Under the Fig Trees (12A)
Directed by Erige Sehiri 
★★★★

THIS gentle and mellow drama unfolds over the course of a summer day in a Tunisian fig orchard as it follows a group of young men and women flirting with each other, trying to understand one another and voicing their desires and frustrations as they pick the fruit at harvest. 

Documentary film-maker Erige Sehiri’s debut drama feature is a remarkable and compelling work if a touch voyeuristic.

Featuring a non-professional cast who are improvising throughout, Sehiri obtains phenomenal and naturalistic performances from all of them. 

Tightly framed and shot mainly in close ups this underlines the lack of opportunities especially for the women, and conveys sensuality through minimalist actions.

Also the suffocating heat and the fig trees that envelop the characters reflect the suffocating lives the girls lead, stifled by a lack of options and a conservative family environment. 

Both the men and women talk openly about their feelings and their needs. The boys complain that the girls are too conservative as they wear the veil and do not want to be touched.

In a rare moment the guys discuss their lack of love, physical contact and sexuality.

Nevertheless, Sana (Ameni Fdhili) wants her would-be boyfriend Firas (Firas Amri) to be more conservative as for some women it contributes their idea of a virile man. 

The film also portrays the imbalance of power between the sexes as the boss attempts to take advantage of one of his female workers. 

It is a haunting yet thought provoking snapshot of Tunisian life. 

Out in cinemas today.

The Other Fellow (15)
Directed by Matthew Bauer 
★★★★

WHAT’S in a name? Well if the name happens to be James Bond then it can be both a blessing and a curse, according to some of the real men who have been named after the world famous fictional British spy. 

With all eyes turned on who will become the seventh 007, Australian film-maker Matthew Bauer talks to ordinary guys across the globe about the impact and the lasting effects of bearing the iconic name, that writer Ian Fleming took from the ornithologist and author of Birds of the West Indies because he thought it was a quiet unassuming name. 

From a gay New York theatre director, an African-American Bond accused of murder to a Swedish 007 super fan Bauer delivers a fascinating and insightful exploration of male identity, masculinity, gender and race via the sheer chance that these men share the moniker of Fleming’s alpha male. 

Funny, bold and illuminating this is a must see whether or not you are a 007 fan. 

Out in cinemas today.

Beau Is Afraid (15)
Directed by Ari Aster
★★

FOUR years after Midsommar, writer-director Ari Aster returns with an even more surreal horror film which may prove to be marmite with audiences. 

Some may class it as a compelling, cinematic masterpiece while others may see it as a three hour long overbloated, pretentious visual mess. 

It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Beau Wassermann, a mild-mannered but anxiety-ridden man who, on learning of his mother’s (Patti LuPone) sudden death, is forced to face his darkest fears as he embarks on an epic, Kafkaesque odyssey back home. 

Reminiscent of Charlie Kaufman and David Lynch’s work this isn’t an easy watch, and at times it is difficult to tell if what Beau is experiencing is real or not as he slowly discovers he has been lied to by his mum with whom he has a strained relationship.

Despite the chaos Phoenix delivers a virtuoso performance although I could have done without seeing him running around naked like a madman. 

With the odd flash of flair and intrigue this isn’t going to be for everyone and frankly less would have been more. 

Out in cinemas today. 

Maybe I Do (12) 
Directed by Michael Jacobs
★★★

THREE interconnected couples share their views on love, marriage and infidelity in this comedy of errors, accident-waiting-to-happen rom com starring an A-list cast. 

Based on a play which writer-director Michael Jacobs wrote when he was 19 and which he adapted for the big screen, it centres on a young couple (Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey) who are at the crossroads of their relationship when they decide to invite their parents for dinner.

It is the first time they all meet but it transpires that they know all about each other as they discuss the failings in their marriages. 

Diane Keaton and Richard Gere play Michelle’s (Roberts) parents while Susan Sarandon and William H Macey portray her in-laws to be.

The four elevate a film which could have been an unmitigated disaster in less experienced hands. Sarandon steals the show as Allen’s (Bracey) cynical, acid tongued, self-absorbed mother who is a cross between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Despite looking and feeling like a stage play at times the legendary stars are a joy to watch. 

Out on Prime Video today.

Fast X (12A)
Directed by Louis Leterrier 
★★★

THIS is finally the beginning of the end of the 22-year-old franchise which has become synonymous with fast cars, outrageous stunts and chases and the importance of family.

Dominic Torretto (Vin Diesel) and his team face their worse enemy to date Dante (Jason Momoa), the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) who was killed by Hobbs in Fast & Furious 5. There are flashbacks to the latter in which Momoa seems to have been CGI’d into the original footage. There was certainly no mention of Reyes’s son back then. He has suddenly appeared from nowhere much like Dom’s younger brother Jakob (John Cena) in F9, which daft coincidence is par for the course with this franchise. 

Momoa is the piece de resistance of this non-stop action-packed high-octane ride as this wonderfully flamboyant and hyper gay psychopath is calling the shots and turning Dom’s life into a living hell. This involves blowing up the Vatican with a giant wrecking ball sized bomb seen rolling down the streets of Rome and framing Dom for it. Plus snatching his eight-year-old son (Leo Abelo Perry).

Directed by Louis Leterrier (Clash of the Titans) Fast X is much faster and more furious but just as ridiculous as its predecessors and was shot in London, Rome-Turin, Portugal and LA. 

It sees the return of old faces including the late Paul Walker in flashback and Elsa Pataky in a framed photograph as the mother of Dom’s son who was killed in Fast & Furious 8. There are many surprise cameos including one during the end credits which will really delight fans. 

The downside is this is another two-parter, which isn’t justified, but it is great fun and should be seen on the largest screen possible. 

Out in cinemas today