LWLies Recommends | Little White Lies

LWLies Recommends

Crowd of people sitting in an indoor venue, some wearing coats and scarves, with a decorated Christmas tree visible in the background.
Review

R.M.N review – effortless brilliance

by David Jenkins

Roman­ian direc­tor Cris­t­ian Mungiu returns with a superb social real­ist west­ern with its fin­ger on the errat­ic pulse of Europe.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two men in a dimly lit room, one wearing a red shirt and the other a suit. Vintage-style lamps and antique furnishings can be seen in the background.
Review

Strange Way Of Life review – characteristically Almodóvarian queer western

by Hannah Strong

An age­ing gun­slinger and the sher­iff of a small town reunite after many years in Pedro Almod­ó­var’s sweet short film.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three people, two women and one man, seated on a boat, looking out over water.
Review

Past Lives review – unravels as a marvel

by Rafa Sales Ross

Celine Song’s fea­ture debut is a ten­der explo­ration of mul­ti­eth­nic romance, com­pli­ment­ed by nuanced per­for­mances from Gre­ta Lee and John Magaro.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two figures intimately embracing, gazing into each other's eyes against a blurred blue background.
Review

Passages review – a tantalising romantic car-crash

by David Jenkins

Ira Sachs returns with an inti­mate, intense three-han­der about a Fass­binder-like film direc­tor played by the great Franz Rogowski.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two children, a boy and a girl, playing together outdoors. The boy is holding the girl's hands as they interact. Colourful clothing, natural surroundings.
Review

Scrapper review – a charming, effervescent story about grief

by Hannah Strong

The chem­istry between Har­ris Dick­in­son and Lola Camp­bell shines in Char­lotte Regan’s debut, about the dif­fi­cul­ties of father-daugh­ter bonding.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Four young people standing on a wooden deck in front of a white building, surrounded by trees.
Review

Afire review – Petzold taps into his inner Rohmer

by Marina Ashioti

Chris­t­ian Pet­zold returns with some­thing lighter, fun­nier and more instant­ly-lov­able than his recent run, bring­ing reg­u­lar lead­ing lady Paula Beer along for the ride.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman in a purple jumper sitting in front of a blue and green underwater scene with swimming fish.
Review

The Innocent review – pleasantly quirky romantic caper

by Saskia Lloyd Gaiger

A sullen aquar­i­um work­er becomes sus­pi­cious of his moth­er’s new hus­band in Louis Gar­rel’s pleas­ing­ly off­beat famil­ial drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Portrait of an older woman with short grey hair and glasses, wearing a green jacket, seated at a desk in a home library setting.
Review

The Future Tense review – invigorating, droll essay film

by David Jenkins

Joe Lawlor and Chris­tine Mol­loy reflect on mat­ters of cul­tur­al iden­ti­ty in this hop­scotch­ing jour­ney through time, space and the Irish Sea.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two young men sleeping, their arms wrapped around each other, partially covered by a blanket.
Review

Lie with Me review – a spiralling queer portrait of ardent memory

by Emily Maskell

A suc­cess­ful author returns to his home­town, only to unlock mem­o­ries of a clan­des­tine love affair in Olivi­er Pey­on’s adap­ta­tion of Phillippe Besson’s crit­i­cal­ly-acclaimed autofiction.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Assorted action figures of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, featuring vibrant green, blue, and orange colours.
Review

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review – Turtle Power is alive and well

by Kambole Campbell

The piz­za-lov­ing, wise­crack­ing anthro­po­mor­phic rep­tiles receive a sub­stan­tial facelift in this charm­ing ani­mat­ed out­ing, which embraces their ado­les­cent spirit.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect