Labaki manages to get across a view of life that is not predominant in cinematic stories, without making it seem like an agenda.

~ Lindis Kipp -

Labaki manages to get across a view of life that is not predominant in cinematic stories, without making it seem like an agenda.

~ Lindis Kipp -

Comes across as a thoroughly modern film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Comes across as a thoroughly modern film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This gentle, observational film comes as close as is possible to exploring its subject's world without passing judgement.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This gentle, observational film comes as close as is possible to exploring its subject's world without passing judgement.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There is a charm and grace to this 'not' film that mirrors all of Panahi's previous filmic masterpieces.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

There is a charm and grace to this 'not' film that mirrors all of Panahi's previous filmic masterpieces.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

The effect is absorbing, like opening a wonderfully illustrated storybook.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The effect is absorbing, like opening a wonderfully illustrated storybook.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The gradual slip into tragedy in the film's last few reels offer up a reeling pathos rare in a Svankmajer picture.

~ James Benefield -

The gradual slip into tragedy in the film's last few reels offer up a reeling pathos rare in a Svankmajer picture.

~ James Benefield -

The family are captivating subject matter, the strong personalities frequently tugging in different directions, so that the film is never short of drama.

~ Emma Slawinski -

The family are captivating subject matter, the strong personalities frequently tugging in different directions, so that the film is never short of drama.

~ Emma Slawinski -

Tthere are about six or seven fascinating shorts competing for attention here, and Burch and Sekula’s respective backgrounds pull the film one way and then the other, never quite settling into a structurally or aesthetically consistent framework.

~ Michael Pattison -

Tthere are about six or seven fascinating shorts competing for attention here, and Burch and Sekula’s respective backgrounds pull the film one way and then the other, never quite settling into a structurally or aesthetically consistent framework.

~ Michael Pattison -

Unfortunately, the strong performances and engaging visuals come together to form a film that ultimately seems to lack direction.

~ Lindis Kipp -

Unfortunately, the strong performances and engaging visuals come together to form a film that ultimately seems to lack direction.

~ Lindis Kipp -

A beautifully observed study of a small community remaining united in the face of seismic shifts.

~ Jeff Robson -

A beautifully observed study of a small community remaining united in the face of seismic shifts.

~ Jeff Robson -

Las Acacias is a slow subtle film which focuses on the interaction of the three main characters within the bubble of the truck's cab.

~ Donald Munro -

Las Acacias is a slow subtle film which focuses on the interaction of the three main characters within the bubble of the truck's cab.

~ Donald Munro -

Bethmann understands the situation well, but her closeness to the teenager and the personal character that the film takes on as a result is something else.

~ Jennie Kermode -

So carefully balanced is this that the film could almost have emerged as a romcom, and it’s that possibility, that clash between the absurdity that cinema has taught us to expect and the bitterness of real life, that makes it so effective.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Through the lens of the men’s romance, Onir takes in a good deal more, exploring the complex realities behind assumptions of prejudice and the myriad factors that go into making each of us who we are.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Throughout the film there is a sense of play, and even as the story evolves to take on darker material, something of that lightness, that happy-go-lucky quality remains.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film hinges on amazing vocal work by Lalama.

~ Jennie Kermode -

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 -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ 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 -

The director shows how it’s not just Julie’s tennis skills that have been groomed by the coach but large aspects of her life.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

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 -