April — Mubi.com
Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili’s quietly seething drama trains its unflinching gaze on the stark challenges faced by its protagonist, Nina, an obstetrician working in the only hospital in a small provincial town. Dedicated to her job to the expense of all other areas of her life, Nina’s compartmentalised life is thrown into disarray when a newborn delivered under her supervision dies seconds after birth. With the subsequent investigation placing all blame on her, she must fight for what is right, despite the intense scrutiny and accusations. Exquisitely executed, at times excruciating to watch, it’s a masterful piece of dramatic cinema that raises uncomfortable questions.
A Room for Romeo Brass — Prime Video
Director Shane Meadows’ 1999 coming-of-age tale still stands up as a humorous, lovingly rendered portrait of ordinary life in the English Midlands. Romeo Brass and Gavin “Knocks” Woolley are an unlikely pair of best friends — one tough and brassy, the other shy and hampered by back pain. In the bleak world of the Midlands housing estate where they live, their relationship is tested, but it’s also the light that enables them to navigate the darkness and difficulties of the adult world around them.
My Mom Jayne — Showmax
Mariska Hargitay was only three when her mother, the celebrated pin-up and “sex-bomb” actress Jayne Mansfield, was killed in a car crash. Though her father always warned her to ignore the many scandalous books written about her mother as well as the tabloid sensationalist hunger for stories that persisted long after her death, Hargitay always wanted to know who her mother really was. In this intimate and revealing documentary she sets about finding out, with the help of her family and those who knew Mansfield best.
The Phoenician Scheme — Buy from Apple TV+
Wes Anderson’s latest offering bears many of the trademarks that have made him such a recognisable and beloved director. The distinctive colour palettes, retro style, deadpan humour and regular collaborators are all here in this twisty tale of Benicio Del Toro’s wheeler-dealer and his attempt to seal the deal that will ensure his legacy, and maybe mend his relationship with his daughter. What’s different this time is the delicate handling of the relationships and some touching reflection on families and personal relationships.
The Pitt — M-Net and Showmax
ER alumnus Noah Wyle returns to the emergency room in this multi-Emmy nominated drama in which he plays Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the medically gifted and scarred head of “the Pitt”, the emergency room at a chaotic but dedicated Philadelphia hospital. Though it doesn’t reinvent the wheel as far as its characters and situations are concerned, it’s a small but simple stroke of genius on the part of creator R Scott Gemmill that makes it a must-watch, nerve-racking drama. Each episode represents one hour in the shift of Robby and his fellow doctors, with that one day providing plenty of tension, drama and heartbreak.
• ‘The Pitt’ airs on Mondays from August 11 on M-Net at 9pm and on Showmax
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.