The Convert (2024)
★★★★☆
The Convert by Maori director Lee Tamahori, angry as his country is colonised by the British, set in 1834.
Australasia
Shayda (2023)
★★★★☆
Shayda, the heartfelt first feature directed by Noora Niasari, is a compelling story of an Iranian woman fleeing domestic abuse to seek cultural freedom.
A Stitch in Time (2023)
★★★☆☆
A Stitch in Time, a heart-warming Australian film directed by Sasha Hadden, stars Maggie Blinco.
Juniper (2021)
★★★☆☆
Screen legend Charlotte Rampling is magnificently ferocious as a reluctant invalid, estranged bad grandma Ruth in Matthew J Saville’s debut Juniper.
Sequin in a Blue Room (2019) – on demand
★★★★☆
An Australian teen’s obsession with an anonymous sex app ventures into dangerous territory when he is invited into the Blue Room in Samuel Van Grinsven’s stylish gay thriller Sequin in a Blue Room.
BFI Flare: My First Summer (2020) – on demand
★★★★☆
In My First Summer by Katie Found, in rural Australia a sheltered teenage girl suffers a devastating loss but is unexpectedly brought to life by a sudden special connection with a fellow teen.
Babyteeth (2019)
★★★★☆
Babyteeth is a vivid new take on coming-of-age directed by Shannon Murphy from a script that Rita Kalnejais adapted from her play of the same title.
Camino Skies (2019) – Q&A on 13 May and ON DEMAND
★★★★☆
Cathartic documentary following six strangers walking the pilgrim way to Santiago de Compostela.
The True History of the Kelly Gang (2019)
★★★★☆
In The True History of the Kelly Gang Justin Kurzel memorably reimagines the Australian legend in the searing, burning landscapes of Peter Carey’s award-winning novel.
Judy & Punch (2019)
★★★★☆
Judy & Punch by Mirrah Foulkes is a feminist reimagination and reversal of the traditional, violent seaside Punch and Judy puppet show that takes it back its 16th century origins.
BFI LFF 2019: Judy & Punch (2019)
★★★★☆
Judy & Punch by Mirrah Foulkes is a feminist reimagination and reversal of the traditional, violent seaside Punch and Judy puppet show that takes it back its 16th century origins.
BFI LFF Review: They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
★★★★☆
They Shall Not Grow Old, Peter Jackson’s homage to his grandfather, is a technically brilliant remastering, colouring and voicing of First World War footage into 3D to show the horror and futility of war for its ordinary foot soldiers.
BFI LFF 2018 previews (2)
★★★★☆
Previews from the London Film Festival 10-21 October – Shadow, Jinn, The Breaker Upperers, May the Devil Take You and Support the Girls.
Festival of Commonwealth Film 2018
★★★★☆
The first ever Festival of Commonwealth film is on 14 and 15 April at the British Library, London.