Loulou

dir. Maurice Pialat
France, 1980

Can't get past the oafishness of Depardieu. Although it was interesting to see Isabelle Huppert young - I've only ever seen her in recent films from the 2000s.

Precious

dir. Lee Daniels
USA, 2009

Surprisingly good - once you settle into it, the strange mix of social-realism, camp and Oprah-tackyness becomes rather wonderful, if flawed. But then the flaws are part of the wonder.

A Prophet

dir. Jacques Audiard
France, 2009

Brilliant and brutal. Going to be a film of the year.

Lovers of the Arctic Circle

dir. Julio Medem
Spain/France, 2000

If someone were to describe the stereotypical "art-house" movie, then it would be this. Not that that's particularly bad...