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| The Piano Accident Photo: Lucky Number/MUBI |
The Piano Accident, MUBI, streaming now
Quentin Dupieux again proves he is a master of pacy tragicomedy with this tale of a social media star (Adèle Exarchopoulos, magnificent) who has monetised her genetic quirk of feeling no pain by performing Jack Ass-style stunts in viral videos. When the accident of the title occurs, she is forced to hole up for a while, only to find herself facing a very odd blackmail request from a journalist. A blackly comic triumph that skewers the modern desire for fame – or just to be close to it – while somehow retaining some sympathy for the devil.
The Dive, 9pm, Film4, Monday, January 5
When two sisters go for their annual dive they get a lot more than they bargained for in Maximilian Erlenwein's pulse-pounding thriller. Drew (Sophie Lowe) and May (Louisa Krause) are experienced divers but after a rockfall they find themselves in a serious predicament. With the more confident May trapped, Drew has to summon all her reserves to try to rescue her sibling before May's oxygen tank empties. Erlenwein piles on the literal and figurative pressure and keeps his threats serious and realistic, which makes Drew's race against time all the more gripping. The back story is a bit surplus to requirements but Erlenwein's pace packs a punch.
Culloden, 10pm, BBC4, Tuesday, January 6
Don’t miss the chance to catch Peter Watkins’ groundbreaking and still hugely influential retelling of the massacre of the Highland Scots at Culloden, which broke the mold on established documentary-making. The director, who died at the age of 90 last year, not only put the emphasis on what had been lost rather than won but also adopted a reportage style that saw him “interview” members of the clans. What he achieves with a small, non-professional cast remains remarkable even when watched today.
Kung Fu Panda, 4.35pm, ITV2, Saturday, January 10
Pudgy panda Po (voiced to perfection by Jack Black) is the last animal on Earth you'd think of when it comes to being a "legendary dragon warrior" and the writers of this enjoyable family tale exploit that to the comedy max in the film that spawned an ongoing number of sequels. Slapstick humour is mixed with some neatly animated martial arts action as Po finds himself with his new buddies Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan) on the trail of the brutal snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who has escaped from a maximum security prison and is out for blood. Sweet without being saccharine, there's also some lovely supporting performances, including from Dustin Hoffman as trainer Master Shifu.
Parasite, ITVX, streaming now
Jennie Kermode writes: Following the exploits of the scheming Kim family as they inveigle themselves into the lives of the wealthy Parks through various acts of deception, Bong Joon-ho's witty social satire is far more astute than it might seem at first glance. Though it plays out as a farce - often hilariously - it's anything but superficial, teasing out the complexities of South Korea's class system while asking viewers to reflect on the construction of morality and how much easier it is to be nice if one never has to struggle. A sharp analysis of privilege acknowledges that the Parks are, to an extent, innocents, simply benefitting from a system which they understand even less, and Bong carefully balances our sympathies en route to a spectacular final act. While his arguments might not be new, they're assembled in a way that is both elegant and succinct, and they never distract from the human side of the story or its increasingly dark humour. As a director, he shifts registers with ease to reflect traditional Korean techniques used in depicting poverty whilst making the Parks' world look like a series of glossy high-end advertisements. The film is a superb example of craft applied for a purpose.
Depeche Mode: Memento Mori, Apple TV, streaming now
First and foremost a treat for fans of the band, this concert film was recorded over three nights in Mexico City when they played to a total of 220,000 people. The title has an added poignancy, since the record of the same name was the first that Dave Gahan and Martin Gore had recorded after the death of their bandmate Andy Fletcher. Andy is very much a presence here and remembered by the band and crowd in a poignant moment. Beyond the music – which includes everything from The Cosmos Is Mine to Personal Jesus – director Fernando Frias takes on some of the philosophical ideas behind the memento mori idea of “remember you will die”, specifically within a Mexican context. Read what Frias told us about mixing mortality and music here.
Slow West, Plex, streaming now
John Maclean's debut feature is part boy's own adventure, part fable, part buddy comedy and a whole lot of fun as we follow lovelorn Scot Jay (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as he heads to the New World in search of his love. He finds himself heading west with outlaw Silas (Michael Fassbender). Loss of innocence is on the horizon and there will be bullets before bedtime. Read our interviews with John Maclean, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Ben Mendelson and our full review. We’re staying with John Maclean this week for our short selection. His Pitch Black Heist, featuring Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham.
