Writer/director Carmen Jacquier explores this ideological and psychological clash with confidence and visual flair.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Writer/director Carmen Jacquier explores this ideological and psychological clash with confidence and visual flair.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Čadež employs the gouts of smoke to disturbing effect, fogging up the action and making passive aggression feel like a punch.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Čadež employs the gouts of smoke to disturbing effect, fogging up the action and making passive aggression feel like a punch.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film is less about ambition or striving for success, as it’s about the fetishisation of that image of success, and how striving for the perfect image can destroy you.

~ Nikola Jovic -

The film is less about ambition or striving for success, as it’s about the fetishisation of that image of success, and how striving for the perfect image can destroy you.

~ Nikola Jovic -

The film could not be more Swiss if it were made out of chocolate, yet it feels real, organic, a natural expression of the world in which it is set.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film could not be more Swiss if it were made out of chocolate, yet it feels real, organic, a natural expression of the world in which it is set.

~ Jennie Kermode -

At one point it seems “Panahi” could easily step from one country to the other, but as his film shows, leaving is not always an easy option.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

At one point it seems “Panahi” could easily step from one country to the other, but as his film shows, leaving is not always an easy option.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There’s a real sense of fury behind this film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s a real sense of fury behind this film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Set in a futuristic Rwanda, the themes are as old as the hills - with colonialism, identity and self-determination chief among them.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Set in a futuristic Rwanda, the themes are as old as the hills - with colonialism, identity and self-determination chief among them.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Arashi is a model with Middle Eastern roots, making her screen début, which is difficult to belief given the quality of her performance in this complex, multifaceted role.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Arashi is a model with Middle Eastern roots, making her screen début, which is difficult to belief given the quality of her performance in this complex, multifaceted role.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Guzmán doesn’t need to hunt for symbolism as the protesters are often supplying their own.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Guzmán doesn’t need to hunt for symbolism as the protesters are often supplying their own.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Belcu doesn’t need to show us much violence in order to indicate how the mere threat of it can become an effective tool of oppression.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Belcu doesn’t need to show us much violence in order to indicate how the mere threat of it can become an effective tool of oppression.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While the choreography of all this is audacious, Hardiman is equally interested in dialogue. He loves an intricately worked sentence as much as a finely coiffed barnet.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While the choreography of all this is audacious, Hardiman is equally interested in dialogue. He loves an intricately worked sentence as much as a finely coiffed barnet.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Vitija rarely gets distracted from her approach, and this is a strength – not easy to achieve with so much material to pull together.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Vitija rarely gets distracted from her approach, and this is a strength – not easy to achieve with so much material to pull together.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is not so much individual people who cause the problems but rather the constricting cultural circumstances that dictate everyone must play their allocated role.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It is not so much individual people who cause the problems but rather the constricting cultural circumstances that dictate everyone must play their allocated role.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

An important film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An important film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What makes all this work is the very straightforward and matter-of-fact way in which Dupieux approaches the story.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What makes all this work is the very straightforward and matter-of-fact way in which Dupieux approaches the story.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Wonderfully uncomfortable.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Wonderfully uncomfortable.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is less about the puzzle of who the murderer is... than about the way he slots into society and, after his arrest, is viewed by the public.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This is less about the puzzle of who the murderer is... than about the way he slots into society and, after his arrest, is viewed by the public.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Told in an incidental, roundabout sort of way, a knitting together of assorted observations such as one might make whilst browsing, not yet certain what one wishes to buy.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Told in an incidental, roundabout sort of way, a knitting together of assorted observations such as one might make whilst browsing, not yet certain what one wishes to buy.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Skilfully crafted, The Harbinger is a rightly distressing, melancholy take on the events of the recent past and the troubles we still live with today.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Skilfully crafted, The Harbinger is a rightly distressing, melancholy take on the events of the recent past and the troubles we still live with today.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Storywise, there’s not a great deal here which hasn’t been done before, but it will be new to the young audience it’s really aimed at, and it’s beautifully told.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Storywise, there’s not a great deal here which hasn’t been done before, but it will be new to the young audience it’s really aimed at, and it’s beautifully told.

~ Jennie Kermode -

To refer to something as ‘pure cinema’ is uninspired, but Godland is one of those rare films that has some untranslatable quality that speaks for itself.

~ Dora Leu -

To refer to something as ‘pure cinema’ is uninspired, but Godland is one of those rare films that has some untranslatable quality that speaks for itself.

~ Dora Leu -

Where it could easily have been gimmicky or relied on comedy, instead it achieves something magical and illuminating.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where it could easily have been gimmicky or relied on comedy, instead it achieves something magical and illuminating.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Vicky Krieps...is in excellent form and up to the task of presenting to us the icon in all her idiosyncrasies.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Vicky Krieps...is in excellent form and up to the task of presenting to us the icon in all her idiosyncrasies.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Both leads are excellent.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Both leads are excellent.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Loose camerawork from Frank van den Eeden enhances the intimate, raw spirit.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Loose camerawork from Frank van den Eeden enhances the intimate, raw spirit.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Becker trusts his actors and their small movements and gestures to portray meaning beyond the dialogue.

~ Robert Munro -

Becker trusts his actors and their small movements and gestures to portray meaning beyond the dialogue.

~ Robert Munro -

More pedantic than poetic, making for an unfulfilling watch.

~ Dora Leu -

More pedantic than poetic, making for an unfulfilling watch.

~ Dora Leu -

Everything about McEwen’s performance sings with stress, from the way she reacts to casual comments to the manner in which she lights increasing numbers of cigarettes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Everything about McEwen’s performance sings with stress, from the way she reacts to casual comments to the manner in which she lights increasing numbers of cigarettes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Covert glances and dauntless gestures between the three protagonists, that keep us guessing about who knows what, weave a web as diaphanous as the stitching on fine cloth.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Covert glances and dauntless gestures between the three protagonists, that keep us guessing about who knows what, weave a web as diaphanous as the stitching on fine cloth.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Nikki has a light touch with a script that is able to see the funny side of things but which doesn't make light of the medical and societal situations that Jaakko and Sirpa are facing.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Nikki has a light touch with a script that is able to see the funny side of things but which doesn't make light of the medical and societal situations that Jaakko and Sirpa are facing.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It's one where the camera less becomes a fly on the wall than a sleeping dog in front of the fireplace, one where the comfort of the subjects gives us a better insight into them.

~ Andrew Robertson -

It's one where the camera less becomes a fly on the wall than a sleeping dog in front of the fireplace, one where the comfort of the subjects gives us a better insight into them.

~ Andrew Robertson -

The performances are subtly realised by the three main stars.

~ Richard Mowe -

The performances are subtly realised by the three main stars.

~ Richard Mowe -

The intimacies are staggering.

~ Andrew Robertson -

The intimacies are staggering.

~ Andrew Robertson -

Simón takes a loose approach to the narrative, letting the small dramas of family play out alongside larger ones, giving as much value to the transient pleasures of fresh peach juice and cooked snails as the tensions between siblings.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Simón takes a loose approach to the narrative, letting the small dramas of family play out alongside larger ones, giving as much value to the transient pleasures of fresh peach juice and cooked snails as the tensions between siblings.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Wells shows how interactions that were solid within their own moment become more ambiguous as time has gone by and the adult understanding of Sophie has grown.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Wells shows how interactions that were solid within their own moment become more ambiguous as time has gone by and the adult understanding of Sophie has grown.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

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 -

History comes alive in the voices of those who remember it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The choice of hand-drawn animation and its ability to demonstrate a magical realism allows the film to find the right distance from what is being depicted.

~ Richard Mowe -

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 -

Anime at its very finest - lightning paced, visually stunning, feverishly creative and overrun by a logic all its own.

~ Anton Bitel -

The action is pacy but that doesn’t mean Courvoisier skims the surface.

~ Amber Wilkinson -