Movie of the Week

• Novocaine

Cinemas

• A Working Man
• The Woman in the Yard
• La Cocina
• The End
• Time Travel Is Dangerous
• Irena’s Vow
• Misericordia
• War Paint – Women at War
• The Stimming Pool
• Sikandar

Streaming/On-Demand

• The Life List
• Holland
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip
• Sneaks
• Long Gone Heroes
• Rita

CAST: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Conrad Kemp, Evan Hengst

CREW: Dan Berk and Robert Olsen (directors), Lars Jacobson (writer), Adam Friedlander, Joby Harold, Julian Rosenberg, Drew Simon and Tory Tunnell (producers), Andrew Kawczynski (composer), Jacques Jouffret (cinematographer), Christian Wagner (editor)

PLOT: Nathan Caine (Quaid) is a mild-mannered bank manager with a condition that prevents him from feeling pain. However, when his bank is robbed, and the thieves take his girlfriend Shari (Midthunder) as a hostage, the introverted Nathan must venture out on a pain-free mission to save her…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• An all-new kind of action hero is born in this hilariously violent ride that surprises you at every turn
• The Boys star Jack Quaid puts his hugely likeable on-screen person to good use as the hapless hero who willingly allows one horrible thing after another to happen to him (not that he can feel any of it)
• Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, previously of the underrated horror-comedy Villains, inject plenty of darkly comedic energy into the many visceral fight sequences
• The (literally) harmless hero’s winning nature not only makes him easy to root for, but also makes the unpredictable story feel more engaging as it goes along
• Depending on the overall success of this film, we could be seeing a lot more of this painless action lead in the future!

Novocaine is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Jason Statham, David Harbour, Michael Peña, Jason Flemyng, Arianna Rivas, Noemi Gonzalez, Emmett J. Scanlan, Eve Mauro, Maximilian Osinski, Max Croes, Kristina Poli, Andrej Kaminsky, Isla Gie

CREW: David Ayer (director, writer, producer), Sylvester Stallone (writer, producer), Bill Block, John Friedberg, Chris Long, Jason Statham and Kevin King Templeton (producers), Jared Michael Fry (composer), Shawn White (cinematographer), Fred Raskin (editor)

PLOT: Levon Cade (Statham) is a former Royal Marines commando who has settled for a peaceful life as a construction worker. However, when his boss Joe (Peña) asks him to locate his missing teenage daughter Jenny (Rivas), Levon puts his old skills to formidable use, uncovering a sinister human trafficking conspiracy in the process…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Jason Statham reunites with his Beekeeper director David Ayer for an all-new gritty action-thriller – though sadly with far less bee puns and analogies
• Ayer also co-writes the script, based on Chuck Dixon’s novel Levon’s Trade, with none other than the legendary action hero Sylvester Stallone
• As you may expect, Statham delivers all sorts of brutal blue-collar justice with his trademark hard-man persona and gruff voice
• Some memorable supporting turns from the likes of Michael Peña, Jason Flemyng and David Harbour make Statham’s wrath feel extra satisfying
• It’s yet another hugely enjoyable Statham flick to add to the collection, and should tide viewers over until the action star’s next big-screen outing

A Working Man is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Russell Hornsby, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha

CREW: Jaume Collet-Serra (director), Sam Stefanak (writer), Stephanie Allain and Jason Blum (producers), Pawel Pogorzelski (cinematographer), Timothy Alverson and Krisztian Majdik (editors)

PLOT: After surviving a deadly car accident, Ramona (Deadwyler) is left severely injured while also left alone to care for her children (Jackson and Kahiha) in a remote farmhouse. Soon, though, Ramona and her children are plagued by a mysterious woman (Okpokwasili) fully draped in black that simply sits outside their house, inching closer and closer with a simple vague message: “Today’s the day…”. Now, Ramona must try and protect her family from whatever the woman has in store for them…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Director Jaume Collet-Serra returns to his horror stomping grounds for a terrifying original piece that will leave you deeply disturbed
• Mega-producer Jason Blum is on board to lend his effective expertise to Collet-Serra’s film, which comes from a script by first-time screenwriter Sam Stefanak
• Danielle Deadwyler, who previously worked with the director on the hit Netflix thriller Carry-On, leads a limited cast with a strong central performance, while Okwui Okpokwasili is exceptionally chilling as the titular figure
• The threat’s ambiguity adds to its terrifying nature, and the movie does well to keep you guessing of its true intentions right up to the undoubtedly shocking conclusion
• If you want to support fierce and original cinema, especially in the horror genre, then you’ll definitely want to seek out this film over and over to ensure its success

The Woman in the Yard is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Raúl Briones, Rooney Mara, Anna Diaz, Motell Foster, Oded Fehr, Spenser Granese, Soundos Mosbah, Eduardo Olmos, Laura Gómez, James Waterston, Lee Sellars, Julia Haltigan

CREW: Alonso Ruizpalacios (director, writer), Gerardo Gatica, Lauren Mann, Ivan Orlic and Ramiro Ruiz (producers), Tomás Barreiro (composer), Juan Pablo Ramírez (cinematographer), Yibran Asuad (editor)

PLOT: In the kitchen of a busy New York restaurant, a series of events – from the sudden disappearance of some money from the register to the complicated relationship between American waitress Julia (Mara) and Mexican cook Pedro (Briones) – threaten to bring the hectic environment to its knees…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This high-pressure kitchen drama details a particularly stressful day in the life of a busy restaurant
• It is an adaptation of Arnold Wesker’s play The Kitchen, updating not just the location but also the ethnicities of certain characters to better align with its themes of American work values
• The cast is largely made up of lesser-known Latin-American actors, though Oscar-nominee Rooney Mara provides some star power in a vital supporting role
• It competed for the Golden Bear at last year’s Berlin Film Festival, and also nabbed a couple of Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best Director for filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios
• With striking black-and-white cinematography and a lightning-fast pace, this is a drama where you’ll feel the burn more than any episode of The Bear or other kitchen-centric shows

La Cocina is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, George MacKay, Moses Ingram, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInnerny, Lennie James, Danielle Ryan

CREW: Joshua Oppenheimer (director, writer, producer), Rasmus Heisterberg (writer), Tilda Swinton and Signe Byrge Sørensen (producers), Marius De Vries and Josh Schmidt (composers), Mikhail Krichman (cinematographer), Nils Pagh Andersen (editor)

PLOT: Two decades after an environmental disaster has rendered the Earth’s surface uninhabitable, a wealthy family – including a mother (Swinton), a father (Shannon), their son (MacKay) and their various friends – have managed to survive in a contained underground bunker. However, the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Ingram) causes the family to ponder and justify their role in the planet’s demise…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Documentarian Joshua Oppenheimer shows great ambition with his first narrative feature, which happens to be a post-apocalyptic musical set entirely in an underground bunker
• A small but sturdy ensemble cast, consisting of Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, George MacKay and even Blackadder alumni Tim McInnerny, delivers a range of energetic performances as the guilt-ridden survivors
• The musical numbers are neatly woven into the narrative fabric, offering deep insight into the characters’ internal struggles – as well as the occasional solo dance number!
• Numerous themes involving the hypocrisy and denial of wealthy contributors to climate change give the film an extra few layers that will have audience members talking
• It’s a film where you’ll be tapping your feet at the same time as pondering some of life’s most difficult questions

The End is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Ruth Syratt, Megan Stevenson, Sophie Thompson, Tony Way, Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Guy Henry, Mark Heap, Brain Bovell, Tom Lenk, Laura Aikman, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Stephen Fry

CREW: Chris Reading (director, writer, editor), Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare and Hillary Shakespeare (writers, producers, editors), Simon Porter (composer), Richard Maskey (cinematographer)

PLOT: Lifelong friends Ruth (Syratt) and Megan (Stevenson) own and run a vintage shop in Muswell Hill, but after stumbling upon a time machine constructed out of a dodgem car, they frequently travel back in time to steal ancient artefacts to sell in the present. However, they soon find themselves across a terrifying time/space vortex…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• In the tradition of Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and countless other examples of British sci-fi, this fun time-travel comedy brings out the best of creative UK talent
• Real-life vintage shop owners Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson star as fictional versions of themselves within a mockumentary structure that tells their wacky story with a hilarious deadpan energy
• The two leads have plentiful support among the rest of the cast, including Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Spaced alumni Mark Heap, and even Stephen Fry who lends his soothing vocals as the film’s narrator
• Some lively visual effects bring to life the delightful and imaginative concept on the fairly small budget it’s working with
• With laughs and unexpected heart to spare, you’ll want to return time and time again to the delights of this movie

Time Travel Is Dangerous is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Sophie Nélisse, Dougray Scott, Andrzej Seweryn, Maciej Nawrocki, Sharon Azrieli, Aleksandar Milicevic, Eliza Rycembel, Agata Turkot, Filip Kosior, Krzysztof Szczepaniak, Irena Melcer, Eryk Kulm, Zuzanna Pulawska, Tomasz Tyndyk

CREW: Louise Archambault (director), Dan Gordon (writer), Berry Meyerowitz, Beata Pisula, Tim Ringuette, Jeff Sackman and Nicholas Tabarrok (producers), Maxime Navert and Alexandra Stréliski (composers), Paul Sarossy (cinematographer), Arthur Tarnowski (editor)

PLOT: In Nazi-occupied Poland, Irena Gut (Nélisse) is a young nurse who helps to shelter and protect numerous Jews by hiding them in the home of high-ranking Nazi officer Eduard Rügemer (Scott), where Irena is employed as a housekeeper…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A gripping tale of wartime resilience and bravery is dramatized in this emotional historical drama by Canadian director Louise Archambault
• Sophie Nélisse stars as the titular Irena, the young woman who risked her own life to save an entire generation of Jewish citizens from extermination
• Meanwhile, former Mission: Impossible villain Dougray Scott is on chilling form as the sinister Nazi officer who becomes the unwitting landlord of the very people he’s been assigned to hunt down
• Early reviews have called it an inspiring but occasionally harrowing portrayal of the real-life events, with particular praise heaped onto Nélisse for her expressive subtlety
• It’s important to be reminded of the atrocities that occurred in Europe during the Second World War, especially as we are currently on the verge of repeating history around the world

Irena’s Vow is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Félix Kysyl, Catherine Frot, Jacques Develay, Jean-Baptiste Durand, David Ayala, Sébastien Faglain, Tatiana Spivakova, Salomé Lopes, Serge Richard, Elio Lunetta

CREW: Alain Guiraudie (director, writer), Charles Gillibert (producer), Marc Verdaguer (composer), Claire Mathon (cinematographer), Jean-Christophe Hym (editor)

PLOT: In southern France, Jérémie (Kysyl) arrives home for the funeral of his former boss. He stays with his boss’s widow Martine (Frot) during his visit, but after encountering her volatile son Vincent (Durand), a shocking turn of events lead Jérémie to an unexpected source of comfort who may be hiding their own sinister intentions…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A multi-layered mystery engulfs French filmmaker Alain Guiraudie’s eye-catching new feature
• A formidable cast of French actors including Félix Kysyl and Catherine Frot help to accentuate the many dimensions of their characters as Guiraudie’s script unveils more and more surprising facts about them
• Some gorgeous cinematography, shot by Claire Mathon who also provided the visuals for Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, creates a moody atmosphere for the unpredictable narrative
• The film competed for the prestigious Queer Palm at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and also scored numerous nominations at the César Awards (aka the French Oscars)
• You will be hooked on its growing mysteriousness as the plot moves to a surprising finish that will leave you shaken for days afterward

Misericordia is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Jananne Al-Ani, Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press, Nina Berman, Maggi Hambling, Marcelle Hanselaar, Zhanna Kadyrova, Maya Lin, Linda Kitson, Dame Laura Knight, Lee Miller, Shirin Neshat, Cornelia Parker, Rachel Reckitt, Dame Rachel Whiteread, Doris Zinkeisen

CREW: Margy Kinmonth (director, writer, producer), Charli Mackie (composer), Amy Newstead (cinematographer), Sheryl Sandler (editor)

PLOT: A celebration of the trailblazing female war artists across history who captured the underlying intensity of the front lines…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The criminally overlooked women who captured the horrors of history’s wars through their unique artistry are finally given their flowers in this eye-opening documentary
• Filmmaker Margy Kinmonth rounds out her trilogy of art-centric war pieces, after the Eddie Redmayne-fronted TV movie War Art and her acclaimed 2022 artist bio-doc Eric Ravilious – Drawn to War
• Just some of the many female artists spotlighted in this movie are sculptor Dame Rachel Whiteread, Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat, and photographer Lee Miller (previously the subject of last year’s Kate Winslet-starring biopic)
• Kinmonth pays profound respect to her various subjects, while also acknowledging how their hard work was either shunned or forgotten in the male-dominated industry
• For anyone wanting to see an all-new perspective of some of history’s most devastating conflicts, this movie is a treasure trove of talent that anyone can appreciate

War Paint – Women at War is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Georgia Kumari Bradburn, Robin Elliot-Knowles, Benjamin Brown, Sam Chown Ahern, Lucy Walker, Steven Eastwood, Dre Spisto

CREW: Steven Eastwood (director, producer), The Neurocultures Collective (directors), Chloe White (producer), Tom Haines (composer), Gregory Oke (cinematographer), Sergio Vega Borrego (editor)

PLOT: A group of autistic and neurodiverse people express their perspectives of the world through the ever-roaming camera…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This unique experimental feature puts the viewer in the ever-fascinating mindset of autistic and neurodiverse individuals
• The film is comprised of numerous vignettes created by a group of autistic filmmakers known as the Neurocultures Collective, along with more seasoned director Steven Eastwood
• Some of the many inventive ways in which the filmmakers express themselves is through naturalistic documentary-like footage, intricate animated sequences, and relatable scenarios as individuals attempt to mask their autism to the wider world
• It is captured by some beautifully grainy cinematography by Gregory Oke, who previously shot Charlotte Wells’ outstanding feature Aftersun
• This is an important film for anyone wishing to understand more about the experiences of autistic people, and to see the world through their inimitable perspectives

The Stimming Pool is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Kishore

CREW: AR Murugadoss (director, writer), Sajid Nadiadwala (producer), Pritam Chakraborty and Santhosh Narayanan (composers), Tirru (cinematographer), Vivek Harshan (editor)

PLOT: In a nation gripped by corruption and injustice, the fiery young hero Sikander (Khan) challenges the status quo and fights for the rights of the common people…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Bollywood superstar Salman Khan teams up with prolific filmmaker AR Murugadoss for a Hindi-language action epic
• Both are under the watch of mega-producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who last collaborated with Khan on their hit action-comedy Kick
• At a reported cost of ₹400 crore – roughly $46 million or £36 million – it is one of the most ambitiously expensive films in Nadiadwala’s long career
• Expect plenty of explosive suspense as Khan delivers justice in the only way that a certified action hero like him can
• It’s exciting action cinema that any lover of the genre, regardless of where they are in the world, can sit back and enjoy

Sikander is showing in cinemas from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Sofia Carson, Kyle Allen, Sebastian de Souza, Connie Britton, José Zúñiga, Jordi Mollà, Marianne Rendón, Chelsea Frei, Ben Warheit

CREW: Adam Brooks (director, writer), Liza Chasin (producer), Will Bates (composer), Florian Ballhaus (cinematographer), Peter Teschner (editor)

PLOT: At the request of her recently-passed mother Elizabeth (Britton), Alex Rose (Carson) embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she revisits a list of goals that she wrote for herself as a teenager…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Sofia Carson goes through a second coming-of-age in this heartfelt inspirational drama
• The actor is under the strong writing and direction of Adam Brooks, previously a writer for films like Practical Magic and Wimbledon, and also served as writer-director of the 2008 Ryan Reynolds rom-com Definitely, Maybe
• Joining Carson on-screen is a fine ensemble of actors including Kyle Allen, Sebastian de Souza, and Connie Britton
• Brooks adapts Lori Nelson Spielman’s bestselling debut novel of the same name, which has been proven to be a popular – not to mention emotional – story for everyone to enjoy
• Filled with tender life lessons and poignant humanity, this is a charming film that will have you feeling every emotion under the sun

The Life List is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill, Rachel Sennott, Lennon Parham, Isaac Krasner, Jeff Pope, Jacob Moran

CREW: Mimi Cave (director), Andrew Sodroski (writer), Kate Churchill, Peter Dealbert, Nicole Kidman and Per Saari (producers), Alex Somers (composer), Pawel Pogorzelski (cinematographer), Martin Pensa (editor)

PLOT: Nancy Vandergroot (Kidman) leads a seemingly perfect life with her husband Fred (Macfadyen) and son Harry (Hill) in the idyllic community of Holland, Michigan. However, Nancy and her friendly colleague Dave Delgado (Bernal) soon uncover a concerning secret that puts their lives into question…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Nicole Kidman continues her fiery run as a reliable A-list actor in this darkly funny suburban comedy-thriller
• Kidman also co-produces the film, which is directed by Mimi Cave of the cult hit rom-com Fresh, and written by Andrew Sodroski, the co-creator of the anthology series Manhunt
• On-screen, Kidman is joined by an eclectic cast that includes Gael García Bernal, Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen, Belfast breakout Jude Hill and the ever-delightful Rachel Sennott
• As with director Cave’s previous film, expect some mind-blowing reveals as the mystery deepens and becomes more and more unpredictable
• Both a compelling thriller and a deeply satirical look at the all-too perfect suburban life, this is a film that has a little something for everyone

Holland is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Thursday 27 March 2025

CAST: Thom Nemer, Eva Longoria, Jesse Garcia, Paulina Chávez, Rose Portillo, Cheech Marin, Harvey Guillén, Cristo Fernández, Angela L. Wilson

CREW: Marvin Lemus (director), Matt Lopez (writer), Dan Cohen, Lisa Henson, Dan Levine and Shawn Levy (producers), Camilo Lara (composer), Jas Shelton (cinematographer), Michael Giambra (editor)

PLOT: 11-year-old Alexander Garcia (Nemer) embarks with his family – mother Val (Longoria), father Frank (Garcia), older sister Mia (Chávez) and grandparents Lidia (Portillo) and Gil (Marin) – on a road trip to Mexico City to reconnect with their cultural roots. However, when the family discovers a cursed idol, their journey becomes laced with bad luck…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This spiritual sequel to Disney’s hit family comedy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day takes the hilarious misfortunes on the road
• The cast is made up of a number of multigenerational Latinx actors, including Eva Longoria, Harvey Guillén, and the legendary Cheech Marin
• Screenwriter Matt Lopez, who previously wrote the likes of Bedtime Stories and Race to Witch Mountain for the studio, reinvents and expands upon the original picture book by Judith Viorst
• The slapstick is off the charts, especially as the central family experiences one bad thing after another, but so is the heartfelt family drama that’s at the centre of it all
• Kids and parents can laugh along with the first-hand embarrassment as they embark on a road trip that nobody will ever forget

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Roddy Ricch, Ella Mai, Macy Gray, Swae Lee, Mustard, Chris Paul, Chloe Bailey, Quavo, Sam Jay, Keith David, Donovan Louis Bazemore, Coi Leray, Kiana Ledé, Jonathan Kite, Amari McCoy, Sky Brown, Rayssa Leal, Young Miko

CREW: Rob Edwards (director, writer), Gil Cloyd, Laurence Fishburne, Leonard Hartman, Helen Sugland and Patrick Worlock (producers), Terrace Martin (composer), Matt Ahrens and Mirenda Ouellet (editors)

PLOT: In New York, a designer trainer named Ty (Mackie) lives in a velvet-lined box with his sister [NAME] (?). However, when [NAME] is suddenly stolen by a sinister collector (Fishburne), Ty must venture outside of his comfort zone to rescue her…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Designer shoes are the latest objects to be anthropomorphised in this fun animated adventure for the whole family
• The voice cast is filled with rich talent including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, music sensations Swae Lee and Coi Leray, and Laurence Fishburne (who’s also a producer)
• Animation veteran Rob Edwards, who previously wrote both Treasure Planet and The Princess and the Frog for Disney, makes his feature directorial debut
• Some inventive and colourful animation cleverly brings the perspective of these delightful shoe-based characters to visceral life
• With top-notch music, outrageous comedy and just a little bit of heart, kids and adults are sure to have a blast, and maybe even be inspired to get their own one-of-a-kind footwear afterwards!

Sneaks is streaming exclusively on Sky Cinema from Friday 28 March 2025

CAST: Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Mekhi Phifer, Eden Brolin, Beau Knapp, George Carroll, Wendy Moniz, Melissa Leo, Andy García, Juan Pablo Raba

CREW: John Swab (director, writer), Emilio Ferrari, Santiago Manes Moreno, Noli Molla, Scott Putman, Charlie Toro, Carlos Velazquez and Cristina Villar (producers), David Sardy (composer), Brandon Cox (cinematographer), Andrew Aaronson and Kevin Hale (editors)

PLOT: After his niece Julia (Brolin) is held captive in South America, special forces operative Gunner (Grillo) assembles a small team of specialists for a rescue mission, only to uncover an unnerving truth surrounding his own family…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Frank Grillo goes harder than ever in this intense action-thriller that brings out the action hero’s best qualities
• He leads a strong team of fellow actors that also includes Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, and the legendary Andy García
• Danger lurks around every corner, and writer-director John Swab ensures you feel every single moment of suspense
• Some shocking twists add a whole new layer to the seemingly straightforward mission, which may be relevant in today’s political climate
• It’s yet another formidable vehicle for Frank Grillo, who is fast becoming one of action cinema’s most undervalued leads

Long Gone Heroes is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 24 March 2025

CAST: Sofía Allepuz, Alejandro Escamilla, Paz Vega, Roberto Álamo, Daniel Navarro, Paz de Alarcón, Amada Santos, Margarita Asquerino

CREW: Paz Vega (director, writer), Gonzalo Bendala and Marta Velasco (producers), Pablo Cervantes (composer), Eva Díaz (cinematographer), Ana Álvarez Ossorio (editor)

PLOT: In 1984, seven-year-old Rita (Allepuz) lives in Seville with her younger brother Lolo (Escamilla), their homemaker mother Mari (Vega) and their taxi driver father José Manuel (Álamo). However, as the Spanish football team progresses in the UEFA Euro tournament, the temperamental attitude of their father begins to dominate, leading the young Rita to cling onto a special dream…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Spanish actor Paz Vega makes an extraordinary filmmaking debut with a tender and quietly devastating portrait of domestic family strife
• In addition to directing and writing the film, Vega also co-stars alongside formidable young newcomers Sofía Allepuz and Alejandro Escamilla, as children who bear witness to their on-screen mother’s plight
• The mid-80s Seville backdrop, along with the added context of a major football event going on concurrently, lends a deeply affecting historical layer to the drama
• The film scored plenty of acclaim following its debut at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, and has not decreased its critical appraisal in the months since
• By offering an innocent perspective to a deeply troubling situation, Vega’s film cuts right to the emotional core with the right amount of precision

Rita is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 24 March 2025