2017, Ireland/Canada/Luxembourg, 93 minutes, (12A)
Director – Nora Twomey
Pavana is a headstrong 11 year old girl growing up under the Taliban in Afghanistan. She is forced to disguise herself as a boy in order to support her family. A beautiful animation employing a mix of 2D with painted environments and digital paper cut-out segments to weave together a world of conflict and oppressions, showing the strength of girls and the power of stories to sustain hope through dark times.
2017, UK, 107 minutes, (15)
Director – Michael Pearce
A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.
2017, UK/USA, 89 minutes, (15)
Director – Lynne Ramsey
Joaquim Phoenix plays a traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe’s nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
2017, Russia/France, 127 minutes, (15)
Director – Andrei Zvyagntsev
A couple going through a divorce must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments. Eerie thriller of hypnotic, mysterious intensity from Leviathan director
2017, USA, 93 minutes, (15)
Director – Greta Gerwig
A Californian nurse maintains a turbulent bond with her teenage daughter – loving, strong-willed and deeply opinionated – just like her. A feel good film filled with tenderness and wit.
2017, Sweden/Denmark/Germany, 106 minutes, (NR) subtitled
Director – Tarik Saleh
Set against the backdrop of the Egyptian Revolution, this thriller features a police officer who investigates the murder of a woman. What initially seems to be a killing of a prostitute turns into a more complicated case involving the very elite of Egypt.
2017, Chile/Spain, 104 minutes, (R) subtitled
Director – Sebastian Lelio
Daniela Vega plays a transgender singer whose relationship with a much older man is brought abruptly to an end when he suffers a fatal aneurism. Instead of being treated with compassion she is faced with suspicion and contempt from the authorities and hostility from his family. An impressive exposition of courage and strength.
2017, USA, 119 minutes, (15)
Director – Guillermo del Toro
An other worldy fairy tale set against the backdrop of the Cold War era in America. In a hidden high security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in isolation. Her life changes forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a classified experiment.
