R; contains wartime carnage and vulgar language.) Nov. 8. LA PETITE BANDE - Trivial fantasy about a gang of English children who run away to France and have adventures there. Directed with no dialogue by Michel DeVille , who dreams up only one imaginative episode, and it comes much too late to relieve the monotony. (Rated PG; contains a bit of surreal violence.) A LOVE IN GERMANY - A young German woman has a forbidden affair with a Polish prisoner during World War II and gets caught by the authorities. Directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda with a rather heavy touch leavened by strokes of nightmarish humor. (Rated R; contains sex and some violence.) Nov. 30. MISSING IN ACTION - A bitter veteran launches a two-man invasion of Vietnam to rescue Americans from a prison camp years after the war has ended. Joseph Zito directed this cheap exercise in hate, suspicion, and mayhem. (Rated R; contains violence and nudity.) NIGHT OF THE COMET - It's almost the end of the world, and the few survivors include some California teen-agers who worry about the sharply reduced dating scene while dodging evil scientists and zombies. Thom Eberhardt directed this fresh, funny, very low-budget romp. (Rated PG-13; contains vulgarity and sexual humor.) Nov. 28. NO SMALL AFFAIR - A teen-age photographer falls in love with a somewhat older rock singer after accidentally snapping her picture. Competently directed by Jerry Schatzberg, but the story and characters never catch fire. (Rated R; contains sex and vulgar language.) Nov. 13. NOT FOR PUBLICATION - Quick comedy about a young woman who works for the mayor of New York by day, a sleazy scandal sheet by night. Written and directed by Paul Bartel, who peppers much of the action with nonstop jokes, adding occasional doses of the cynicism and naughtiness for which he's known. (Rated R; contains vulgar language and sexual humor.) Nov. 13. OH, GOD! YOU DEVIL - Gentle, sometimes amusing comedy about a young musician who promises his soul to Satan for seven years of worldly success, then realizes he's made a bad deal. Directed by Paul Bogart and starring the inimitable George Burns as both title characters. (Rated PG; contains a little vulgarity.) PARIS, TEXAS - A man returns to civilization four years after his marriage fell apart, reunites with his little boy, and sets off to find his former wife. Sensitively directed by Wim Wenders from an idiosyncratic Sam Shepard screenplay. (Rated R; contains some vulgar language and a couple of brothel scenes.) SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT - A psycho pretends to be Santa in this sadistic thriller. Dopily directed by Charles Sellier Jr. (Rated R; contains sex and violence.) Nov. 28. A SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY - The last sunstruck day in the life of a contented old man, lovingly directed by French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier and glowingly photographed by Bruno de Keyzer. Slow and rather passive, but meticulously assembled. (Rated G.) Dec. 3. SUPERGIRL - The Man of Steel's cousin visits earth to find a missing ''power source'' for her home planet, and battles a sorceress whose ambitions include that old favorite, world domination. The performances are amusingly broad under Jeannot Szwarc's direction, but the story is slim and the action doesn't add up to much. (Rated PG; contains some cartoonish violence.) Nov. 29.