Bird (2024)

There comes a point in everyone’s life where they reach a particular age, which is the point where they become aware that everyone is dealt a different hand in life. They have to decide if they are going to follow their pre-ordained path or fight against the system to forge their way forward, making sure…

Here (2024)

“Right here is where we want to be” Home is a fascinating concept – for some, their home is nothing more than an ever-changing shelter from the outside world, for others it is a sanctuary in which they can truly be themselves, while for others it is a firm representation of their past that can…

Playground (2022)

When it comes to social realism, the Belgians have produced some of the most exhilarating works (mainly due to the prolific careers of Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, arguably amongst the most important filmmakers to hail from that country), and they have left a legacy that has made for some really fascinating storytelling in subsequent years….

Nickel Boys (2024)

“He who gets behind in a race must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.” There is a scene towards the end of RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys in which the two protagonists escape their abusive boarding school, taking flight by cycling down a rural road. Not far behind them are the…

A Complete Unknown (2024)

For decades, we have attempted to find the words to describe Bob Dylan and his work. Some view him as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century, others as the absolute voice of his generation. Terms such as “poet” and “revolutionary” rarely linger too far behind in any conversation about his legacy…

Vermiglio (2024)

Nestled deep within the Italian Alps sits a small village – its occupants spend their days quietly going about their routine, focusing on their day-to-day schedule. At the same time, war rages around the world, a conflict that they are not directly involved in, at least not until the arrival of a soldier in their…

The Brutalist (2024)

It is certainly not difficult to recognise great art, and countless works across every conceivable medium have been labelled as being masterpieces for a number of reasons, usually based on how they define either an artist’s career or influence an entire movement in some substantial way. Yet, there is a lot more hesitance when it…

Maria (2024)

Every artistic medium has a range of masters that define the craft at different points – but generally, there is also a small handful who stand as perhaps the most important, or at the very least more prominent than the vast majority, usually acting as representatives of that particular art form. When it comes to…

Our Story (1984)

A solitary man rides the train, watching the surroundings change as he slowly drifts to sleep. He’s awoken by a beguiling young woman who offers her astute observations about someone who she claims is a stranger, but yet one she somehow knows so well. Our protagonist slowly begins to fall deep into a state of…

I’m Still Here (2024)

There is a moment towards the end of I’m Still Here (Portuguese: Ainda Estou Aqui) where the older Eunice Paiva sits at a table at what appears to be an informal family celebration – the rest of the room is lively, while she sits in pleasant silence, observing her children and grandchildren. Yet, no one…