Director: Oliver Hermanus
Cast: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood

Living is the moving story of an ordinary man reduced by years of oppressive office routine to a shadow existence, who at the 11th hour makes a supreme effort to turn his dull and lonely life into something meaningful. A life changing event and a rather naïve bright young secretary help him to achieve this.

It is a remake of a 1950’s film by the famous Japanese director Kurosawa with a screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Bill Nighy is superb and gives a nuanced and heart- rending performance.

“A gentle exquisitely sad film” (Peter Bradshaw – Guardian)

Director: Anthony Fabian
Cast: Lesley Manville

This charming film, based on a book by Paul Gallico, tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950’s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress belonging to one of her regular clients. She decides she must have one of her own and works, starves and gambles to raise the money.

She embarks on an adventure to Paris, which will change the very future of the House of Dior.

Lesley Manville plays Mrs Harris with a strong supporting cast.

“A lovely sweet-natured film” (Peter Bradshaw – Guardian)

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks

This dynamic pop biopic explores the life and music of Elvis Presley and the complicated relationship he had with his monstrous manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) A portrait of the king of rock and role and his puppet master promoter. It spans a 20-year period from Evis’s rise to fame and unprecedented international stardom to his rather tragic and inevitable decline.

In the title role Austin Butler is electrifying and much of the soundtrack is original Elvis, although Butler also sings at times.

“A blistering, turbocharged chronicle of the King” (Mark Kermode)

Director: Stephen Freares
Cast: Sally Hawkins

Amateur British history enthusiast, Phillipa Langley (Sally Hawkins) became globally famous in 2012 for discovering the remains of King Richard 3rd in a Leicester car park.

She had become obsessed with Richard after reading a biography of him and it was historical detective work, personal determination and pure intuition that led her to the car park.

It is a David and Goliath story involving sexism and prejudice as Phillipa struggled to be taken seriously by the professional archaeologists at Leicester university.

“Sally Hawkins is Oscar-worthy in crowd-pleasing Ricardian tale.” (Evening Standard)

Director: Frances O’Connor
Cast: Emma Mackey, Oliver Jackson

The film imagines the short passionate life of Emily Bronte that inspired the famous novel “Wuthering Heights”. It is a sensual portrait of a brilliant young woman ahead of her time.

Haunted by the death of her mother Emily struggles within the confines of her family life at the parsonage on the bleak Yorkshire moors. She is the black sheep of the family, a rebel and a misfit, ignored by her austere father, and she yearns for personal and artistic freedom.

“Emma Mackey brings Emily Bronte vibrantly to life” (Rotten Tomatoes)