Parasite

 

Ever since Parasite was awarded the Palme D’or back in May 2019, it had become the film to see. Rave reviews, excited buzz and Oscar nominations led to Parasite become the first ever film not in the English language to win the Best Picture. Even before this historical moment, the screening I went to was packed, save for the first few rows, and the audience gasped at the right moments, laughed at the right moments and seemed to be genuinely into the film with one remarking “that was intense”. I, obviously, don’t know how often the patrons attend screenings of foreign movies, but Parasite’s incredible victory may inspire them and others to see other foreign films if the likes of Vue and Odeon show them outside London.

JoJo Rabbit

 

Ever since the 1940s Hitler has been a source of comedy, notable early films include Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator and the more broad comedy Let George do It (To Hell with Hitler) where George Forby punches Hitler in the face (something similar happens in JoJo Rabbit). Therefore, it’s slightly disappointing that Taika Waititi's film is more like Forby’s broad comedy rather than the biting satire of Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. 

Little Women

 

I can’t say I knew too much about the story of Little Women except it was based on the lives of four sisters in and round the American Civil War. Going in fresh in one of the most widely read and frequently adapted novels probably put me in the minority but going in fresh meant I could enjoy the story with no prior knowledge.