A short story often makes a better film than a big fat book, doesn't it Ariadne. I haven't seen Brokeback (yet) but it was a brilliant short story, for instance.
I loved East of Eden for its male characters, particularly the Chinese man. I watched a film (on a plane) recently that reminded me a little - about father/son/brother relationships, called Jayne Mansfield's Car. BB Thornton in it and directing. I thought it was really good.
Also watched the one about Hitchcock with Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren - pretty good I thought and of course GREAT acting. And another one, also based on real people, about middle aged love, about Rooseveldt. If you bear with me, as they say, I will post the titles.