It is more than a decade since the London-born star of I May Destroy You moved to the US. Now, he has directed the first Black-led British Christmas filmAml Ameen has one of those big, light-the-room smiles – and he deploys it freely, even to those phy…
Even Mice Belong in Heaven review – stop-motion voyage to animal afterlife
While it’s unusually candid about death, this Czech kids’ animation resorts to tedious quests and life lessons in lieu of a plotMovies aimed at very small children tend to be a bit squeamish about death. So this afterlife-for-kids animation gets points…
True Calling review – a government minister goes awol on long night of the soul
A politician’s long night of the soul becomes a confusing debate on the climate crisis in Erik Knudsen’s tiny-budget dramaThis tiny-budget British drama, written and directed by Erik Knudsen, begins intriguingly as the government’s energy minister goes…
The Tape review – Cornish-set folk musical bobs along like a floating flip-flop
A disillusioned musician stumbles upon inspiration in a charming film debut from folk singer Martha TilstonEnglish folk singer Martha Tilston pulls off an impressive hat-trick of debuts as writer, director and star of this sweet-natured and gently char…
From the Vine review – laugh-free comedy of midlife Italian escape
Joe Pantoliano stars as a disaffected executive setting out to revive his grandfather’s vineyard in this tiresomely whimsical taleAn Italian-American man in late middle age rejects the rat race and embarks on a voyage of self-discovery and winemaking i…
The Toll review – toll booth man with no name fights back in jokey Welsh western
Michael Smiley is the toll operator facing up to his murky past in this fusion of western and black comedyFather Ted meets the old west in this entertaining black comedy set in rural Pembrokeshire – “where English people come to die”, according to graf…
Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon review – a magical tale with a sense of adventure
Despite its frantic antics, this family animation from Peru is told from the welcome perspective of indigenous charactersHere is a family animation from Peru that spins a magical tale in the Amazon with a cast of mythological creatures from rainforest …