

Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne’s “Tori and Lokita”
Engaging crime drama with captivating leads which rushes some of its most dramatic scenes and though sympathetic sometimes veers towards uncomfortable tropes

Lukas Dhont’s “Close”
Toxic masculinity poisons the well of childhood in this rich and moving melacholic masterpiece that is ultimately cathartic

Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer”
A contemplation of generational divides, motherhood and isolation is at the heart of this potent, slow-burning courtroom drama

Claire Denis’ “Both Sides of the Blade”
This low grade soap with high grade actors takes an unsavoury delight in Binoche’s misery (and nudity) while sporting an air of self-importance undercut by laughably on-the-nose symbolism

Audrey Diwan’s “Happening”
Harrowing visit to a past to which no sensible human being would want to return told masterfully and intimately through a terrific lead performance by Anamaria Vartolomei

Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s “Earwig”
Beautifully shot with nice production design and haunting music, this ambient-horror lacks anything to engage be it a story, suspense, sense of mystery, connection to the characters or anything we’ve not seen before

Sara Dosa’s “Fire of Love”
This captivating and unique documentary on the life long volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft is full of unique sights and ideas diminished slightly by extraneous narration

Jacques Audiard’s “Paris, 13th District”
Adapted from short stories by graphic novelist Adrian Tomine with a screenplay by Audiard, Céline Sciamma and Léa Mysius, this slice of life about a trio of twenty-somethings’ relationships and their sex lives is solid if frothy light