films I've watched in the last year

you've been asking for my opinions weekly, so I thought I'd do a years worth.

1. 2 ou 3 choses que je sais d’elle (1967) dir. Jean-Luc Godard

   

   Starting off strong with a Godard classic - this film uses the back drop of Paris and consumer culture to explore the inner workings of a housewife who lives in a high-rise apartment in Paris with her husband and 2 children. The film goes into what we’ll do and how far we’ll go for the things we want. Godard also uses the characterisation of his subjects as a backdrop to philosophical discussions on the meaning of life. The cinematography in this is gorgeous and the composition of each frame is stunning too.

2. 12 Angry Men (1957) dir Sidney Lumet

   

   This was one of those films which I had obviously heard about but hadn’t got round to watching. I really recommend that people watch films before the 90s/80s because I think some of the best cinema was captured between the 1950s-70s. Obviously that's a few different eras, but I love how a lot of older films felt like stage plays and would be confined to a single location to two, but would use the camera almost like another character or a narrator. This film is a good watch and thoroughly entertaining and also isn’t super long either.

3. 3 Women (1977) dir. Robert Altman

   

   I watched 3 Women after I saw it on a list of recommended films to watch if you enjoyed Persona by Ingmar Bergman. Sissy Spacek’s performances are always so captivating and she just has that *something* behind her eyes. Whilst arguably Shelley Duvall is the bigger name, I think Sissy is the star of the film. The film follows Pinky Rose (Spacek) who begins working at an elderly person’s spa and quickly becomes enamoured with her co-worker Millie Lammoreaux (Duvall). I love films which specifically explore the cruelty between women and the power dynamics that can appear in our relationships towards one another. Pinky and Millie both love each other but Pinky’s infatuation with Millie and the pedestal she puts her own means that that love slowly turns to resentment.

4. The 14 (1973) dir. David Hemmings

   

   I always find it interesting when actors become directors and the stories they decide to tell when in that role. David Hemmings does an incredible job with The 14 and the entire cast is electric and the film is full of so much love. As someone who wants to make films one thing that I really love and hope to do one day is work with children on screen because they always feel so multi-layered and captivating.

5. A Single Man (2009) dir. Tom Ford

   

   Obviously the costumes in this film are incredible. The writing less so. Julianne Moore is the best actor in this film in my opinion. Saying all of this, I am patiently waiting for another Tom Ford film and if at any point he wants to come back to fashion that would be much appreciated too but I hope he does both!

6. Abigail (2024) dir. Tyler Gillet and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

   

   I think I watched this in the cinema with some friends earlier this year. I remember thinking that the characters seemed cringe and the story felt predictable but I was pleasantly surprised at how it didn’t shy away from gore, and even at some points did feel scary. Melissa Barrera is great in the film and is definitely a standout in terms of performance.

7. Adaptation (2002) dir. Spike Jonze

   

   This film is really cool. It’s just a fun film where everything is kinda meta. I wanted to know at what point did Charlie Kaufman decide that this was the film he was going to write? Meryl Streep gives such a wonderful and convincing performance and it’s one of those films where I’m like “you are just miles ahead of everybody else in terms of acting”. Nicolas Cage is incredible though and I completely forgot he played literal twins. A fun watch, highly recommend.

8. Alien: Romulus (2024) dir. Fede Alvarez

   

   I went into this thinking that it would be a “maybe average” at best film, but it was actually thoroughly entertaining. I thought the jump scares were great too.

9. All of Us Strangers (2023) dir. Andrew Haigh

   

   I watched this on my Mum’s birthday all the way back in January and it was the best and worst decision I’d made that day. Incredibly carthatic and a beautiful tale about how we form connection and the idea of longing in the abyss of grief. I think the best performance was definitely Andrew Scott, what he brought to the role in terms of honesty in emotion was refreshing. Considering this film is an adaptation, I enjoyed the fact that Andrew Haigh made it more personal through the queerness (or non queerness) of his characters.

10. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) dir. Edward Berger

    

    I remember in the 2023 awards season when I was so confused as to why this film won almost every award at the BAFTAs and Oscars that year. Now I totally get it. When we say filmmaking, this is what we mean. The attention to detail is incredible and the production design alone makes this film a masterpiece.

11. American Fiction (2023) dir. Cord Jefferson

    

    I have a thing about films made by Black people which are essentially made for white people but this didn’t feel like one of them. I think Cord Jefferson’s writing is clever and gives subtle nod to the hypocrisies and inner turmoil we all face as Black artists. Visually, this film was great and I loved the colour grade. It’s nice to watch a film where the grade suits everyone.

12. American Psycho (2000) dir. Mary Harron

    

    I hadn’t watched this film till early this summer. I’m struggling to find words to describe this film or its visceral experience because everything that could’ve possibly been said about it, has already been said. Christian Bale’s performance *chef’s kiss*. Will the next Patrick Bateman live up to his performance? Absolutely not. Does it matter? No, because we’ve always got this one to watch.

13. Anatomy of a Fall (2023) dir. Justine Triet

    

    Sandra Huller is a force of nature and is one of the best actresses of our generation. Set in the French Alps, this film tells the tale of a woman, Sandra (Sandra Huller), who has been accused of her husband’s murder. Their only child, Daniel (played by Milo Machado-Graner), is blind and also happens to be the only witness to the incident. The film takes place primarily in two spaces, the court room and their isolated family home. The story is a playground for the exploration of everyday ‘mundane’ themes like relationships and marriage, children, routine and monotony - all things that simultaneously control our lives. The backdrop of the Court House also sheds light on misogyny as a deeply ingrained societal structure and the interesting catch 22 of being a “successful woman”. Everything about this film is almost perfect to me, the writing is exquisite, the framing of faces and they way they’re used to further the story and show contradictory perspectives is amazing. A well thought out film that deserved all of its praise.

14. An Education (2009) dir. Lone Scherfig

    

    Men suck. Why when they see a young woman with a lust for life and some talent they immediately work on squandering it. Seriously, go get a real job.

15. Anora (2024) dir. Sean Baker

    

    I watched Anora before all of the online discourse about the film, including the stuff about Sean Baker and his politics and I’m happy that I did. Mikey Madison is more than incredible and embodies the character of Ani so willingly and earnestly. It’s so refreshing to see a younger actor to let themselves go for a character and not be concerned with external judgement post release.

16. Arrival (2016) dir. Dennis Villeneuve

    

    The creature is really beautiful. I did watch this film half asleep at like 2am after Christmas Dinner so I need to rewatch.

17. Autumn Sonata (1978) dir. Ingmar Bergman

    

    There’s a lot I could say about this film but the first thing I’d say is that after I finished watching it, it immediately got moved into my top 5. Its that thing once again that always gets me “the cruelty between women” but I also just think that nowadays its rare for us to see mother-daughter dynamics that don’t feel super cliche. Bergman uses his characters as a springboard for exploration of the self, introspection and philosophical thought more than anything.

18. Azor (2021) dir. Andreas Fontana

    

    I can’t really remember this film.

19. Badlands (1973) dir. Terrence Malick

    

    Went down a Sissy Spacek rabbit hole and watched this film as a consequence. It’s so good.

20. Beau Travail (1999) dir. Claire Denis

    

    This is such a beautiful film about the layers of masculinity and an interesting look at the way men relate and form intimate relationships with one other. Adjudant-Chef Galoup (Denis Lavant) of the French Foreign Legion reflects on his life from his home in Marseille (shoutout Marseille, the place of reflection for real).

21. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) dir. Martin Brest

    

    I grew up with the understanding that Eddie Murphy was the fun cool movie guy that my mum was so obsessed with. Watching this movie made me understand why. His ability to be so charismatic on screen whilst also subtly playing the inner emotions of his characters is why he’s a film legend and forever a scene-stealer.

22. Bird (2024) dir. Andrea Arnold

    

    I had no idea what to expect when I went into watching this film. I watched it at London Film Festival and so I’d heard good reviews from those who’d seen it before me. Andrea Arnold tells a story of a young girl, Bailey. As always Arnold continues her theme of animal imagery within the fabric of the worlds she builds. This time, with Bird being a physical character played by Franz Rogowski. Rogowski is one of my favourite current working actors, his face is so unique and there’s an element of aloofness and mystery he brings to all his roles, which works really well in this film in particular. That aloofness and mystery intertwines well with Bailey’s innocent childlike imagination and wandering eye and acts as a really nice relief from the harder themes of this film. Barry Keoghan was great in this but I definitely think the other two carry the film.

23. Birth (2004) dir. Jonathan Glazer

    

    Every time anyone tries to discredit the talent that is Nicole Kidman, I always reference films like Birth and To Die For. Birth follows Anna (Kidman), whose first husband dies and years later gets engaged to Joseph (X). One day, a young boy knocks on Anna’s door claiming to be the reincarnation of her deceased husband.

    I think it’s such a shame that when this showed at Venice it was booed and thought it was too pretentious from a director like Jonathan Glazer. I disagree with the previous sentiment and think the art of this film lies in its subtle ridiculousness in the face if topics like grief, love, hurt and betrayal. There are also a lot of funny moments in this film which I think aligns with what people expected from Glazer after sexy beasts. It’s also so visually beautiful and wonderfully shot. This is one of my favourite Kidman performances and so I highly recommend it.

24. Black Box Diaries (2024) dir. Shiori Ito

    

    I watched this film at London Film Festival and I had such a visceral reaction to it - I couldn’t stop sobbing in the cinema. First of all Shiori Ito is an incredibly strong woman and I think that being able to witness just 100 minutes of her pure strength over a 7 year period felt like a huge privilege. In the form of a documentary, Ito takes us through the process of trying to navigate and get justice for her experience of rape by a prominent Japanese journalist.

25. Blink Twice (2024) dir. Zoe Kravitz

    

    One of my friends called this film the Get Out but for women and I agree, when you watch it with that in mind it does feel like a small rip off. However, the cinematography and grading is lovely.

26. Blade Runner (1982) dir. Ridley Scott

    

    I watched this in the context of having to for a uni module, so you would think I would have paid attention but not really. I think I got distracted because I kept trying to figure out whereabouts in the book we were in each scene and then got confused because of the addition/removal of certain characters. Obviously, its one of those films that everyone talks about and it is a good film just entirely unforgettable to me.

27. Blow-Up (1966) dir. Michelangelo Antonioni

    

    David Hemmings stars as a cocky fashion photographer who accidentally photographs a murder. I did enjoy this film but mainly for its costume design and colour grading more than anything else. I got confused at the storyline but it’s not complicated, I fear I was just not paying much attention.

28. Bottoms (2023) dir. Emma Seligman

    

    Bottoms is one of those films that takes inspiration from a super fab era of comedy but makes it Gen Z and gay.

29. Born in Flames (1983) dir. Lizzie Borden

    

    This film is a utopian/dystopian docufiction set in the future about a group of women who rebel against a new socialist government regime. Lizzie Borden is an incredible director but this is definitely not one of my fave films from her.

30. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) dir. Martin McDonagh

    

    This film is worth watching just for Barry Keoghan’s line n bb “well there goes that dream”.

31. Caliber 9 (1972) dir. Fernando Di Leo

    

    This was a fun film that I really enjoyed watching. Sometimes I think that I am no better than a man because the perfect film to me is one which contains guns, violence, blood and beautiful women.

32. Camille Claudel (1988) dir. Bruno Nuytten

    

    Had a week where I went through an Isabella Adjani phase and tried to watch everything she’s been in ever but I didn’t wholly vibe with this film. I might try to rewatch it soon to see if it was just me not really paying attention.

33. Caprice (1986) dir. Joanna Hogg

    

    I watched this recently because I realised that I hadn’t watched anything with Tilda Swinton in apart from the Narnia movies which I loved so much as a child.

34. Carol (2015) dir. Todd Haynes

    

    This film is beautifully shot and I am a big fan of Todd Haynes’ work. This film is like the personification of loving someone even when they’re bad for you and fundamentally they don’t respect you, you’re just filing a hole for them. That’s my main takeaway. And also it’s a gorgeous sapphic film.

35. Carry-On (2024) dir. Jaume Collet-Serra

    

    I did not enjoy this film.

36. Casino (1995) dir. Martin Scorcese

    

    Ok I didn’t love this film. Controversial sorry.

37. Challengers (2024) dir. Luca Guadagnino

    

    So much has happened this year that the Challengers craze fills like a lifetime ago. Shoutout Broadway Cinema in Nottingham because I got to see the film there before it officially came out. I had such an enjoyable experience, I think it is a cinema film because upon reflection I don’t know whether I would have loved it as much if the images of three hot people weren’t on a massive huge screen for all of us oggle at. I thought the costume design and the way it was an integral part of the story was great.

38. Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962) dir. Agnès Varda

    

    I really love this film especially the first few minutes. As a writer and artist I’m so specifically interested in stories about the cruelty between women and I think that opening scene is a great example of the dynamic where the words of other women, especially those who are older than you, can change the course of your life. I just love films about dramatic women losing the plot because that is literally me most of the time.

39. Conclave (2024) dir. Edward Berger

    

    I watched this in the cinema a few days after it had come out and I was obsessed. I had gone into central that day to get some work done and said fuck it I’ll go to the cinema instead and I’m happy that this is the film that I watched. A funny look into the papacy and what it takes to fight for that inaugural spot. I have also ended up on Conclave stan twitter which I love.

40. Cries and Whispers (1972) dir. Ingmar Bergman

    

    I chose this still from Cries and Whispers particularly for the red in the scene. Whilst Bergman’s earlier films were in black and white, his coloured films often use the colour red as a motif. This film centres the relationship between three sisters with one of them being terminally ill. It’s a beautiful film and the intimacy feels very raw. The set design is probably my favourite part of this film.

41. The Cement Garden (1993) dir. Andrew Birkin

    

    I’m going to have to be honest that I found this film hard to watch due to its dark underbelly. That being said, it is a gorgeously shot and directed film which manages to display childlike inquiry and curiosity so beautifully. The physical landscape of the film, set in a rubbled, grey and disregarded back garden which I see as a metaphor for death, longing and grief is beautifully juxtaposed to the blossoming self discovery and familial-esque relationship we see between siblings.

42. Dangerous Liaisons (1988) dir. Stephen Frears

    

    This would join my list of Sexiest films ever. John Malkovich is incredible in this.

43. Death Proof (2007) dir. Quentin Tarantino

    

    I really loved this film. I do love Tarantino as a filmmaker but I often say he’s definitely the worlds most insufferable person. The car as a vehicle of destruction and almost a character in itself is really cool. I would have chosen another still from this film, the bit where she’s strapped onto the car but felt like a bit of a spoiler.

44. Deep End (1970) dir. Jerzy Skolimowski

    

    What does one say about the genius that is Jerzy Skolimowski and the perverse beauty that is the film. This film contains one of my favourite final shots of any film and till the very last frame, Skolimowski commits himself to showing the lengths we go to keep the object of our infatuation.

45. Despicable Me 4 (2024) dir. Chris Renaud

    

    I was so upset that this film was by far the worst out of all the despicable me films. It was just so lacklustre in terms of the plot and it felt like there were no stakes and Gru didn’t reallyyyy have much to lose because he’s a family man now anyway. The animation was definitely the best out of all the films and I love how bright and colourful children’s films still are.

46. Didi (2024) dir. Sean Wang

    

    I took my sister to see this film as I thought it would be a cute film and afternoon date. I was so right (go me) but the main thing was I didn’t expect this film to be as funny as it was.

47. Django Unchained (2012) dir. Quentin Tarantino

    

    The whole time I was watching this I couldn't stop thinking about the Black actors who got were cast in a Tarantino film and were probably gassed about their big break just to find out they’d be playing a slave out of many slaves.

48. Do the Right Thing (1989) dir. Spike Lee

    

    One of the most iconic and fun opening credits of all time.

49. Don’t look Now (1973) dir. Nicolas Roeg

    

    The opening couple of minutes of this film is incredible. The stain glass, the ink over the film, the feeling that something is going to go wrong but everything looks so beautiful.

50. Drive-Away Dolls (2024) dir. Ethan Coen

    

    This film was thoroughly disappointing. I usually love Margaret Qualley because she’s an incredible actress who’s kind of up for anything but this film was not it. Felt boring which is a shame because sapphic films often feel so far and few between.

51. Du côté de la côte (1958) dir. Agnes Varda

    

    Shoutout the south of France.

52. The Delta (1996) dir. Ira Sachs

    

    This film is a really interesting depiction of the intersection between race, class and sexuality its flip-flopping power dynamics.

53. The Departed (2006) dir. Martin Scorcese

    

    “The Departed” in Matt Damon’s voice was stuck in my head for at least a week.

54. The Devils (1971) dir. Ken Russell

    

    Ken Russell is one of the greatest British filmmakers and after watching Women in Love I was keen to watch The Devils. I love the campness that bleeds into Russell’s films and how exaggerated everything is. He depicts love and sexuality in all encompassing way: from heartbreak to horny. The collaboration between Russell and Oliver Reed is one of the best in cinema and his performance in this and Women in Love (especially the bullfighting scene) is one of my favourites ever.

55. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) dir. Julian Schnabel

    

    I wasn’t the biggest fan of this film but I appreciate the fact that it is objectively an interesting film about self-exploration and reflection as a consequence of unexpected/uncontrollable change. The first person perspective bothered me for about 5 minutes but then I realised the frustration I felt was clearly intentional from the way it was shot/directed for us to empathise with the character.

56. The Doom Generation (1995) dir. Gregg Araki

    

    Gregg Araki is the father of bisexuality and his weird and wacky mind is a gift to humanity.

57. The Dreamers (2003) dir. Bernardo Bertolucci

    

    One of my favourite sub-genres of film is when there’s a girl or woman who has two guys obsessed with her and she manages to get them to get with each other. exploration of bisexual threesome dynamics.

58. Elephant (2003) dir. Gus Van Sant

    

    Gus Van Sant is one of my favourite filmmakers, even though I know little about him and more about his films and the way they make me feel. In a similar way to Denis Villeneuve with Polytechnique, Van Sant somehow conveys sympathy towards even his most fucked up characters in a way that doesn’t feel fetishistic.

59. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) dir. Michel Gondry

    

    This is one of those films that I should have watched earlier and I don’t really know why I didn’t.

60. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) dir. Stanley Kubrick

    

    A film about a man who is completely oblivious to his wife’s sexual desires and is absolutely frightened of his own. Iconic film. A must watch. Nicole Kidman amazing as always. Tom Cruise is great even though he’s Tom Cruise. I feel like you have to watch this film as a mandatory requirement if you’re interested in films.

61. The Edge of Heaven (2007) dir. Fatih Akin

    

    I was so impressed by this film because it took me to unexpected places aFrom the first 5 minutes, you wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell that it would pan out in the way it would. A story about the lives of three (maybe four?) people who’s lives and fates all somehow intersect without them ever realising. Near misses, coincidences etc etc.

62. Fargo (1996) dir. Joel Cohen

    

    I hadn’t watched any films written or directed by the Coen brothers and realised I needed to #lockin. Really funny film with gorgeous cinematography.

63. Female Trouble (1974) dir. John Waters

    

    An incredible film. I love queer cinema it’s so special and so important. Someone give John Waters money to make another film now!

64. Frances Ha (2012) dir. Noah Baumbach

    

    Sweet film about homoerotic female friendships and loving your best friend so much that you hate her boring new boyfriend because you know she deserves better and so you inevitably drift apart because she doesn’t break up with him.

65. Forty Shades of Blue (2005) dir. Ira Sachs

    

    I think what Dina Korzun (Laura) does in this film is so understated. She plays this super quiet character who everyone sort of views in this pitiful way but as the film goes on the audience gets to see her as someone who doesn’t necessarily feel sorry for herself but is making the most of her circumstances/life.

66. The Florida Project (2007) dir. Sean Baker

    

    I cried and cried and cried at the end. BUT SUCH A FUNNY FILM TOO. So wonderful. I admire any director who successfully manages to work with kids because they’re so precious and their acting is so earnest and true.

67. Gia (1998) dir. Michael Cristofer

    

    Angelina Jolie is just an incredible actor. Her performance in this film is gut-wrenching and in moments feels really real.

68. Gladiator II (2024) dir. Ridley Scott

    

    I have never, and I reiterate never, gone on my phone and scrolled in the cinema and this film made me do exactly that. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. This is a film I suggest that people never watch. Sorry, not (ever going to be) sorry.

69. Girl, Interrupted (1999) dir. James Mangold

    

    Angelina Jolie is the ultimate scene stealer. Winona Ryder eats in this too.

70. The Go-Between (1971) dir. Joseph Losey

    

    Dominic Guard is incredibly charming as Leo Coulston in this film and portrays navigating the summer heat and sweltering confusion of lust, love and adolescence really well.

71. The Goob (2014) dir. Guy Myhill

    

    Poor Goob. Just want to give him a hug.

72. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) dir. Sergio Leone

    

    Love a Western but I watched this straight after I watched A Fistful of Dollars and to me that film was better than this one and I also think Clint Eastwood’s performance is more captivating in that.

73. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) dir. Wes Anderson

    

    I hadn’t really watched any of Wes Anderson’s films before Asteroid City so I thought I’d give this a watch. His films are so whimsical and the set design is always great. The narrative in this is a bit meh but i will watch for the pretty sets and colourful costumes.

74. Hanami (2024) dir. Denise Fernandes

    

    I watched this film at LFF. It’s a sweet story about an orphaned girl who feels like something about herself and her heritage is missing. The film is essentially split into two parts with young. I found the first half more enjoyable because I often find that younger children on screen bring this unpredictability which can make films more energetic, even in their stillness.

75. Hardcore (1979) dir. Paul Schrader

    

    This film was so funny and I watched it in the cinema with one of my best friends. I had no idea what to expect and took it really serious at first until I realised that its very much a comedy.

76. Heretic (2024) dir. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods

    

    Is Hugh Grant’s character scary or is he just British? Good film would recommend as a fun film to watch on a movie night that isn’t scary so works for everyone.

77. Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1959) dir. Alain Resnais

    

    If I made a list of sexiest films ever this would be up high on the list.

78. Hoard (2023) dir. Luna Carmoon

    

    This was a rewatch and every time I watch it it gets better. Luna Carmoon has come to save British Cinema so I highly encourage everyone to watch this film. It’s so beautiful and tapped into something in me that just stayed. I still don’t know what that thing is but forever thankful of Luna’s gift of vulnerability and tapping into our inner darkness.

79. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) dir. Donald Petrie

    

    I watched this film with my housemate when we moved in because she referenced it and I said I hadn’t actually watched it. It’s such a girls night film but also it is well shot so worth watching even if you hate rom-coms. I fear I am the rom-com grinch but once in a while it doesn’t hurt.

80. Hyenas (1992) dir. Djibril Diop Mambéty

    

    This film is so vibrant and the cinematography is gorgeous. It’s forever going to be on the mood board.

81. The Hours (2002) dir. Stephen Daldry

    

    I’m sure by now you’d be catching onto that this is a Nicole Kidman stan account. I this film really interesting because I didn’t really connect with it in the way it seems everyone else did and I didn’t understand why this was her Oscar-winning performance because I feel like she’s better in everything else. Meryl Streep is the standout though.

82. Immoral Tales (1973) dir. Walerian Borowczyk

    

    This film is a series of shorts about teenage/pre-teen and sexual desire and the intersection of morality and sex. More accurately, I think each film is a depiction of different girls’ first sexual encounters and how they vary. It’s a film that I highly doubt would ever be made today and massive trigger warning for inc*st with the first short. They’re all so beautifully shot and each films colour grade, framing, location, set design, costuming is spectacular. It’s another film which for me will always be a point of inspiration and reference. Interestingly, this film can be watched on French Mubi but not on the UK one and I wonder if it’s to do with the cultural differences around sex in the two countries. I do think films like this are important and have the right to exist because to me art should always be the pursuit/revelation of truth, no matter how ugly. I also believe the purpose of film as a medium is to highlight and interrogate human nature on a larger and more accessible scale.

83. In Bed with Victoria (2016) dir. Justine Triet

    

    Can’t really remember this film but love Justine Triet.

84. In Camera (2024) dir. Naqqash Khalid

    

    I’d never watched something that has adequately depicted the loneliness and somewhat emptiness of being a non-white artist in the creative/entertainment industries. This film follows Aden (Nabhaan Rizwan), a rarely-booked young actor who is going through slog of auditions, rejections and micro-aggressions. I saw Nabhaan Rizwan in Paris recently at a party and told him that his performance was incredible. He was like “You watched In Camera?” - YES and everyone should to.

85. Incoherence (1994) dir. Bong Joon-ho

    

    Such a clever short film. Split into what appear to be three separate stories, you do really have to watch the whole thing to get it. Even when I was confused, I loved how each “episode” explored different cinematic techniques and it just felt really fun and silly. It’s definitely something I will go back and watch and will go on the moodboard because it is fun. I want to make a fun short film like this. Also it’s really cool to see a popular filmmaker’s old work and seeing how things they explored and experimented with in the past are still significant in their recent / more established work. Bong Joon-ho is the coolest guy.

86. In the Mood for Love (2000) dir. Wong Kar-wai

    

    A sexy film. A film where intimacy and desire is at the centre but the two leads never touch. A personal motif in a lot of my own storytelling is food and I really love the way food was used as an entry way to intimacy here. Also something that I feel people don’t talk about enough when it comes to this film is the costume design and the styling. Immaculate.

87. Incendies (2010) dir. Denis Villeneuve

    

    Wow. What a film. Two stories which overlap as one, highlighting the synchronicities in our lives and lives of the people who came before us. I went down a Denis Villeneuve rabbit hole after realising i’d never watched any of his films (I haven’t watched any of the Dunes) and I’m glad I came across this film.xbb

88. Inside Out 2 (2024) dir. Kelsey Mann

    

    This film was sooooooooo good. I wish I had it when I was younger. I cried during it because it’s so real and remembering how scary puberty was and how scary anxiety felt for the first time.

89. Inglourious Basterds (2009) dir. Quentin Tarantino

    

    I rewatched this on Christmas Day with my siblings and my cousin because I saw it on Netflix and forced them to. One of my favourite Tarantino films just from the opening 20 minutes / first sequence alone. I think the writing and world building is so clever and it’s so rhythmic and entertaining despite the heavy themes. I like the fact that Tarantino’s historical dramas always have the alternative ending structure which works because film is a medium of imagination.

90. Jane B. par Agnès V. (1988) dir. Agnès Varda

    

    Suchhhhhh a good film. I love the way Varda breaks the fourth wall in her films. This is also one of my favourite mirror shots in any film ever.

91. Jill, Uncredited (2022) dir. Anthony Ing

    

    I don’t know why I found this film so eery. It’s a short film about a woman whose career was being an extra in all your favourite classics and it takes stills and short scenes from every single piece she was in. I think the reason I found it so creepy is because it highlights how someone can be in the fabric of everything that’s super important/relevant to you but somehow they are entirely invisible at the same time.

92. Jodie (2024) dir. Seb Tabe

    

    Great short from Seb Tabe. The contents of the story is something I haven’t really seen in British film in that way where the focus is on the girl, rather than the men exploiting her.

93. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) dir. Quentin Tarantino

    

    I always say that Tarantino is probably one of the most insufferable people on the planet and as of late he just continues to prove me right but he is an incredible storyteller and his films will forever be a foundational pillar within the history of cinema. If you haven’t watched Kill Bill and you’re walking around without having seen it then you are a maniac (as I clearly was) and evidently don’t value your life or free will enough.

94. Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004) dir. Quentin Tarantino

    

    The better film out of the two but it doesn’t really count because technically it is just one film. Uma Thurman is the baddest of baddest bitches. Tarantino’s best films even though it’s not my favourite.

95. Kinds of Kindness (2024) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

    

    When I was watching this film in the cinema I was so confused the whole time not because the short stories themselves are confusing (this film is comprised of three short films in one) but because the actors were so committed to the bit for a film that exists for the fun of making it. Little press. No awards buzz. Nothing about it from the actors involved. With all of this in mind, it was a fun little film where you accept the absurdities because everything else about it is also not normal. 90% of the frames in this film have either red, yellow or blue featured in it, so I chose this still as one of the few that didn’t. The cinematography in this film is great too and I think I will rewatch it soon just for the funsies.

96. La Chimera (2023) dir. Alice Rohrwacher

    

    I didn’t really connect to this film in the same way that other people did but I can appreciate how gorgeous the cinematography is. Josh O’Connor’s performance is great too.

97. Lady Vengeance (2005) dir. Park Chan-wook

    

    Such a good film. The scene which the still is taken from is funny and fucked up all at once. The overall theme of vengeance especially from the perspective of a woman taking action is really fun. The cinematography is also amazing and for that alone, this will definitely be getting a re-watch soon.

98. Last Swim (2024) dir. Sasha Nathwani

    

    When I watched this for the first time I got confused as to why Deba’s voice sounded posh and then I realised oh she’s acting.

99. Layer Cake (2004) dir. Matthew Vaughn

    

    Just asked my friend if this was the first “pew pew” film that Daniel Craig did before James Bond.

100. L’Atalante (1934) dir. Jean Vigo

     

     Such a sweet sweet film. The writing is great in this too. Super important cinema classic to watch!

101. Lèvres de Sang (1975) dir. Jean Rollin

     

     A film about longing to be with a hot character or person you saw in a dream once. So real and relatable.

102. Le Bonheur (1965) dir. Agnes Varda

     

     Another film which shows that men just suck. Never give your all to a man. Don’t do it.

103. Le Départ (1967) dir. Jerzy Skolimowski

     

     Skolimowski films are just injected with a certain childlike whimsy and passion which is just gorgeous. This shot with the mirror is one of my favourites ever and Jean-Pierre Lèaud is such a fun actor to watch.

104. Le Mépris (1963) dir. Jean-Luc Godard

     

     This film is really good. Definitely up there as one of my favourite narratives of his. However it sucks that Bridgette Bardot is a racist rat.

105. L’Été Meurtrier (1983) dir. Jean Becker

     

     I love when women are insane and it looks unprovoked but there is always a reason. This film is so sickly and sweet visually, but that masks a story about the complexities of generational trauma which is embodied through its central character Eliane (Isabelle Adjani).

106. Leon: The Professional (1994) dir. Luc Besson

     

     Natalie Portman ate in this film and its such a shame she couldn’t enjoy her success at the time because men are weird.

107. Lick the Star (1998) dir. Sofia Coppola

     

     This is Sofia Coppola’s first short film and it endearing and funny and bitchy and encapsulates the all encompassing dramatic life of being a teenage girl which she later went on to show in subsequent films.

108. Lucy (2014) dir. Luc Besson

     

     I actually cannot remember watching this film but it’s on my list so I definitely watched it I think I watched it at a friends house and fell asleep lol.

109. The Long Good Friday (1980) dir. John Mackenzie

     

     They don’t make gangster actors like Bob Hoskins anymore.

110. The Loneliest Planet (2011) dir. Julia Loktev

     

     Found the film quite boring and I don’t think I finished it/ can’t remember.

111. Maestro (2023) dir. Bradley Cooper

     

     It’s such a shame no one liked this film or Bradley Cooper very much. It’s not a terrible film at all it’s actually shot really well and written well but I just find Bradley Cooper so boring sorry.

112. Melody (1971) dir. Waris Hussein

     

     Incredibly sweet and funny film. Jack Wild such a scene stealer as always what a talent.

113. Mulholland Drive (2001) dir. David Lynch

     

     So much to say about this film but I will only talk about one thing. First of all, the day after I started writing this review David Lynch died bro and I was so upset it’s taken me about 10 days to return to it. Everyone should watch this film. When they’re sitting in the theatre and the woman is lipsyncing and yet they have such a visceral reaction to her performance and you can feel the emotion through the screen and the further entanglement of these two women… it feels so heavy yet we know that what we are witnessing is not real…and the way everyone’s faces are lit and the close ups…how did Lynch think of this. He was connected to the moon and I hope he visits me in my dreams.

114. Mysterious Skin (2004) dir. Gregg Araki

     

     This film has stuck with me for a long time. It’s one of the few Gregg Araki films which differs slightly from its wacky visual imagery and narrative structure and that wackiness is provided through the characters. This film is what it feels like to have the past stuck in the walls, to be re triggered or forever triggered without you even knowing. I feel like the topic of child SA was handled with such care and in such a real and raw way. The narrative structure and the contrast and juxtaposition between the young (x) storyline versus that of his older self was fascinating. You always know. You can always feel it, there’s a need to escape but you don’t know why. Araki depicts the way trauma sticks in such a magical way.

115. My Old Ass (2024) dir. Megan Park

     

     Had a real giggle with this film.

116. My Summer of Love (2004) dir. Pawel Pawlikowski

     

     This film features a young Emily Blunt and I love her character. I think it’s that classic tale of rich girl adopts poorer girl to become besties with and so their relationship follows that typical dynamic but is more sapphic which I love. Definitely a good film. Would recommend.

117. Nanny (2022) dir. Nikyatu Jusu

     

     I started this film and never finished it but it is something I do wish to revisit.

118. Nénette et Boni (1996) dir. Claire Denis

     

     Oh what a gorgeous film by Claire Denis. The film follows two siblings, Nénette and Boni who navigate their estranged relationship amidst their parents separation and mother’s death. It’s set in Marseille which is one of my favourite places in the world but in a time where it wasn’t gentrified lol. If you loved Gregoire Colin in Beau travail then you’ll love to see this younger version of him in this film.

119. Nomadland (2020) dir. Chloe Zhao

     

     Similar to All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), this was another film that I hadn’t understood the hype about because I simply hadn’t watched it lool. Incredible film with acting legend Frances McDormand as the lead. She depicts grief, loneliness in the face of longing so well. This film also has some of the best cinematography that I’ve seen in recent times.

120. Nowhere (1997) dir. Gregg Araki

     

     I definitely think that this is the horniest and strangest of Gregg Arak’s films. The production design on this film is incredible and is a step up from that on The Doom Generation. I do wonder though if I got so high that my mind took me to a Gregg Araki inspired world, I don’t think I would make it out.

121. On Falling (2024) dir. Laura Carreira

     

     Sweet film I watched at LFF. It’s slow in parts but I guess that is the point to highlight themes of loneliness, especially for immigrants or anyone who moves to a different country and is stripped away from their culture and the things they know.

122. Only The River Flows (2023) dir. Wei Shujun

     

     I loved the aspect ratio of this film and the way it was shot and edited and was really engrossed until the ending happened and then I was pissed off. Like dude, be so serious, who ends a film like that.

123. Oslo, August 31st (2011) dir. Joachim Trier

     

     I love the way that Joachim Trier tells stories, specifically in the Oslo trilogy. This film explores narrative structure and the art of storytelling in a way very similar to a film like Peppermint Candy. You’re basically shown the ending first but your opinion of the protagonists changes throughout.

124. Paradise: Love (2012) dir. Ulrich Seidel

     

     I enjoyed this film, despite the fact that it is a hard watch if you’re someone like me who hates sexual tourism. I did think that even though I understood what Ulrich Seidel was trying to achieve in telling this particular story, I think the way it was presented on screen and what was asked of from the African actors felt exploitative but maybe that’s just me. What does it mean for a white artist to tell a story about the bodily exploitation of African men? That being said, I think this film brought up interesting questions around power dynamics both on a societal and interpersonal way.

125. Paris is Burning (1990) dir. Jennie Livingston

     

     This film is so beautiful. It’s a documentary about the ballroom scene in the 80s. I find it really hard to watch films or shows about the Queer people who came before us and knowing how many were killed from the AIDS crisis but also just murdered point blank period - it’s just so tough. SO FUCKING MANY of our cultural slang, references and lexicon come from this scene and the Black and brown drag queens, gay men, lesbians and trans men and women whose hopes and dreams lived in these precious spaces. The Balls (and houses) came from a place of survival and a need to express and foster community and I’m so happy and eternally grateful to Jennie Livingston for documenting it. It’s such a precious piece of art and historical document. Go watch it now.

126. Parasite (2019) dir. Bong Joon-ho

     

     I genuinely don’t know why I had avoided watching Parasite for over 4 years. Obviously such an incredible film. I read the screenplay before I watched the film and it is just such an engaging and strong piece of writing that when it came to watching the film, I felt like I’d already watched it because of how visual the words had been. 10/10 obvs recommend watching. Maybe with your family lol, that would be fun.

127. Peppermint Candy (1999) dir. Lee Chang-dong

     

     You know the ending of the film in the first minute, which is so fun because instead of a film which focuses on the “story” it feels like the focus is on our perception of people as an audience, and whether we can morally say things like “suicide is bad for all people”. Very interesting film and a really good watch.

128. Persona (1966) dir. Ingmar Bergman

     

     Oh, perhaps this is my favourite film. I am torn between this and Autumn Sonata (also by Bergman). I went into this not knowing what to expect and I also can’t remember how I stumbled across Bergman’s work. The thing that I love the most about Bergman’s world is the narrative and the dialogue. The writing is exquisite and it takes you on a journey, despite the fact that often times when his subjects are on a long winded spiel, the camera very rarely cuts away from their face. You’re forced to think about what they are saying and the stories they are recalling and most importantly, how it makes you feel. This film is also visually rich and he (in my opinion) is the master of lighting and framing faces. He plays around with light in ways I would have never considered. It’s magical. This film is magical. And its cruel. And its homoerotic. And its everything to me.

129. Pierrot le Fou (1965) dir. Jean-Luc Godard

     

     “Non, je suis Ferdinand” was stuck in my head for ages. Obsessed with this film. It’s just sooooo good. Costumes and cinematography are 10/10.

130. Playing Away (1987) dir. Horace Ave

     

     I’ve been making a conscious to effort to watch more films by Black filmmakers especially from Britain. It’s annoying though because I scoured the internet for this film and found it eventually but 40 minutes in it just refused to load. it’s a really good fucking film (from what I watched) and really affirms my belief that films were much better in the past in terms of their attention to detail. The costumes in this film are good and so are the side-ish narratives. It feels like it could have been a TV show?

131. Polytechnique (2009) dir. Denis Villeneuve

     

     This film was harrowing to say the least. I think because within the first minute of the film you know exactly how it’ll pan out, it felt helpless for the audience which made you empathise with the characters and also the real life victims of mass shootings/gun violence more.

132. Poor Cow (1967) dir. Ken Loach

     

     The thing I love about Ken Loach’s films is that he follows people that are simply just trying and there’s an honesty in them that’s almost pathetic that you can’t help but feel sorry for them. That’s the beauty in his films and this one is no different. So the name Poor Cow encapsulates it perfectly.

133. Poor Things (2023) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

     

     Yorgos Lanthimos is definitely one of my favourite directors and I love the way he builds worlds that feel so contained, despite the fact you never really know which direction his characters will go in. Controversially, I enjoyed this film overall but I understand the critique of it as male-gazey and misogynistic. It was definitely uncomfortable in some parts but I do think Lanthimos has an awareness of this in his films and isn’t excusing his characters behaviours? Who knows? I hate the rise of purity culture bleeding into cinema and it takes away from what I believe to l

134. Queer (2024) dir. Luca Guadagnino

     

     The first time I watched Queer was at LFF and was so confused and disappointed. I put that down to the marketing because I went into the film expecting one thing and it was something completely different. I watched it again recently and had a completely different view and thought the film was great especially with the editing. I would say you should watch this film for the Ayahuasca scenes alone.

135. Raw (2016) dir. Julia Ducournau

     

     This film made me gag so very much. I couldn’t finish it, especially after this scene. Never seen anyone eat anyone out like this lol.

136. Raining Stones (1993) dir. Ken Loach

     

     Just a Dad who wants the best for his little girl but maybe takes it too far and should probably relax and realise it’s not that deep.

137. Red Eye (2005) dir. Wes Craven

     

     After watching Oppenheimer, I realised that I actually hadn’t watched many films with Cillian Murphy in so that’s how I came across this film. I mean it’s not the best film as in, it’s not a cinematic masterpiece but his performance is great, Rachel McAdams’ isn’t terrible but I think it’s made worse because she had to lean more into the cringey nature of the film. Entertaining watch though. A good film to put on with friends.

138. Red Rooms (2023) dir. Pascal Plante

     

     It’s rare to find films that show women with anti-social or incel type behaviour. This film was like the intersection between the serial killer obsessed woman and the intel type/online chat room type.

139. Reprise (2006) dir. Joachim Trier

     

     Love Joachim Trier. This film is the first of the Oslo trilogy which I recommend. I also love the way he tells stories on screen with all the side stories/tangents because that’s how I speak all the time which annoys everyone but seeing it on screen was so refreshing.

140. Riso Amaro (1949) dir. Giuseppe De Santis

     

     What a wonderful film. After I finished watching this I couldn’t stop thinking about how much better cinema was in terms of storytelling back in the day. The story itself is simple, but what it uncovers, the messiness of love between men and women but also the relationships between women is so thought out. Silvana Mangano is a star and is such a captivating actor and so reflective of the time that the film was made in terms of beauty standards etc etc. Her character has such a free spirit but that also radiates and comes from Mangano herself, the willingness to let go and submit earnestly to a role…doesn’t happen much nowadays.

141. Rope (1948) dir. Alfred Hitchcock

     

     A classic. So obviously you should watch.

142. Sexy Beast (2000) dir. Jonathan Glazer

     

     One of the best opening sequences of a film ever. You should just watch it for the opening sequence alone.

143. Short Sharp Shock (1998) dir Fatih Akin

     

     This is Fatih Akin’s debut and I wasn’t super obsessed with it because it just felt like a german take on La Haine or Pulp fiction or somewhere in the middle of those two films.

144. Simone Barbès ou La Vertu (1980) dir. Marie-Claude Treilhou

     

     Wasn’t fully engaged all the way through this film but i love the dynamic between the two women here. The later half of the film was dead and wasn’t expecting it to end how it did.

145. Snatch (2000) dir. Guy Ritchie

     

     It’s a shame Brad Pitt sucks sooooo much as a person because every time I watch his acting I am truly in awe of his talent. This film is no different and no one does British gangster films like Guy Ritchie.

146. Soul Kitchen (2009) dir. Fatih Akin

     

     This film is silly but entertaining and #real.

147. Surge (2020) dir. Aneil Karia

     

     Ben Whishaw is one of my fave modern actors. The first time I saw him was in “This is Going to Hurt” and everything else I have seen him in since then he’s been amazing. Surge follows an airport security worker who has a mental breakdown due to the stressful nature of his life and work. We follow him through London as he unfolds and unravels. It’s such a brave performance from Whishaw because it's so deeply unhinged and uncomfortable to watch even through a screen, but also because we see it and notice it in our everyday lives anyway if you live in a city and you pay attention.

148. Super-Fly (1972) dir. Gordon Parks Jr.

     

     RIP to that film interviewer bro who missed the opportunity to ask Denzel Washington about Super-Fly in that weird Stanley Kubrick-T-shirt-interview. This film is such an important piece of blaxploitation cinema. The soundtrack is also incredible. Shoutout Curtis Mayfield, banger after banger.

149. Suspiria (1977) dir. Dario Argento

     

     Okay the cuntiest film. The set design in this film is otherworldly and i watched this around Halloween at the Prince Charles Cinema. The score is also incredible and it was stuck in my head for days.

150. The Stepford Wives (2004) dir. Frank Oz

     

     One thing about Nicole Kidman is that she’s always down to do a silly cunty little film and I just love that about her.

151. The Substance (2024) dir. Coralie Fargeat

     

     Not much to say about this film apart from the fact that this will probably be me in 40 years when Gen Beta grow up. Love the memes about which celebs took the substance.

152. The Swimmer (1968) dir. Frank Perry

     

     This was one of the first films I watched in 2024 and it had such a profound impact on me. There was something about the idea of running away from your reality and seeking refuge in something which seems so innocent like swimming that made this film at first glance seem so sweet and buttery. Burt Lancaster plays Ned Merrill.

153. To Die For (1995) dir. Gus Van Sant

     

     Oh what is there to say about this masterpiece. To me this film is the perfect film and I fear it may be my favourite film ever. It combines all the elements of everything I love ever, an unhinged ridiculous woman, incredible campy and gorgeous costumes, unhinged dialogue, awkwardness that you can’t run away from, mockumentary-esque, a familiar vulnerability and innocence which pulls you in and traps you, exceptional dark humour and I could go on and on and on. I think this film is so clever and incorporates all aspects of filmmaking to make its final product so rich and full of life. I feel so submersed in its world. A blessing. Thank you Gus Van Sant.

154. Touki Bouki (1973) dir. Djibril Diop Mambéty

     

     This was a really sweet film about two mischievous teenagers in Dakar who are bored of their lives and fantasise about a more fantastical life in Paris. Djibril Diop Mambéty takes inspiration from the French New Wave and a lot of those techniques are used in his film. The colours in this film are gorgeous so I do recommend if you want to watch a film which is pleasing to the eye.

155. Trainspotting (1996) dir. Danny Boyle

     

     I gagged so hard in that opening toilet scene that I almost threw up. So good, what a classic.

156. Trouble Every Day (2001) dir. Claire Denis

     

     Sexy vampire film I guess? TW for the final scene though that was a tough watch.

157. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) dir. Anthony Minghella

     

     I picked this still because it’s probably the one that describes the essence of the film the most in one singular frame. I feel like if you haven’t watched this already you should for the #culture.

158. The Truman Show (1998) dir. Peter Weir

     

     Ok so I hadn’t watched this film before but obviosuly had seen all the clips and heard all the references so I thought I didn’t neeeeeeeed to watch it. But alas, I was wrong and happy to have watched it now. Just watch it if you haven’t. From the perspective of 25+ years on, I would say the thing in our world now that most resembles the world Truman inhabits are the children of Parent/Family/Mummy vloggers and influencers. I find it so dystopian and so strange that children’s lives are curated for the purpose of views and act as a source of entertainment.

159. Variety (1983) dir. Bette Gordon

     

     A slowerrrr film.

160. Voices (1973) dir. Kevin Billington

     

     Ok so I watched this at the end of 2024 after I had watched Don’t Look Now and I just thought is this just a copy of Don’t Look Now? The strange thing is that they were both realised in the same year so I guess it’s one of those cases where stories about parents losing their children through drowning and mother’s going crazy and tapping into the other side was just an idea floating around in the sky which resulted in two very similar films.

161. Walk on the Wild Side (1962) dir. Edward Dmytryk

     

     Jane Fonda ate in this role. Love a crazy gurl, who’s probably not that crazy and is just young and impressionable. The character dynamics in this film really remind me of those in Riso Amaro (1949).

162. Wanda (1970) dir. Barbara Loden

     

     I wanted to give Wanda a hug.

163. Weekend (2011) dir. Andrew Haigh

     

     Really don’t remember watching this film so maybe I need to rewatch it.

164. Wild Strawberries (1957) dir. Ingmar Bergman

     

     2024 was the year of me discovering Ingmar Bergman and falling in love. Every Bergman film I watch I am excited about the new or interesting way he will capture or frame faces. This probably the most popular still in this film and I personally love it because it really leans into the literal-ness of personal and self reflection.

165. Winter Light (1963) dir. Ingmar Bergman

     

     I find the link between religion and sexual desire really interesting. Something about a hot priest that does something to women and Ingrid Thulin embodies Marta in the most perfect way. Cinematography and framing is 10/10 as always from Bergman but it’s one of the films i started and haven’t finished because I wasn’t immediately hooked to the story. I wonder if Phoebe Waller-Bridge took inspiration from this film for Season 2 of Fleabag.

166. Winter’s Bone (2010) dir. Debra Granik

     

     I can’t believe how young Jennifer Lawrence was when she shot this. Incredible acting obvs because she won an Oscar from it.

167. Women in Love (1969) dir. Ken Russell

     

     Ken Russell is an icon and a legend and Women in Love is a sexy masterpiece. Glenda Jackson is so fucking cool and just an incredible actress. This film is about desire but also women’s cruelty towards men which is just delicious. Love seeing when men are down bad and when it’s in the form of Oliver Reed, it’s just perfection. The bullfighting scene by the fire, and then this scene from the still above and the way she tames and captivates the bull’s attention. INCREDIBLE. SEXY. MAGICAL.

168. Women Talking (2022) dir. Sarah Polley

     

     This film wasn’t bad, I just find this genre of white women feminist religious-trauma culty books or films so boring. So un-profound seriously. And you just know every time its guaranteed to win awards.

169. Working Girls (1986) dir. Lizzie Borden

     

     This is one of those films that a lot of your favourite directors probably love and often reference in their own work but you just wouldn’t know. Lizzie Borden’s films often give women back their voices in ways that don’t feel preachy by simply just showing and depicting their realities.

170. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023) dir. Wes Anderson

     

     I think it’s funny that after all these years this is what finally made The Academy give Wes Anderson an Oscar. Heartbreakingly and tragically comical. It’s a good short film and I was entertained. I do love Wes Anderson’s films.

171. The Wolves Always Come at Night (2024) dir. Gabrielle Brady

     

     I watched this docu-fiction hybrid at LFF at the Southbank centre at a late night screening in NF3 which felt really cosy and intimate. This film is shot so incredibly beautifully and the grading is just gorgeous. I think it captured the rural Mongolian peoples way of life in such a way that didn’t feel overly intrusive. And the camera moves more as an observer than anything else. It drags in some parts but the way the animals are captured on camera is absolutely beautiful and completely magical. The sadness in this film comes from the irony of nature being in harmony in many ways. But I guess how the modern world and capitalism destroys our ability to co-exist and co-habit with animals in a way that feels as spiritual as it does in this film.