This week we launch into spring, and with a new month comes a new lineup of feature films and television series. British crime series Chasing Shadows stars Alex Kingston and kicks off on Sunday evenings, and after The Bridge wraps up on September 8^ththe third season of Rectify takes over Tuesday nights. Rialto Documentary is also filled with stirring films about what happens when governments overstep boundaries, and when people fight back - Citizen Four, Dinosaur 13 and The Internets Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz. Also throughout September, Rialto’s season of anime continues with Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howls Moving Castle.

This week we launch into spring, and with a new month comes a new lineup of feature films and television series. British crime series Chasing Shadows stars Alex Kingston and kicks off on Sunday evenings, and after The Bridge wraps up on September 8^th the third season of Rectify takes over Tuesday nights. Rialto Documentary is also filled with stirring films about what happens when governments overstep boundaries, and when people fight back - Citizen Four, Dinosaur 13 and The Internets Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz. Also throughout September, Rialto’s season of anime continues with Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howls Moving Castle. 

Monday 31st August, 8.30pm… Ida 

Winner of the best foreign language film at the 2015 Academy Awards, Ida is a beautifully haunting film about a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland sent to spend time with her Aunt and only living relative before taking her vows. 18 year old Anna is a sheltered, innocent orphan who grew up inside the convent, while Wanda is a worldly and cynical Communist Party insider. When Wanda tells Anna the truth about their family’s fate during the Nazi occupation, they share a need to return to their family’s farm to discover exactly what happened. Written and directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, Ida is stunningly framed in black and white set in harsh Communist Poland. It’s a restrained, bleak and moving film, owing much of its success to newcomer Agata Trzebuchowska, who is simply excellent as Anna. Trzebuchowska was discovered in a Warsaw café and had never acted before; taking the role because she was a big fan of director Pawlikowski’s movie My Summer of Love. After returned from The Oscars earlier this year she quit acting, claiming, “acting is not something that greatly interests me. It’s not my path”. Trzebuchowska hasn’t turned her back on the industry though, a move into directing is on the cards. In the meantime, don’t miss her in what might be her one and only fabulous performance. 

Saturday 5^th September, 8.30pm … God Help The Girl    

When Stuart Murdoch, lead singer of indie pop band Belle and Sebastian, started writing coming-of-age musical God Help the Girl, he had no intention of directing. But after spending ten years with his characters, and knowing exactly how he wanted them portrayed, he realised it was his responsibility to carry the project to completion. With stylised art direction, vintage costumes, and sweet, heartfelt pop songs, Murdoch’s film about a young woman who wants to be a singer has a timeless quality. Talented Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, Magic, Magic) stars in the lead role of Eve, along with Olly Alexander (Cheerful Weather for the Wedding) and Game of Thrones’ Hannah Murray as the other two members of their unofficial band. Set in a fictionalised Glasgow, there’s a fairy tale feel to God Help the Girl, despite the fact it’s characters are dealing with very real issues. The music has a Belle and Sebastian sensibility so fans of the band will enjoy watching Murdoch takes his vision one step further.

Sunday 6^th September, 8.30pm … Chasing Shadows 

This ITV television crime thriller appears to be channeling both The Bridge and Sherlock Holmes. The series stars Reece Shearsmith as obsessive and abrupt DS Sean Stone, a detective obviously on the autism spectrum; excellent at methodically solving crimes, but not good at working with others or understanding the feelings of the victim’s families. Like Sherlock Holmes and Saga Noren from The Bridge, he lacks emotional empathy, but he also lacks nuance - what you see if what you get. After speaking the truth at a Police press conference, Stone is exiled to the Missing Person’s department, where he’s teamed up with missing persons-searcher Ruth Hattersley (Alex Kingston). Hattersley couldn’t be more different from her new colleague, but by the end of the second episode they have some form of connection. The idea of a detective with a distinct sense of individuality isn’t new, but at 4 episodes Chasing Shadows moves at a nice brisk pace, and leaves you wanting more.