David Parkinson

Exasperatingly trite, but also rather sweet.

A daring, dark satire strewn with allusions to modern times.

An insightful examination of racism, homophobia and identity in Latin America.

A challenging and intelligent Swedish drama that still raises laughs.

A strange story that's no less disturbing for its unbalanced telling.

Although lacking specific context and fussily presented, this is a harrowing account of the Arab Spring as witnessed by seven reluctant and committed activists in Libya, Syria and Bahrain. The footage of the violence inflicted upon civilians is truly terrifying.

A fun and insightful slice of Roman life. Next up, M25: The Movie?

A powerful and provoking take on a violent and volatile era.

Farhadi’s gifted storytelling and direction is on show again in a damning look at Iranian society.

As startling and bleakly compelling as you'd expect from this rare combination of director and subject.

A painful and poignant excoriation of the American dream.

At the venerable age of 84, documentary maven Wiseman hasn't lost his touch.

Filipino maven Diaz delivers a bravura, literary human drama that does justice to its great source material.

An intriguing look at a lost voice.

A sparse and languid Italian thriller that carries a debt to Melville.

Shot with grace and precision but paced with all the urgency of a Sunday afternoon stroll, Joanna Hogg's Haneke-lite study of an English middle class family is a well-crafted affair elevated by terrific moments.

A romance not nearly as seductive as its lead actress.

As meticulous as one of Claudel's sculptures, Hors Satan director Dumont and his star do this true-life story justice with an empathetic telling.

A road trip movie filled with simple pleasures. Ashmore does a solid job as a mariachi musician without a single grenade-launcher in his guitar case

Despite visceral moments, it often feels like an excuse to use footage that didn’t make the 2010 film.

Forte and Peake excel in a notable debut from Green that marks her out as a director to watch.

This leaden relocating of an iconic German saga to 16th-century France isn’t helped by the miscast Mads Mikkelsen’s morose display as Michael Kohlhaas.

Over-the-top but blackly funny along the way.

A fly-on-the-wall look at the band that will thrill fans but may not convert too many non-believers.

A timeless musical treat and the most fun you can have with really elegant clothes on.

A romantic-comedy that isn't funny or romantic.

A snappy, quirky German indie that will thrill fans of early Jim Jarmusch.

A laudably even-handed examination of a highly charged subject.