An original, Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson makes idiosyncratic films that display his unique philosophical and filmic vision. His latest feature, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, which is just as unclassificable as his former works, was honored with the Golden Lion Award, the top kudo at the 2014 Venice Film Fest.

In this thriller, directed by Dan Gilroy, Gyllenhaal plays one of his most challenging roles, a twisted crime photographer.

Ethan Hawke’s docu is only 81 minute long, but not one second is wasted on conveying the genius of the pianist Seymour Bernstein.

It’s to Sissako’s credit that “Timbuktu” is effective in both visceral and cerebral ways, due to the humanist perspective that infuses the tale and its characters

Rory Kennedy’s significant documentary, “Last Days in Vietnam,” is still timely even though it is set forty years ago in what was arguably one of the worst years in modern American history.