Ennio (15)
Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
★★★★

THE life and work of legendary Italian composer Ennio Moriconne, who turned film music into a powerful art form, is finally being celebrated in this compelling documentary which only scratches the surface of this man’s genius.

You may not know his name, but you will recognise his unforgettable work: from Sergio Leone's Westerns — in particular A Fistful of Dollars — to The Untouchables, Cinema Paradiso and Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, for which he finally won an Oscar in 2016, to name but a few.

Five years in the making, Academy Award-winning writer-director Giuseppe Tornatore (for whose films Moriconne wrote the music, starting with Cinema Paradiso) interviewed more than 70 renowned filmmakers, musicians and composers — from Bernardo Bertolucci, Tarantino, Clint Eastwood to Hans Zimmer, Quincy Jones and Bruce Springsteen — about his prolific work (penning over 500 scores for film and television) and his influence upon them.

But it is his one-on-one interview with the maestro himself, shot over 11 days, that provides the greatest insight into the mind and vision of this extraordinary composer as he recalls every detail of his life and musical compositions.

It is a film that at last does justice to this legend and his legacy, while reminding us of the power and importance of a music score, which in Moriconne’s hands totally lifted and transformed a film to heavenly heights, providing it with a richer and deeper unspoken dialogue.

In cinemas and on demand April 22

Happening (15)
Directed by Audrey Diwan
★★★

WINNING the Golden Lion award for best film at last year’s Venice Film Festival, Audrey Diwan’s heart-rending abortion drama set in France in 1963 is a difficult but rewarding watch.

It is based on Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical novel and relates the story of Anne (a captivating Anamaria Vartolomei) who, on the cusp of finishing her studies and escaping the social constraints of a working-class family, finds herself pregnant at a time when abortion was outlawed in the country (it wasn’t decriminalised in France until 1975). Anyone who sought a termination and anyone who aided them could and would be jailed.

Determined to terminate the pregnancy and safeguard her future career at all costs in a nail-biting race against time, Anne goes from doing it DIY to paying a reputable back-street abortionist to do the job.

The film pulls no punches in portraying these poignant scenes: they are horrendous and tough to see but they are a necessary reminder of the horrors that were carried out on women’s bodies and what a step backwards would mean if women lost the right to have an abortion. United States, take note.

In cinemas April 22

Firebird (15)
Directed by Peeter Rebane
★★★

BASED on a true story during the cold war, this moving drama follows a young soulful Soviet soldier and wannabe actor who embarks on a secret love affair with an ace fighter pilot in late 1970s Estonia.

The pair put their careers and their lives on the line as homosexuality was deemed a crime at this time in the Soviet Union and resulted in those caught being sent to prison.

Based on Sergey Fetisov’s memoirs, it is directed by Peeter Rebane and co-written by him and British actor-screenwriter Tom Prior (The Theory of Everything) who plays Sergey, the idealistic private who falls in love with the charismatic Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii) and plans their life together. 

However, in a bid to keep up appearances and safeguard his career, Roman marries Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya) and heartbreak ensues.

It is a passionate story with heart-felt performances from Prior and Zagorodnii which still resonates today — you can’t help but root for love to conquer all amid the crushing injustice of the law and society.

In cinemas April 22

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (15)
Directed by Tom Gormican
★★★★

AFTER years portraying weird and scary characters, Nicolas Cage is playing the role he was born to perform.

Yes, in the most surreal part to date, Cage stars as himself — Nick Cage — who, having fallen on debt-ridden times (sounds familiar) as his divorce looms, agrees to make a paid (to the tune of $1 million) appearance at the 40th birthday party of a billionaire super fan (Pedro Pascal, who is in fact a massive Cage fan) who may or may not be the head of a drugs cartel.

Meanwhile Cage is recruited by CIA operative (Tiffany Haddish on top form) to be their informant at Javi’s (Pascal) compound and is forced to channel his most iconic on-screen characters to save his life and that of his family.

This is an absolute mind-f*** and a joyously bonkers ride as the film turns from a comedy into an all-out action packed Cage flick as he is plagued by a younger self reminding him he is “Nicolas fucking Cage the movie star.” 

Cage and Pascal, who almost steals the film from under him, are clearly having a blast in this hilarious love letter to the Hollywood star.

Just watch and enjoy.

In cinemas April 22