This is Granik’s second movie, the one which set off Jennifer Lawrence’s career. Set in the backwoods of America, it eschews hillbilly cliche to create a moving drama of love and fortitude. Lawrence plays Ree, a resilient 17-year-old, carer of the family, in a remote corner of the Ozarks fighting to keep the family home. 

A 2012 re-release of this surreal masterpiece. Bunuel was fascinated by the ritual of the dinner party and here a group of metropolitan sophisticates attempt to meet up only to find the event ruined by some bizarre turn of events. Described as a deranged masterpiece it won the best foreign language Oscar in 1972.  

This seering documentary follows the aftermath of a fire at Bucharest’s Colectiv nightclub in 2015 which killed 64 people, the majority dying not of their injuries, but of hospital infections. Nanau follows a crack team of journalist investigators as they try to uncover a vast health-care fraud that led to the deaths of innocent citizens. Best documentary nomination at the Oscars. 

A classic Japanese family movie in the style of Ozu where feelings are contained within the conventions of politeness and respect. There is an imperious elderly father figure, a newly married son, the legacy of dead brother, powerful female figures: a gentle, lovely film. 

The busy, chaotic life of a Beirut beauty salon, this was the first film from Labaki. Rather than tackle political issues that have plagued Lebanon, she presents a comedy that deals with five Lebanese women who gather at the beauty salon and deal with issues related to love, sexuality, tradition, disappointment, and everyday ups and downs. The film won awards at many international festivals and the LA critics best foreign film.