Winner of an Oscar for Best Original Screen Play and a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year, Belfast is a deeply personal semi-autobiographical drama by writer-director Kenneth Branagh about growing up during the Troubles.
The Duke retells a long-forgotten moment from modern British history when, in 1961, an irritating bolshie know-it-all from Newcastle called Kempton Bunton (Jim Broadbent) stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery which was worth £140,000. This is a warm-hearted film which is funny and unexpectedly touching, too.
Four stories from contemporary Iran, all linked by the theme of capital punishment and suppression of freedoms, make up this Berlin Golden Bear-winning drama from Mohammad Rasoulof. There is great technique in the storytelling, and Rasoulof’s outrage at the state-sanctioned murder gives the film passion.
How do you outdo a classic? Steven Spielberg’s new version of the timeless musical pulls it off in style.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Louis Wain, the Victorian painter who painted cats. This film is a tender story about mental health that is both imaginatively and empathetically portrayed.
A talented teenage Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland dreams of Olympic gold in Elie Grappe’s multi-award-winning drama. This g=film is being shown as part of the ‘UK Cinemas in Support of Ukraine’ fundraising initiative.
Last Night In Soho delivers on an epic 60s soundtrack to transport the viewer into swinging Soho of yesteryear. However, the transition from a potentially cheesy musical movie into a gory, gritty and deadly dalliance with the past will keep audiences guessing, with twists and turns aplenty ensuring they can never fully relax into knowing what will come next.
Nominated for 6 Oscars, King Richard is a US drama following the father of aspiring tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams as he tries to help his daughters achieve their dreams. King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling, and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.
This intense, bold film plays out over three days at Christmas, ten years after Charles had married Di and on the cusp of their split. They can barely look at each other and Di’s behaviour spirals to near-madness. Kristen Stewart’s remarkable performance makes this a “fable of true tragedy”.
This tale of a man who must fight his way out of the traps inside his own head emerges as one of the best and most-resonant films of the lockdown era. Ahmed, who spent months learning drumming and American Sign Language for the film, is a revelation.