Raindance Film Festival — A–Z of films

Autumn Adagio approaches the deeply personal with respect and penetrating sensitivity.

Dysinger's style is immersive, thrusting us to the centre of activity in the camp and helping us to connect both with the day-to-day struggles of the rank and file and some of the thorny philosophical and political issues that surround it.

While the characters might amuse and irk, they certainly don’t touch us.

The direction shows flair, picking out striking visual lines and depth in the most ordinary of locations, all awash with over-saturated video colours.

This should have been an insider’s guide to laughter. It isn’t.

With a slender premise, set up and resolution, the fact that its small ideas can resonate so well afterwards is a minor triumph.

Jackboots On Whitehall isn't afraid of stomping on a few tender sensibilities and its smut level is set to 'stun'.

The real star here is creator Eromose.

A quiet, gentle film that encourages reflection.

My Neighbour Totoro is a true family film, both about, and for, families and while it is wholly concerned with good, decent, likeable people (as well as endearing rustic entities), it somehow avoids saccharine sentiments or a pat resolution.

That it comes so close to being fair, to being true, is to its credit.

There's almost a Blair Witch quality to this documentary - the naive young filmmakers suddenly out of their depth in a remote region where they've no idea where to turn for help.

The film appears to be trying to work on some higher metaphorical level where conventional narrative is not needed, and it is up to audiences to carefully unpick what ideas and themes are being offered up without any real guidance.

Aside from capturing the stand-in Californian scenery well, Bruce has fun with his RED camera’s angles and speeds, whips up woozy montages, splashes the colours around and edits with a Hot Fuzz intensity.

Shutaro challenges us to stay with this quietly brutish character.

One of the most stunningly banal films I have seen in decades.

This is no ordinary underdog boxer story. Mariko's film instead shares DNA with Taxi Driver or Raging Bull.