Serpent’s Path is filled to the brim with such evocative images of mundane criminality and the bleak and brooding horror of industrial spaces, seen so often in crime films but rarely shot as atmospherically as with Kurosawa’s hand.

A slow burn, but a gripping one, Two Prosecutors is among the most fascinating films you’ll see this year.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful trans women on screen — and neither could the men depicted in this harrowing yet funny film.

Les Rendez-vous d'Anna follows the tranquil, lonely odyssey of Anna Silver, a filmmaker travelling across Western Europe to promote her new film.

The Thread is an understated courtroom drama that is guaranteed to leave you questioning absolutely everything by its end.

The Shrouds presents potential by reeling in its audience at the beginning, but then loses its grip on them far too soon.

The Story of Souleymane is ultimately exhilarating in its revelation of the hardships of illegal French immigrants, with its immersive nature making for an intense cinematic experience.

Beating Hearts is a film of great indulgence, over saturating you with love, violence and earnestness, and asking for no more than an open heart and a not-so-critical mind.

Upshot is a perfect example of utilising simplicity to underline the horror of reality.

The Count of Monte Cristo, directed and written by french duo Alexandre de La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, is a three hour epic worthy of the source material.

Meet the Leroys (Nous, les Leroy), the directorial debut of Florent Bernard, is a 102-minute French dramedy that explores the emotional toll of divorce on an entire family.

Dahomey is a compelling narrative that underscores the legacy of a colonial past onto the present while demonstrating hope for a future shaped by the Beninese people.

Rasoulof brings the audience directly into Tehran - this film will most likely be the closest thing we’ll ever have to see into the lives of those who have been oppressed in Iran.

While I’m Still Here is quite simple in terms of filmmaking, it is elevated by its incredible performances, storytelling and authentic portrayal of the time period.

Visually, this film feels like a masterclass of instinctive storytelling.

Occasionally awkward performances and deliveries are mostly forgiven by this fine adaption of a scandalous mystery. 

If you enjoy thoughtful films and would like to explore a movie that doesn’t follow the “rules”, or give everything to you on a silver platter, this may be the perfect film for you as you escape the hot summer weather with a drink and an ice cream in an air-conditioned theatre.

In Parthenope (2024), Paolo Sorrentino explores youth, beauty, and the fleeting nature of desire, in an homage to the intoxicating allure of the Mediterranean coast, and living in the shadow of the male gaze.

Out of Season is a strongly executed film that delivers a plot constructed from a reality of regret, offering strong performances and beautiful cinematography.

My Favourite Cake is a devastatingly bittersweet film about late-life romance in Tehran.