World Cinema

A boy murders a taxi driver for reasons never fully revealed, and is subsequently executed for it. Yeah - no prizes for noticing that the film sets out to compare murder and state killing. And, oh-my-goodness is it successful. A brilliant piece of work.

Of course, I never want to see it again. But that's hardly the point, is it?

This is the longer version of the Kieslowki's Decalog series, which was given a theatrical release. Filmed in bleached out starkness, every image is utterly arresting. The horribly realistic murder sequence goes on seemingly forever before we cut to the boys final hours on death row and a hanging.

Whether or not you agree with capital punishment or not, this, at the very least demonstrates the seriousness of taking a life.

Do I recommend it? Ummm... It depends. If you feel like killing any further discussion to a debate on the death penalty, then sure. Have you had a stressful day and it's now last thing at night with you planning a restful night's sleep? You must be kidding, right?

A film intricately following an artist painting a canvas of a quince tree. Detailed and wonderful.

It's hard for me to properly rate this film now: I saw it in the mists of my childhood, and I've never forgotten it. It left deep and fond memories, and is far and away my favourite version of the Cinderella story, although departing quite radically from the version normally given in US films.

While you might recognise some elements of the more familiar story here, the central Cinderella character is much stronger than that often portrayed, and hunts the woods with a crossbow. With its snow-scapes this is a film I associate with winter, and for little other reason than that, Christmas. Maybe as I've grown up a bit since then I would find I have outgrown it if I saw it again, but I doubt it. Like The Singing Ringing Tree, it had the feel of a magical, timeless film,

Whenever you feel Winter gathering its cowl around you, I'd fling another log on the fire (if appropriate), hunt down this twinkling fairy tale, and bring it to life on a home screen. Great stuff.