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| Catherine Clinch as Cáit in The Quiet Girl |
The Quiet Girl , 12.10am, Channel 4, Tuesday, February 18
Anne-Katrin Titze writes: Colm Bairéad’s superb first feature, The Quiet Girl (Oscar-nominated in the International Feature Film category, Ireland’s first such honour), shot by Kate McCullough (European Film Award winner), is based on Claire Keegan’s story, Foster. It tells the tale of Cait (magnificent newcomer Catherine Clinch), a young girl in the rural Ireland of about 40 years ago. She is sent off by her parents to distant relatives (Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett as the Cinnsealachs), virtual strangers to spend the summer while her mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh) gets ready to give birth to her sixth child in their already too crowded, filthy, poverty-stricken household. Cait’s surly father Dan (Michael Patric) one night tells his wife that “they can keep her as long as they like.” Cait overhears the conversation. Equivalent to Hansel and Gretel’s classic call to adventure it is every child’s nightmare scenario come true - your parents want to get rid of you. It is the core of fairy tales, ancient and true, that wounds can heal, that change is possible, that goodwill and benevolence and honesty can lead the way to preternatural recovery. This is a picture about top-notch parenting, and its opposite. It is supremely hopeful about what can be overcome with love and care, by openness and listening to a child. Nurture in nature is key.
Snowpiercer , 10pm, ITV4, Tuesday, February 18
Bong Joon-Ho has returned to the realm of science-fiction this week with Robert Pattinson-starrer Mickey 17 and here’s a chance to catch up with his earlier dystopian thriller. His grimy tale shows the last survivors on Earth are permanently circling the globe on a speeding train. A class system is firmly in operation that lets the elite travel up front in luxury, while the poor are crammed into the rear. As a resistance forms a man (Chris Evans) begins to fight his way to the front of the train, revealing unpleasant truths as he goes. This is an action film at heart, bolstered by an excellent cast that includes Tilda Swinton - who has been causing a few waves of her own in Berlin in recent days - Octvia Spencer, Jamie Bell and the much-missed John Hurt.
The Father, 9pm, Film4, Wednesday, February 19
One of the most heartbreaking fictional explorations of Alzheimer's you're likely to see transports us into the headspace, and confusion, of Anthony Hopkins' Anthony. Time and space no longer operate in the same manner for him and his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman). First it's just a watch Anthony can't find but nothing seems to fit together quite right, particularly not his conversations with Anne, which often seem to contradict themselves. Florian Zeller - who wrote the role specifically for Hopkins - immerses us completely in Anthony's confusion, while the actor has never been better, shifting mood on a dime as his characters' confusion mounts. Gripping and quietly devastating.
Shayda, 1.35am, Film4, Thursday, February 20
Holy Spider star Zar Amir Ebrahimi is equally compelling in the central role in this heartfelt drama, which considers the lasting trauma of domestic abuse. She plays Iranian migrant mum Shayda, who is making a fresh start with her young daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) in Australia after leaving her violent husband (Osamah Sami). Her attempts at a fresh start in a woman’s shelter are complicated by Hossein, who uses his custodial visits with Mona to continue to exercise control and fear. Noora Niasari is a survivor of domestic abuse herself and draws on her own experiences for this nuanced drama that celebrates the strength of those like her.
While We Watched, 2.45am, Channel 4, Thursday, February 20
The gripping documentary from Vinay Shukla considers the way that culture wars have contaminated newsrooms from an Indian perspective. It follows Ravish Kumar, an award-winning journalist who isn’t scared to ask questions about the problems faced by many in the country but he stands in stark contrast to reporters on other channels who view any opposition to premier Narendra Modi as “anti-nationalist”. Kumar remains remarkably calm, even as things escalate to include death threats. A cri du coeur for the freedom of the press that suggests while voices like Kumar’s stay strong, hope remains.
The Ladykillers, 9pm, Sky Arts, Thursday, February 20
The Coen Brothers may have had a second bash at this in 2004 but Alexander Mackendrick's deliciously dark original tale of a group of criminals who find their plans foiled by a little old lady is still the best. Alec Guinness may be the name that springs to mind when you think of it but his master criminal is matched step for step in this gleeful Ealing comedy by Katie Johnson, who plays dear Mrs Wilberforce, the unwitting lady from whom Guinness' ne'er do well rents his lodgings. Light and shadow play key roles in this collaboration between Mackendrick and cinematographer Otto Heller as the murkiness of the criminals (who also include Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers, in his breakthrough role) contrasts with the lavender and light of Mrs W.
The Revenant, 11.35pm, Channel 4, Saturday, February 22
Feeling chilly? This tale of a frontiersman bent on vengeance might make you feel better about the British winter. Even the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's character - Hugh Glass - suggests it might well shatter in the cold. Alejandro González Iñárritu's film excels in its action sequences, in particular, Glass's mauling, visceral encounter with a bear, which will set in motion his revenge mission against bad guy John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). DiCaprio deservedly won an Oscar for his role - something he certainly went the extra mile for, even eating raw bison liver despite being veggie (he reportedly said at the time that "the bad part is the membrane around it"). Although the film relies to a degree on stereotypes, it gets hold of you with an icy grip that's hard to shake.
Our short of the week is back after a few database issues. This week, it’s Pepper by Canadian writer/director Patrick Aubert.
