During February, Friday nights are home to a collection of critically acclaimed small budget American indie films worth checking out. Catch two of filmmaker Sean Baker’s award winning feature films: Starlet (2012) as well as the impressive Tangerine (2015), and the charming directorial debut from Desiree Akhavan (Appropriate Behaviour). It’s a great series of films you won’t get to see anywhere else, so enjoy.

Here are my highlights for the week.

During February, Friday nights are home to a collection of critically acclaimed small budget American indie films worth checking out. Catch two of filmmaker Sean Baker’s award winning feature films: Starlet (2012) as well as the impressive Tangerine (2015), and the charming directorial debut from Desiree Akhavan (Appropriate Behaviour). It’s a great series of films you won’t get to see anywhere else, so enjoy.

Here are my highlights for the week.

Saint Laurent … Monday 1st February, 8.30pm

Throughout February, Rialto Channel is celebrating French cinema by playing a French film every Monday and Tuesday evening. Kicking off this extended World Cinema series is Saint Laurent, an award winning biography that looks at Yves Saint Laurent’s life during the period from 1967 to 1976. An epic 2 ½ hours long, Saint Laurent is a surreal film that flicks back and forward between the present, past and future, and delves into Laurent’s dreams and aspirations, as well as trying to make sense of all the different aspects of Laurent’s life and personality. It’s an ambitious film that uses mirrors, memory and extravagant art direction to reflect on what made Yves Saint Laurent tick. Focusing as much on what was happening in society at the time as it does on Saint Laurent’s fashion empire, director Bertrand Bonello gets swept away with the scandalous, narcissistic aspects of Laurent’s sexuality and addictions, and the film tends towards style over substance. If you’re looking for a conventional biopic – this is not it. Instead, Bonello and an excellent Gaspard Ulliel as Laurent, have created a unique film delves into them mind of an artist, and the important role of inspiration.

Women He’s Undressed …Wednesday 3^rd February, 8.30pm

This month, New Zealand fashion designer Adrian Hailwood presents Fashion Film Month, The Spirit of Avant Garde, on Rialto Channel. The series features the documentaries Iris (2014), Dior and I (2014), Advanced Style (2014) and Women He’s Undressed (2015). It’s an impressive collection of beautifully crafted and fascinating stories, kicking off with Australian filmmaker Gillian Armstrong’s (My Brilliant Career, Oscar and Lucinda) offbeat biography about legendary Hollywood costume designer of the 1930s, Orry-Kelly (1897 - 1964). Actor Darren Gilshenan talks to camera as Orry-Kelly taking us through his life from small town Australia to Bette Davis’s confident and costume designer. The film also features interviews with some of the most well known costume designers of today, and an impressive range of archive footage from the many films Orry- Kelly worked on. It’s a great story, and one that Armstrong tells in an entertaining and informative way. You don’t need to love fashion to enjoy this yarn – a general appreciation of the Golden Age of Hollywood will do.

Appropriate Behaviour…Friday 5^th February, 8.30pm

Writer, director and star of Appropriate Behaviour is Desiree Akhavan, an American filmmaker who is often described as “an Iranian bisexual Lena Dunham.” Known for her web series The Slope and as a regular character on Girls, Appropriate Behaviour is Akhavan debut feature film and tells the story of twenty something Shirin (Akhavan) who does a lousy job of coping with life after breaking up with her girlfriend, all the while trying to be the perfect Persian daughter. Regardless of what people might call Akhavan, she’s made an honest, warm and engaging film that regardless of your heritage or sexuality you will be able to resonate with. I can’t wait to see what she does next.