The Exception (15)
Directed by Jesper Nielsen

★★★★

CHRISTIAN JUNGERSEN’S acclaimed novel Undtagelsen comes to the screen, courtesy of director Jesper Nielsen, in this compelling watchable thriller.

The story of a group of researchers at the Danish Centre for Genocide Information, whose lives are upended by a series of anonymous threats, it follows the rise of troll culture in recent years to provide a timely and unmissable chiller, packed full of twists, turns, and towering performances from its four female leads.

Nielsen stages a robust and rather lavish adaptation of Jungersen’s tome here, though wisely goes for subtlety over splash in allowing his cast to fully engage with the material on offer — something they attack with dramatic aplomb. However, there are some disappointingly sensationalist swings in its third act, which soften the blow of an otherwise powerful and incredibly poignant thriller, packed with sterling performances.

Available on demand
Van Connor

Persian Lessons (15)
Directed by Vadim Perelman

★★★★

REMOVED from Oscar consideration in recent weeks following controversy over its provenance, House of Sand and Fog director Vadim Perelman’s riveting film would, under better circumstances, have been an obvious awards contender.

120 Beats Per Minute star Nahuel Perez Biscayart is our lead as a Jewish man attempting to avoid execution in a German concentration camp by pretending to be Iranian — a scheme that quickly proves much more difficult when a Nazi officer enlists him to provide — you’ve guessed it — Persian lessons.

A peculiar, saccharin and at times excessively harsh watch, Persian Lessons is a film that should feel like a smorgasbord, but in execution works with admirable charm and a decent amount of success. 

Biscayart is a very likeable lead, and, though there’s the obvious awards pandering, a delightful emotional catharsis delivers one of the more fulfilling curios of recent months.

Available on demand
Van Connor

The White Tiger (15)
Directed by Ramin Bahrani

★★★★

CROSSING over into Hollywood with his first lead movie role, Indian actor Adarsh Gourav makes for a hell of a splash fronting this gripping adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning novel The White Tiger.

On the back of 99 Homes Iranian-American filmmaker Ramin Bahrani helms this captivating, grimly aspirational tale of a young Indian driver whose betrayal by his masters sees him rebel against the corrupt system that’s come to define his entire worldview.

Gourav’s an instant winner, owning the screen as an unconventionally charming lead and walking a carefully balanced line in the execution of a performance that navigates the thin line between eagerness to please and desperation.

And the onscreen chemistry between him and co-stars Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra-Jonas is effortlessly compelling.

But Italian cinematographer Paolo Carnera deserves perhaps the greatest plaudits here — his glorious realisation of 21st century India at once both glamorous and destitute; flashy but unafraid to highlight the grittier real-world aesthetic. It’s an India rarely captured so well on film, and to be captured in a film as rock solid as this is the cherry on top.

Available on Netflix
Van Connor 

Quo Vadis, Aida? (15)
Directed by Jasmila Zbanic 

★★★★

DEEMED the worst act of mass killing in Europe since World War II, the Srebrenica massacre is relived in writer-director Jasmila Zbanic’s agonising and poignant new drama. Set in July 1995 with the invasion of the town — a United Nations “safe area” — by Bosnian Serb forces, the events that follow are explored through the eyes of UN translator (and composite fictional character) Aida (Jasna Djuricic), who is torn between saving her family and the demands of her role, privy as she is to classified information which her friends and neighbours are not.

With a stunning, emotionally gruelling performance by Djuricic, Zbanic delivers a harrowing drama which examines the massacre’s human cost as well as the UN’s failure to prevent the genocide of more than 8,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys and thousands more from ethnic cleansing.

Gut-wrenching and very difficult to watch, it is nevertheless a must-see film. 

Available on demand
Maria Duarte

Baby Done (15)
Directed by Curtis Vowell 

★★★★

“I WANT to have a baby, I just don’t want to turn into a mum,” says the wannabe-adventurer protagonist voicing what many women feel, but fear admitting out loud in this quirky yet hilarious comedy about impending motherhood. 

Set in New Zealand, it follows tree climber and feller Zoe (award-winning comedian Rose Matafeo), who completely freaks out when she learns she is pregnant by her long-term boyfriend Tim (Matthew Lewis — Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter).

She embarks on a bucket list of things to do before they become parents while he begins to nest, sparking painfully funny scenarios.

Executively produced by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and inspired by the husband and wife team Curtis Vowell and writer Sophie Henderson’s own experience when they unexpectedly became parents, this is a gem of a comedy which will resonate with more women than you think. 

Available on demand
Maria Duarte

Archive (15)
Directed by Gavin Rothery 

★★★

THIS very stripped-back, old-fashioned-style sci-fi thriller is a fascinating exploration of love and death as seen through the evolution of an AI robot and its consciousness.

Writer-director Gavin Rothery’s solid debut feature is a simple yet compelling love story set in 2049, in which roboticist George Almore (a captivating Theo James) is on the verge of completing his project of creating a truly human-equivalent android, J3 (voiced by Stacy Martin).

The plan is for it to house his wife Jules (Martin), who was killed in a car crash but whose essence is being kept alive in a special unit called Archive, run by Toby Jones (in a cameo appearance).

Meanwhile his previous prototype, J2, begins to evolve, developing emotions and feelings of jealousy, inadequacy and loss.

It is a very intriguing film reminiscent of Ex Machina, and which totally reels you in as you become invested in Almore and his robots. Yet it is the killer ending which will satisfy sci-fi fans and haunt you for days.

Maria Duarte 
Available on demand