Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989) An early Almodovar that sees a man kidnap a woman until she falls in love with him. Like most Almodovars its got interesting character exploration if not the greatest production or performance Strangely fun despite its depravity. Its a solid piece

Is dead Is alive Claims to be alive Claims to be dead

Come and See (1985) The harrowing depiction of the eastern front of WWII. Following a child soldier as he witnesses inhumane death & destruction on such a scale Bleak. From start to finish. There are many scenes which are impossible to forget. Wonderful directing & child acting

Goodbye, Children (1987) A film that for the most part is about a childhood friendship but you slowly become more aware of the situation they’re in, leading the the tragic ending This is clearly a very personal film for Malle and he approaches it with upmost sensitivity

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) A short, simple film but no less distinct. A thriller pumped full of action from Carpenter. Getting as many kills as it can out of its low budget An action classic. A tense thriller. Iconic 70s style. You can surely spare 90 mins to experience this

Tea in the Harem (1985) A painting of life for youths in an impoverished part of Paris. Doing anything to get by From a first-time director. It shows the grey world, nothing progressing only moving from one conflict or degradation to another

The Yakuza (1974) A change for Mitchum as he stars in this crime action film from Pollack Whilst on the surface this is an action flic it’s really about a respect & duty between two men in Japanese culture It’s otherwise a standard 70s affair but a good character exploration

Was wondering when YCSE is out in the UK but turns out it’s actually been out a while

The Legend of Paul and Paula (1973) The most popular film of East Germany. This is a slightly surreal romantic comedy, displaying the very dry form of German humour Telling of two people and their complicated relationship. It’s easy to invest in this cheap entertainment

The Boy and the Heron (2023) Miyazaki’s final film. It’s an imaginative story that sees a boy find himself in a magical world, though the plot’s a bit eclectic as it moves all over the place Containing some distinctive design and a heartfelt core. It’s fun with depth

The Wind Rises (2013) Loosely based on the life of aero-engineer Jiro Horikoshi, there is a sincerity to this film that tells of a man trying to build his dreams in a world acting against him A breakaway for Miyazaki, he nonetheless delivers a distinct piece of art

Ponyo (2008) On the weaker end of Miyazaki’s films, it’s not subtle in its criticism of how we treat the oceans as it’s another film of our relationship with nature Very fun and cute in places. It’s another example of his films that’s sure-fire easy entertainment

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) An imaginative film with some iconic imagery. This is about childhood wonder and imagination, putting you back to seeing with the eyes of a child While it’s a light plot, it’s a fun film that’s easy to get invested in

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) A fantasy epic that if just teaming with imagination. As the plot shifts from place to place you’re thrown into this world, coming together to a poignant climax Another classic of anime from Miyazaki

Princess Mononoke (1997) From Miyazaki this epic tells of a war between man and nature. Driven by an imaginative and fantastical plot, some of the imagery devised is very memorable With good action and design work, it is wonderfully directed

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds (1984) The classic post-apocalyptic anime. It says how we should embrace nature rather than fear and destroy it A simple and fun action-adventure with shallow yet lovable characters. On top of artwork that is truly beautiful at points

Papillon (1973) Whilst it has comedic elements, this portrays the desolate conditions of the French Guyana penal colony. The absolute depravity they’re subjected to McQueen gives a great performance, though weakens towards the end. And it is wonderfully directed by Schaffner

I bet the passengers on the Orient Express were so smug with themselves that they’d come up with the perfect murder plot before fucking Poirot got on the train

A Time for Drunken Horses (2000) A Kurdish film, it tells the struggle of a group of parentless children in rural boarderlands With non-professional actors, it’s a very realist that isn’t extravagant. Almost documentary. You feel their pain and builds to the nail-biting climax