It’s funny to begin with, watching Pansy rant with no filter, sharing her negative thoughts on everything from baby clothes with pockets to sofa salespeople, but gradually we realise just how close to the edge she is.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It’s funny to begin with, watching Pansy rant with no filter, sharing her negative thoughts on everything from baby clothes with pockets to sofa salespeople, but gradually we realise just how close to the edge she is.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Too often scoots over things when it should take a breath and better look.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Too often scoots over things when it should take a breath and better look.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Much of this is played for whimsical comedy, although there are some barbs where you might not expect them.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Much of this is played for whimsical comedy, although there are some barbs where you might not expect them.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

What comes across, despite the hurdles, is the immense camaraderie and collectivism that has strengthened down the years.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

What comes across, despite the hurdles, is the immense camaraderie and collectivism that has strengthened down the years.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A satisfyingly twisty plot that plays by the established rules of cross and double-cross while still being unpredictable.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A satisfyingly twisty plot that plays by the established rules of cross and double-cross while still being unpredictable.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Documentaries don’t get much more personal or intimate than this

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Documentaries don’t get much more personal or intimate than this

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Working as his own cinematographer, Gkanatsios turns up the atmosphere with the inky blues, aquamarine greens and high neons of night.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Working as his own cinematographer, Gkanatsios turns up the atmosphere with the inky blues, aquamarine greens and high neons of night.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Although this is only 25 minutes long, it is lean and immersive and, while it feels complete in itself, could easily form the foundation for an equally strong longer feature in the Ken Loach mould.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Although this is only 25 minutes long, it is lean and immersive and, while it feels complete in itself, could easily form the foundation for an equally strong longer feature in the Ken Loach mould.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

David Scarpa’s screenplay wisely keeps the political machinations on a slow simmer, so that they are easily followed and don’t get in the way of the nicely worked set-pieces Scott has in store.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

David Scarpa’s screenplay wisely keeps the political machinations on a slow simmer, so that they are easily followed and don’t get in the way of the nicely worked set-pieces Scott has in store.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There isn’t an ornament that feels out of place and you can almost smell the kitchen chip fat and butterfly bun icing as you gaze around Bobby’s home, with its orange pine and associated shades of brown.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There isn’t an ornament that feels out of place and you can almost smell the kitchen chip fat and butterfly bun icing as you gaze around Bobby’s home, with its orange pine and associated shades of brown.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

By withholding information from us, Bareisa puts us in a similar headspace to the main characters.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

By withholding information from us, Bareisa puts us in a similar headspace to the main characters.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It’s the hopefulness at the heart of their tragedy that really kills you.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It’s the hopefulness at the heart of their tragedy that really kills you.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Illustrates how heartfelt and fastidious commitment to a story doesn't always make for engaging cinema, no matter how good the intent

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Illustrates how heartfelt and fastidious commitment to a story doesn't always make for engaging cinema, no matter how good the intent

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Avraam doesn’t spoon-feed us details, letting the various issues Smaragda is facing emerge organically.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Avraam doesn’t spoon-feed us details, letting the various issues Smaragda is facing emerge organically.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

For all its naturalism, there are also cleverly worked dream sequences and spiritual encounters that offer a more psychological dimension.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

For all its naturalism, there are also cleverly worked dream sequences and spiritual encounters that offer a more psychological dimension.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A tactile and colour-infused film.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A tactile and colour-infused film.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Nyoni expertly controls her narrative so that it glides effortlessly between the reality of the funeral preparations to the more surreal psychological trauma Shula is working through.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Nyoni expertly controls her narrative so that it glides effortlessly between the reality of the funeral preparations to the more surreal psychological trauma Shula is working through.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Delivers a warm dose of nostalgia for fans while revealing the chilly reality for many former players.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Delivers a warm dose of nostalgia for fans while revealing the chilly reality for many former players.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The house, with its prominent staircase is a perfect environment for atmospheric expressionistic chiaroscuro.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The house, with its prominent staircase is a perfect environment for atmospheric expressionistic chiaroscuro.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There’s also an emperor’s new clothes feeling to the general style, look closely and there's very little there.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There’s also an emperor’s new clothes feeling to the general style, look closely and there's very little there.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Using split screen, the director is able to articulate the way that the auteur grasped the opportunities that were presented to him by sound.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Using split screen, the director is able to articulate the way that the auteur grasped the opportunities that were presented to him by sound.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This adaptation of Sean O’Casey’s play about a Dublin family trying to get by might best be described as one for completists, in terms of Alfred Hitchock’s body of work.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This adaptation of Sean O’Casey’s play about a Dublin family trying to get by might best be described as one for completists, in terms of Alfred Hitchock’s body of work.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A comprehensive presentation of his work, showing the origins of several of the elements that he would go on to capitalise on in his later work

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A comprehensive presentation of his work, showing the origins of several of the elements that he would go on to capitalise on in his later work

~ Amber Wilkinson -

One of the irresistible charms of Wallace And Gromit for many fans is not just that they are quintessentially British but that they are unmistakably northern.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

One of the irresistible charms of Wallace And Gromit for many fans is not just that they are quintessentially British but that they are unmistakably northern.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Multiverses have become a box office staple lately, courtesy of Marvel and the like, but they are rarely as elegantly mounted as this retro and twisty little mystery from Timm Kröger.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Multiverses have become a box office staple lately, courtesy of Marvel and the like, but they are rarely as elegantly mounted as this retro and twisty little mystery from Timm Kröger.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Snowball adds movement and colour to her film with kaleidoscopic animation, and makes good use of framing to ensure we really look at Reza directly and consider his life.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Snowball adds movement and colour to her film with kaleidoscopic animation, and makes good use of framing to ensure we really look at Reza directly and consider his life.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A perfect example of just how much the stars of a film can elevate mediocre material by the strength of their performances.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A perfect example of just how much the stars of a film can elevate mediocre material by the strength of their performances.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film becomes a warm celebration of resilience.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film becomes a warm celebration of resilience.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Bradley brings loss and adrenaline rush forcefully together.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Bradley brings loss and adrenaline rush forcefully together.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The world Dylan and the others inhabit...feels properly lived in.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The world Dylan and the others inhabit...feels properly lived in.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film’s initial loose and enjoyable construction gradually drifts towards a drawn-out and repetitive melodramatic conclusion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The film’s initial loose and enjoyable construction gradually drifts towards a drawn-out and repetitive melodramatic conclusion.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The heat of summer pulses beneath the action and we can virtually smell the sweat and decay as the sound of flies or a gathering storm punctuate the soundtrack.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The heat of summer pulses beneath the action and we can virtually smell the sweat and decay as the sound of flies or a gathering storm punctuate the soundtrack.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There may be a rumbling of trouble in the background, but Machoian and Webley capture the way that this doesn’t impinge on the feeling of joy that can come in a moment.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

There may be a rumbling of trouble in the background, but Machoian and Webley capture the way that this doesn’t impinge on the feeling of joy that can come in a moment.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Throughout you can see the ways in which the filmmakers are going the extra mile to empower their subjects.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Throughout you can see the ways in which the filmmakers are going the extra mile to empower their subjects.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The only thing worse than death for these two is the thought of being left entirely alone.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The only thing worse than death for these two is the thought of being left entirely alone.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A thoughtful consideration of not just physical prowess but the emotional agility and resilience demonstrated by those growing up in Gaza.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A thoughtful consideration of not just physical prowess but the emotional agility and resilience demonstrated by those growing up in Gaza.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

When you get old, hope you find someone who looks at you the way Mascaro looks at Tereza and Roberta.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

When you get old, hope you find someone who looks at you the way Mascaro looks at Tereza and Roberta.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

As Blue Moon progresses it becomes clear that the one thing Hart really wants is to be wanted.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

As Blue Moon progresses it becomes clear that the one thing Hart really wants is to be wanted.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Fund encourages us to tune in to the energies of the trio, the subtle shifts of mood, shared moments of understanding or joy.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Fund encourages us to tune in to the energies of the trio, the subtle shifts of mood, shared moments of understanding or joy.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Øverbye makes a compelling lead, taking on the chunks of voiceover without any problem but also excelling in terms of conveying her character’s moods via body language

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Øverbye makes a compelling lead, taking on the chunks of voiceover without any problem but also excelling in terms of conveying her character’s moods via body language

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Grittily compelling

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Grittily compelling

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Naturalism is the lifeblood of Das’ films and this one is no different

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Naturalism is the lifeblood of Das’ films and this one is no different

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Carreira shows how quiet desperation can be eroding

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Carreira shows how quiet desperation can be eroding

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A surprisingly droll deconstruction of crime reconstruction.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A surprisingly droll deconstruction of crime reconstruction.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

In what is probably Côté's most straightforwardly observational film to date, the fictions come baked in.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

In what is probably Côté's most straightforwardly observational film to date, the fictions come baked in.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While Verseau talks about how crucial the surgery was to her mental health, the complexity of the emotions experienced afterwards is also made clear.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While Verseau talks about how crucial the surgery was to her mental health, the complexity of the emotions experienced afterwards is also made clear.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The delight of the drama stems from the well crafted characters, while its heft hinges on toxicity that may not be immediately obvious.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The delight of the drama stems from the well crafted characters, while its heft hinges on toxicity that may not be immediately obvious.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The script is lean, the sword edges keen and the characters mean.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The script is lean, the sword edges keen and the characters mean.

~ 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 -

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 -

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 -

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 -