San Diego International Film Festival — A–Z of films

This domestic drama set in Lebanon also has elements of black humour, which is unique in comparison to other Lebanese films.

This emerges as a piece of bravura filmmaking that tackles huge themes with style and intelligence while providing a compelling narrative drive.

Although the storyline here doesn't offer much that's new, the character work and visual design enable this modest little film to punch above its weight.

The film offers an interesting play on the concept of reality and fiction.

Kathy Broere and Bobby Trench don't worry about the statistics - they bring us human stories and let us figure the rest out for ourselves.

While Farhadi certainly knows how to spin a web of intrigue, deceit and suspicion, the narrative has a tendency to leap from strand to strand, often leaving the audience stumbling in its wake.

The dialogue is irreverent and sharp like a raven's claw.

Thompson's forceful, charismatic performance brings life to what could have been a relentlessly grim film, but it also unbalances the drama somewhat.

None of the characters' choices are very convincing in a project that feels more like a film school exercise than a serious attempt at connecting with an audience.

Director Jen McGowan proves expert at drawing out the humanity in her characters, making the brutality of those bent on protecting their own interests far more disturbing.

Anybody who has ever run a business will relate.

There's natural chemistry between the three related cast members and it carries over very effectively into the film.

Somewhere within all this there's interesting commentary on Western fetishisation of Chinese culture and Chinese women - perhaps even on the legacy of empire.

Offering a clear-sighted view of the situation that calls to mind executive producer Matthew Heinemann’s approach to the drug trade in Cartel Land, Kasbe digs at the complexity of the poaching problem.

Recent Hollywood heist films - typified by the Ocean's franchise - have been largely concerned with shiny surfaces, gloss and froth but British director Steve McQueen is much more interested in what lies beneath.

Landscape and music and everyday objects are used to splendid effect.