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Celine Song / USA, S Korea 2023 / 105 min / Cert 12

Writer and director Celine Song’s first feature is a veritable tour de force. It tells the tale of two South Korean childhood sweethearts Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung Teo Yoo) who are painfully separated when Nora’s parents move to Toronto. After years apart their lives intertwine again, but by now Nora is in a relationship with Arthur (John Magaro). Song brings us an achingly beautiful love story, but this thoughtful film offers much more; it is an exploration of how people change over distance and time. Beautiful camerawork and a sublimely understated soundtrack complement the subtle portrayal of emotions by all three principals, resulting in a totally absorbing film.

Cristain Mungiu / Romania 2023 / 133 min / Cert 15 / Subtitles

R.N.M is directed by Cristian Mungiu, (famed for 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days which we showed a few years ago to critical acclaim). His latest film explores the live issue of inherent racism between and within many European ethnic communities. Mathias returns to his village in Transylvania from working in Germany where he experienced racism in the workplace. But his very mixed community is not above doling out similar treatment to Sri Lankans brought in to undercut local workers in a local bakery. Simultaneously, his family crises expose the anger within him and his community. As Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian) says the film is ‘is seriously engaged with the dysfunction and unhappiness in Europe that goes unreported and unacknowledged’ .

Charlotte Regan / UK 2023 / 84 min / Cert 12A

Living alone in her flat, 12-year-old Georgie – Epping Forest’s answer to the Artful Dodger, must confront reality when her estranged father, Jason, shows up out of nowhere. Uninterested in a new parental figure, she remains resistant to his efforts. As they both adjust, Georgie and Jason find that they have a lot of growing up to do. The exact opposite of a kitchen-sink drama, this is a bright, colourful, quirky and moving film, with quite a few laughs thrown in for good measure. ‘…one of those sweet, funny films that takes pleasure in the wonder of youth’ (Chicago Reader).

Rodrigo Sorogoyen / Spain, France 2022 / 138 min / Cert 15

Antoine and Olga have moved from France to a small village in Galicia, Spain. It’s a peaceful life – until Norwegian developers arrive, offering to pay for a wind farm to be built in the neighbourhood. When they disagree with two local brothers on a final decision, tensions rise to the point of no return. Winner of best film at the Dublin International Film Festival and best foreign-language film at the César Awards, the narrative has a phenomenal quality of acting and generates continuous suspense. ‘A terrific, gripping drama that will cross cultural borders with ease. Every nation has such stories.’ (Irish Times)

Alexander Payne / USA 2023 / 123 min / Cert 15 Alexander Payne, who won an Oscar for Sideways in 2004, pairs up again with Paul Giamatti, who plays Paul, a history teacher at an expensive boarding school and very much a loner. He reluctantly becomes a ‘holdover’, an adult tasked with overseeing students who have nowhere to go over the Christmas vacation. Angus, a smart yet rebellious teen (newcomer Dominic Sessa) is his only charge. The pair spend the holiday with cafeteria manager Mary, a grieving mother (played magnificently by Da’Vine Joy Randolph). The three are an unlikely fit, but a subtle script avoids the twin pitfalls of lengthy monologues and sentimentality.

Kristofer Borglum / USA 2023 / 100 min / Cert 15

Nicholas Cage gives a pitch perfect performance as a timid family man, Paul Matthews, who finds his life turned upside down when he starts to appear as an impassive spectator in other people’s dreams. As in life, his presence in these dreams is banal and non-intrusive. However, his nighttime appearances take on a nightmarish turn when his dream selves start, inexplicably, becoming violent and the real Paul is vilified for the terror being unleashed. The film is both funny and sad with Nicholas Cage showing just the right amount of awkwardness and honesty.

Oliver Parker / UK 2023 / 97 min / Cert 12A

Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson give terrific performances in this poignant and thought-provoking film based on a true-life story. 89-year old navy war veteran Bernie absconds from his care home to join fellow veterans to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Landings. We join him on his journey as he reflects on his guilt at surviving the war, when so many of his comrades perished. There is humour in the attempts by Bernie’s wife (Jackson), to cover up his escape. However, the film may leave you with a tear in your eye but there is ‘a huge amount to enjoy from these legendary performers’ (Guardian)