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Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 1: Mariinka ★★★★☆ I don't have any frame of reference for war documentaries, but this managed to be both unflinchingly, intimately close to the horror, death and injury (sometimes too close), and yet beautifully shot and artistically told

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 2: No Good Men ★★★★★ I really liked this feminist drama set in Kabul in the run-up to the US leaving Afghanistan and the Taliban taking control

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF screening 3: 'Call Your Bluff' – British comedy short films ★★★★☆ A good mix of eight shorts*, ranging from 2½ to 4 stars each. A highlight was Sally Phillips as a will-writing solicitor bringing a bit too much imagination to the task, in A Twist Of Hate. * whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...

whatson.bfi.org.ukCall Your Bluff | BFI London Film Festival 2026Whether it’s cutting your own hair, winning the lottery, looking for love or livening up a dull day at work, these uk shorts will cover all your comedy needs.
Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 5: The Fox ★★★★☆ Olivia Colman voicing an animatronic fox trying to fix an Aussie hunter's marriage? Very silly (complimentary)

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 6: The Station ★★★★☆ Our LFF has so far been war-heavy, which perhaps says something about 2026. This time we're in Yemen for this excellent portrayal of sisterhood, friendship and boyhood, set in a women-only petrol station/relatively safe space. Lost a star for [spoiler 😬🫣] in last 20min

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 7: Furies ★★★★★ More Middle East feminism in this heist film with the real-life Lebanon banking collapse as its background and women's health in the foreground. Loads of interesting details and plenty of lighter moments, thoroughly recommended. (And no war in it, but war while filming 😬)

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film (extract) 8: The Story of Documentary Film (The 1990s) ★★★☆☆ The two hours of this 16-hour epic we saw covered the 1990s and, in keeping with our LFF so far, had a lot of focus on wars, particularly Sarajevo. Wasn't really what I expected but no denying its maker's commitment to the topic!

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 9: Being Heumann ★★★★★ Am I reviewing the film, or the real-life activism of Judy Heumann and the other disability rights campaigners portrayed in it? Both! A feel-good tale of activist solidarity that felt [to this non-disabled accessibility worker] very inclusive, intersectional and real

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Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 10: Lemonade ★★★☆☆ Moving and mostly believable tale of a care leaver's struggles to start his new adult life – but I wish they'd mustered one or two multidimensional women characters, rather than the ones mostly seen here supportively holding the central men's hands, smiling encouragingly

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 11: Ana, en passant ★★★☆☆ Animation so diverse in techniques and beautifully made that I was less bothered than I might usually have (unfairly?) been by how slow-paced and plot-light this was

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 12: Too Many Beasts ★★★☆☆ Very fun and surreal dark comedy about wild boars overrunning a corner of rural France. A few bits didn't quite work for me but I was still gripped and entertained by the whole bizarre film, whose writer-director was proud to say was uncensored from her vision!

Paul
@bitoclass.uk

#LFF film 13: Mouse ★★★★★ An absolutely wonderful portrayal of grief in superbly rounded multigenerational characters, brought to life by fantastic performances across the board. If you think that sounds unremittingly sad and bleak, it isn't: there's plenty of joy, laughter and hope too. Excellent!