DOC NYC — A–Z of films

An intelligent film that communicates complex legal issues effectively without becoming boring, The Case Against 8 has a lot to recommend it.

This is the first essential film about the post-Snowden era, made by one of the key figures who helped usher that era into being.

The strength of this Irish-made film lies in its restraint.

Though it's never less than engaging, there's a nagging sense of missing out on the bigger picture.

The mood is that of an office in which at any moment, anything is possible, a little bit like in the films created here.

It is a wonderful comment on the French as a nation that they can take something like this so very, very seriously.

Otto's sensitively structured portrait of an engaging Peter Pan draws us irresistibly into his world.

Though the story does drag in a few places, so do the lives that the documentary endeavours to encapsulate.

This is one of those films that might be said to work despite its director. It's never clear how aware she is of what's really going on, but she certainly realises she's made mistakes, and her willingness to put so much of this on screen is commendable.

There is a great story here and Russell tells it in detail from multiple perspectives and with numerous forms of documentation.

Wenders as a curious, excited filmmaker stretches out his hands to show us all the treasures he has found.

Charming and heartfelt.