Thirty or so films is not a sufficiently large sample to judge properly, nonetheless let me present my outstanding experiences:
- Ana Kokkinos’s Blessed was the standout – compelling, beautifully acted and with a driving, multipronged narrative that stuns
- Close behind was Sergio, Greg Barker’s documentary on the 2003 death and, less so, the inspirational life, of UN legend Sergio de Mello
- In the Loop, directed by Armando Iannucci, is the funniest savage satire I’ve seen in years, and the fact that it skewers the UK decision to invade Iraq adds to the pleasure
- Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, a drama about a bomb disposal squad in Baghdad, is tense beyond bearing and an examination of both the hellhole of Iraq and the culture of seeking out danger
- The three Red Riding films (adding to the title the years 1974, 1980 and 1983) are, like the David Peace crime fiction novels, intricate, compelling, dark and revelatory
I should also note that only five of the films I saw were average or lower in quality. Even they held my interest. Such a high hit rate guarantees my return next year.