In the middle of the Second World War teenage Alyosha is commended for destroying two German tanks, but, rather than take a medal, he requests a four day pass to visit his mother. Ballad of a Soldier is about this journey and the life enhancing encounters therein. Nominated at the 1962 Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, this classic of post-war Soviet Realism won many international film awards on its release, most notably a BAFTA Award for Best Film. find out more...

What can I say? The Fellowship of the Ring is all right if you like that kind of Sword and Sorcery thing? Small, cute whee people being chased hither and thither by all kinds of monstrous beasties. Acts of courage and heroism that would have comic book superheroes running for the hills (not that they'd be safe there....oh no!). Peter Jackson's film adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy of good versus evil in a fantastical world long past is just about as spot on as you can imagine it was possible find out more...