Great Freedom (12A)
Directed by Sebastian Meise
★★★★

THE relentless persecution of homosexuals in post-war Germany is examined through the powerful and moving story of Hans, a gay man who refused to be beaten by the system and found love in the unlikeliest of places — prison.

What is most shocking about co-writer and director Sebastian Meise’s new film is how liberation by the Allies in World War II did not mean freedom for all.

In 1945, gay men like Hans (a transformative performance by Franz Rogowski) were transferred from Nazi concentration camps straight back to German prisons to finish their sentences — almost impossible to comprehend.

There he meets Viktor (a complex and nuanced turn by Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer and an apparent homophobe with whom he becomes close over the course of three decades, finding himself imprisoned time and time again under the German penal code.

Paragraph 175 criminalised homosexual activity, and also allowed the authorities to secretly film gay men having sex in places such as public toilets.

Though amended in 1969, it wasn’t abolished until 1994 and affected 100,000 lives.

The consequences of this heinous act are shown through Hans’s eyes and his refusal to deny who he is.

The action moves back and forth in time, showing the growing respect and friendship between Hans and Viktor, leading to surprising intimacy and love.

It is a tender and heartbreaking tale of resistance, love and injustice.

MD

In cinemas March 11

Young Plato (12A)
Directed by Neasa Ni Chianain and Declan McGrath
★★★★

AN ELVIS-loving primary school headmaster with a black belt in karate uses the great philosophers to dispel violence and encourage his young charges to think in this awe-inspiring observational documentary set in Belfast’s Ardoyne.

The film follows the inspirational principal of Holy Cross Boys Primary School, Kevin McArevey, and his dedicated staff as he introduces youngsters to the great philosophers — Plato, Socrates, Seneca — and gets them to question mythologies of war and violence as well as the narrative they have been taught about the Troubles by their parents and grandparents.

His methods are a little unorthodox but visionary, as the boys, from a marginalised working-class community plagued by poverty, drugs and guns, become motivated and engaged. It is extraordinary to behold.

The way he deals with violent pupils is also unique: sending them to the philosophy board to explain and to examine their actions and their effects on their victims. They seem to respond and show true remorse and sadness at letting their mentor down.

It is a delightful and eye-opening film — we need more McAreveys in the education system.

MD

In cinemas

Turning Red (PG)
Directed by Domee Shi
★★★★★

THE rollercoaster ride that is adolescence and its raging hormones — for both teens and their parents — is captured to enlightening and engaging effect in Pixar’s new heart-warming film and impressive debut feature by Domee Shi.

Set in Toronto in 2002, it follows Chinese-Canadian Meilin (Rosalie Chiang), a dorky overachieving 13-year-old girl who excels both at school and at home, who suddenly finds herself turning into a giant red panda when she becomes “overexcited” — aka, hormonal.

Her mantra “honour your parents” is soon put to the test as she turns from a dutiful daughter to one who starts clashing with her overprotective and domineering mother (voiced superbly by Sandra Oh), via the panda as she longs be a normal teenager.

She is torn between her family and her friends while her mum is finding it difficult to let go of her child.

Co-written and directed by Shi, who also helmed the brilliant short Bao, the prickly daughter-mother relationship is at the heart of this gorgeous animation that explores their cultural differences.

Richly layered, complex yet hugely entertaining, it is another Pixar film aimed at both kids and adults alike.

Available on Disney+

The Adam Project
Directed by Shawn Levy
★★★★

FREE Guy film-maker Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds reunite once more, this time for a moving father-and-son drama in the guise of a sci-fi time travel adventure.

A hot-shot pilot travels from 2050 to 2022, where he teams up with his annoying, wise-cracking 12-year-old self (impressive newcomer Walker Scobell) to head back to 2018 to find their late father (Mark Ruffalo) in order to save the future.

While it is an exciting and gripping action-packed ride, it is the film’s emotional side that packs the biggest punch as Big Adam (Reynolds) reconciles with his younger self and with his dad, who he has never forgiven for leaving him.

The poignant bar scene between Big Adam and his mother (a fantastic Jennifer Garner) is also surprisingly moving.

Reynolds and Scobell make a wonderful double act and their chemistry is adorable. While Reynolds and Ruffalo’s father-and-son meeting hits a heartfelt note.

If you add Zoe Saldana to the mix you have a Marvel reunion, of sorts. A fun and heartwarming family film.

MD

On Netflix

Sideshow (15)
Directed by Adam Oldroyd
★★★

TWO inept criminals get more than they bargained for when they break into the home of a washed-up alcoholic psychic in this truly bizarre black British comedy.

Inspired by a story his grandmother told him about a fortune-teller in World War II, writer-director Adam Oldroyd’s debut feature stars Les Dennis as the ageing and grumpy The All Seeing Stupendo, who has to use his mystic wits to outsmart the robbers, played by April Pearson and Nathan Clarke.

Is he the real deal or another scam medium? Dennis keeps you guessing as he hams it up as the past-it psychic Stuart Pendrick while Anthony Head (Ted Lasso and Buffy The Vampire Slayer) plays his long-suffering agent Gerald.

A weird and oddly toned yet compelling comedy, it is driven home by engaging performances by Dennis and Head, despite a contrived ending.

MD

In cinemas March 11 and available on digital download from March 21.