Author: James Partridge

Director: Lorcan Finnegan Cast: Imogen Poots, Jesse Eisenberg, Danielle Ryan, Molly McCann Synopsis: In search of a starter home, a young couple follow a mysterious estate agent and get trapped in a strange housing development. Thoughts: I really enjoyed this film but couldn’t shake the feeling that it felt like it would have been better as a one hour episode of a Twilight Zone / Black Mirror type show. Not that that’s a bad thing, of course. Rating:...

Director: Ken Loach Cast: Kris Hitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone Synopsis: Ricky and his family have been fighting an uphill struggle against debt since the 2008 financial crash. An opportunity to wrestle back some independence appears with a shiny new van and the chance to run a franchise as a self-employed delivery driver. It’s hard work, and his wife’s job as a carer is no easier. The family unit is strong but when both are pulled in different directions everything comes to breaking point. Thoughts: SORRY WE MISSED YOU treads common Loach ground, but yet still feels fresh and...

Director: Hlynur Pálmason Cast: Ingvar Sigurdsson, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Hilmir Snær Guðnason Synopsis: In a remote Icelandic town, an off-duty police chief begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair with his late wife, who died in a tragic accident two years earlier. Gradually his obsession for finding out the truth accumulates and inevitably begins to endanger himself and his loved ones. A story of grief, revenge and unconditional love. Thoughts: This slow burn is definitely worth the wait. Unlike a lot of Scandi thrillers, the weight of the film slowly pressed down on you, rather...

Director: Ladj Ly Cast: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga Synopsis: Stephane, only just arrived from Cherbourg, joins the anti criminality brigade of Montfermeil in a sensitive district of the Paris suburbs. Paired up with Chris and Gwada whose methods are sometimes “special” he rapidly discovers the tensions between the various neighborhood groups. When an arrest starts to get out of hand, a drone is filming every move they make. Thoughts: Stunning, powerful, thought provoking, and moving… just a few of the words to describe Ladj Ly modern masterpiece. Went into this totally clean, other than knowing it wasn’t...

Director: Kleber Mendonca Filho, Juliano Dornelles Cast: Bárbara Colen, Thomas Aquino, Silvero Pereira Synopsis: A few years from now… Bacurau, a small town in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita, who lived to be 94. Days later, its inhabitants notice that their community has vanished from most maps. Thoughts: This film will divide people the audience. Some of the people I saw it with loved it… others not so much. Unfortunately, I’m one of the later. It’s not that I hated it, it’s more that I came away from it going “meh”. When the twist...