The Japanese filmmaker guides his actors as if they were just learning emotions, creating an impression of awkwardness.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

The Japanese filmmaker guides his actors as if they were just learning emotions, creating an impression of awkwardness.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Digression builds upon detour, which piles charmingly onto excursion, sometimes lifted, sometimes pushed and always shaped by a score that also roams freely in its influences.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Digression builds upon detour, which piles charmingly onto excursion, sometimes lifted, sometimes pushed and always shaped by a score that also roams freely in its influences.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Right from the outset, this film zeroes in on Tina's natural charisma.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Right from the outset, this film zeroes in on Tina's natural charisma.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Filmed without commentary and with a poetic grace.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Filmed without commentary and with a poetic grace.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Gornostai avoids obvious narrative arcs in favour of just letting us hang out and observe the everyday challenges and small dramas that pepper the lives of these 16-year-olds.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Gornostai avoids obvious narrative arcs in favour of just letting us hang out and observe the everyday challenges and small dramas that pepper the lives of these 16-year-olds.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Côté has often played with artifice, particularly in his documentaries, and here he pushes things to experimental extremes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Côté has often played with artifice, particularly in his documentaries, and here he pushes things to experimental extremes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Drifting through the angst-ridden conversations of a classic New York drama before morphing into something more like giallo, the film makes a positive asset of its low production values, which give it a sense of freshness and urgency.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Drifting through the angst-ridden conversations of a classic New York drama before morphing into something more like giallo, the film makes a positive asset of its low production values, which give it a sense of freshness and urgency.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Shengze Zhu mixes the past, present and vision of the future in a new, strange, anti-social, empty world.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Shengze Zhu mixes the past, present and vision of the future in a new, strange, anti-social, empty world.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Although the directors are obviously rooting for Krasner to succeed, they try to present the situation 'in the round', giving plenty of room for those who worked under the previous administration to air their views as well.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Although the directors are obviously rooting for Krasner to succeed, they try to present the situation 'in the round', giving plenty of room for those who worked under the previous administration to air their views as well.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The autumn setting fits it perfectly, because although this is the change of the year as things die back for winter, it is also blazing with colour and hopefulness.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The autumn setting fits it perfectly, because although this is the change of the year as things die back for winter, it is also blazing with colour and hopefulness.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Like last year's Baby Done and 2019's Saint Frances this is a thoroughly modern consideration of impending motherhood that doesn't shy away from subjects like casual sex and allows the mother not to be consumed by sudden maternal instinct.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Like last year's Baby Done and 2019's Saint Frances this is a thoroughly modern consideration of impending motherhood that doesn't shy away from subjects like casual sex and allows the mother not to be consumed by sudden maternal instinct.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Unlike many first-time directors who have the urge to cram more and more in, Nagy and his co-writer Pál Závada instead strip things back, letting the trudge of the men tell its own tale.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Unlike many first-time directors who have the urge to cram more and more in, Nagy and his co-writer Pál Závada instead strip things back, letting the trudge of the men tell its own tale.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This is impressionistic filmmaking and the young director handles it with extraordinary confidence.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is impressionistic filmmaking and the young director handles it with extraordinary confidence.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most impressive documentaries of the year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most impressive documentaries of the year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The memories have the vibrant immediacy of teenage energy and are treated by Hadjithomas and her co-director Khalil Joreige in the same spirited fashion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The memories have the vibrant immediacy of teenage energy and are treated by Hadjithomas and her co-director Khalil Joreige in the same spirited fashion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Despite Rahim's excellent work, the real standout here is Benedict Cumberbatch.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite Rahim's excellent work, the real standout here is Benedict Cumberbatch.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Bolognesi achieves a bracing hybrid that changes the usual dynamic between documentary viewer and subject.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Bolognesi achieves a bracing hybrid that changes the usual dynamic between documentary viewer and subject.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Atienza and Reyboy are buddies, and the warmth of their friendship glows through almost every conversation they have.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Atienza and Reyboy are buddies, and the warmth of their friendship glows through almost every conversation they have.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The simple narrative is less important than the Vajdas' scrutiny of the psychology and complex nature of addiction, with Arámbula's performance magnetic in its vulnerability.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The simple narrative is less important than the Vajdas' scrutiny of the psychology and complex nature of addiction, with Arámbula's performance magnetic in its vulnerability.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The rather conventional structure of Yana Ugrekhelidze's film, which follows the couple over several years, serves to highlight the ordinariness of its subjects and the Kafkaesque nature of the invisible prison woven around them.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The rather conventional structure of Yana Ugrekhelidze's film, which follows the couple over several years, serves to highlight the ordinariness of its subjects and the Kafkaesque nature of the invisible prison woven around them.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Watching Alma grow closer to Tom is bittersweet – not least because she knows the danger.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Watching Alma grow closer to Tom is bittersweet – not least because she knows the danger.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Added together, the elements create a compelling urgency by making the who, why and when of its movements unpredictable yet emotionally honest.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

Added together, the elements create a compelling urgency by making the who, why and when of its movements unpredictable yet emotionally honest.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

A sassy classic with heart.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

A sassy classic with heart.

~ Andrea Mullaney -

The Zürchers carefully construct their web of relationships, showing how a small vibration somewhere can lead to unexpected consequences elsewhere.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The Zürchers carefully construct their web of relationships, showing how a small vibration somewhere can lead to unexpected consequences elsewhere.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Petré does not use filters, showing the world as it is – starkly beautiful on the eve of disaster.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Petré does not use filters, showing the world as it is – starkly beautiful on the eve of disaster.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Pfeiffer’s delivery is fantastically inscrutable.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Pfeiffer’s delivery is fantastically inscrutable.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

The daily routine of a simple junkie-dreamer-poet who slowly gets lost in all the layers and worlds of the film just becomes too chaotic.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

The daily routine of a simple junkie-dreamer-poet who slowly gets lost in all the layers and worlds of the film just becomes too chaotic.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Its Jurassic Park style themes concerning failed Utopias passed through the prism of Sixties politics and activism have a certain childlike simplicity to them and, as such, are likely to prove more endearing to some audiences than others.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Its Jurassic Park style themes concerning failed Utopias passed through the prism of Sixties politics and activism have a certain childlike simplicity to them and, as such, are likely to prove more endearing to some audiences than others.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There is something optimistic about joining this wave of humanity, from all walks of life, as they brandish flowers in the air and peacefully demonstrate against the regime.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There is something optimistic about joining this wave of humanity, from all walks of life, as they brandish flowers in the air and peacefully demonstrate against the regime.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

For all its intricacy and cleverness, this is a film that never loses its central focus.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

For all its intricacy and cleverness, this is a film that never loses its central focus.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Running a tight 84 minutes, the film still feels like an epic journey into both its seedy world and its heroine’s psyche.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

Running a tight 84 minutes, the film still feels like an epic journey into both its seedy world and its heroine’s psyche.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

The director shows the warmth of the children against the cool aloofness of teachers who feel little connection to their wards, even as we know even Yusuf's herculean efforts are likely to prove ineffectual.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The director shows the warmth of the children against the cool aloofness of teachers who feel little connection to their wards, even as we know even Yusuf's herculean efforts are likely to prove ineffectual.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The world presented by Radlmaier is a creation in which not only are the social relations absurd but the time is mixed up.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

The world presented by Radlmaier is a creation in which not only are the social relations absurd but the time is mixed up.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Bliss is one of those films whose craft may not immediately be apparent to the average viewer, but it’s a beautifully constructed piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Bliss is one of those films whose craft may not immediately be apparent to the average viewer, but it’s a beautifully constructed piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Cummings and McCabe want to have it all - and go a fairly long way towards getting it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Cummings and McCabe want to have it all - and go a fairly long way towards getting it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

If they sometimes have trouble moving seamlessly between the smaller dramas of childhood and the bigger picture of the protests, each element of the film carries resonance in its own right.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

If they sometimes have trouble moving seamlessly between the smaller dramas of childhood and the bigger picture of the protests, each element of the film carries resonance in its own right.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There's an elegance to the filmmaking as this story unravels its themes of societal prejudice, justice and remorse that elevates every frame.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There's an elegance to the filmmaking as this story unravels its themes of societal prejudice, justice and remorse that elevates every frame.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

At times, the dialogue is well done, scores points. At other times, it felt like we had wandered into a Socratic symposium.

~ Jane Fae -

At times, the dialogue is well done, scores points. At other times, it felt like we had wandered into a Socratic symposium.

~ Jane Fae -

Many doors are not very open, they give us merely a little glimpse into a strange world.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Many doors are not very open, they give us merely a little glimpse into a strange world.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

The personal emotion of its director Samaher Alqadi punches through the centre of it hard - which gives her film a searing edge even if much of it feels scrappy and politically muddied.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The personal emotion of its director Samaher Alqadi punches through the centre of it hard - which gives her film a searing edge even if much of it feels scrappy and politically muddied.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There’s a genuine unpredictability to Honey Bunch, both structurally and thematically.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where the episodes work is when they have a driving, kinetic energy about them. When they don't it's repetitious loop.

~ Donald Munro -

The film, directed by feature debutant Shaun Dozier, retains the density of dialogue you might expect from a stage play but, by leaning into the theatrical nature of the proceedings, Dozier is in some ways able to make this into a virtue.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Coogan is well cast in this tricky role, moving easily from humour to heartbreak..

~ Jennie Kermode -

Manizha Bakhtari may not be a household name but after watching Natalie Halla’s documentary you’re likely to think she ought to be.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Sung’s own camera plays tricks, placing objects too close in the foreground so that parts of an image are out of focus, like an incomplete memory.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The concept, narrative, dialogue, cinematography and action sequences are elements of Scanners that can't be faulted.

~ Donald Munro -

The film hangs on Pemberton’s performance, and he imbues Doug with a sweetness that makes us feel for him despite his deeply misguided actions.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The screenplay written by the filmmaker and Andrea Piva is a proper masterwork, from the basic plotting to the intelligent, insightful dialogue.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

From the start, there is something different about this film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite the anger at the unfairness of what has gone before, this is ultimately a warm-hearted, life-affirming film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is a ride, okay, and it is a bit nauseating and therefore not sterile.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

It’s also striking to think that when Leila is looking forward into the future, she is already, in some senses, looking at our recent past, which only reinforces the sense of the cyclical and ongoing nature of her themes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Thorne still comes across as being at the stage where many aspects of her work are experimental. She’s yet to settle into her style.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The characters work well...but there’s never quite enough energy to events.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ahmed doesn’t need to include war footage for us to feel its weight and understand its shadow.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The colour elements prove all the more striking when in contrast to black and white.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The beautiful cinematography, the bluesy jazz score and the gentle pace of the film are beguiling, but Masciari makes sure that we don’t lose sight of the ridiculous.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Shot over 17 years, it mingles intimate personal moments with visceral concert footage, its musical sequences knitted together with some of the best editing you’re likely to see this year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Having set up all the elements of a thriller, the film proceeds to untangle them in a refreshingly different and mature way.

~ Jennie Kermode -

[Hart] doesn’t turn up the volume, but uses tone and repetition so effectively that the film becomes a microcosm of the real experience.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Once again, Guiraudie proves himself the master of setting up a mystery by the means of perfect script economy that functions strictly on “need to know” basis.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

It’s ironic that a film about a family who have built a perfect facsimile of a life for themselves should feel so overly constructed itself

~ Amber Wilkinson -