1 I, Daniel Blake
(15) (Ken Loach, 2016, UK/Fra/Bel) 100 mins
Few film-makers seem to possess the will and the wherewithal to tackle Austerity Britain, so thank God for Ken. This is one of his strongest, following a laid-off carpenter (Dave Johns), cast into the soul-sapping labyrinth of state support, but who finds a friend in Hayley Squires’ even more desperate single mum. Authentic, relevant and achingly moving, it’s a tale of institutional heartlessness and human warmth that would move even a secretary of state for Work and Pensions.
2 American Honey (15)
(Andrea Arnold, 2016, UK/US) 164 mins
This dreamy road trip across the US interior is so naturalistically acted and gorgeously filmed, it barely feels like a movie at all. Newcomer Sasha Lane excels as Star, an unkempt teen who’s lured onto the open road by charming Shia LaBeouf and his van-load of hedonistic magazine-sellers.
3 In Pursuit Of Silence (PG)
(Patrick Shen, 2015, US/Bel/Chi/Ger/HK/Ind/Jap/Tai/UK) 82 mins
This minimalist documentary proves its own point: our world is filled with so much noise that silence is something rare, precious and slightly unsettling. It quietly follows various silence-seekers – a hitchhiker, Trappist monks, audio specialists – but also finds room for soothing images and even music. The experience is almost spiritual.
4 Sonita (PG)
(Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami, 2015, Ger/Swi/Ira) 91 mins
This extraordinary documentary could almost be a work of fiction. Sonita Alizadeh is a spirited Afghan teen, living illegally in Tehran, whose dreams of becoming a rapper are threatened by her mother’s plans to marry her off. She initially resists in rhyme, but the story’s outcome is grippingly unpredictable.
5 Queen Of Katwe (PG)
(Mira Nair, 2016, US) 124 mins
A Ugandan girl’s chess skills take her from the slums to the championships, making for a different type of feelgood sports movie. Newcomer Madina Nalwanga is supported by David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o.
