In The Mood For Love (dir: Wong Kar Wai, 2000, cert PG) 
Wong Kar-Wei is one of the greatest film makers alive today. The simple yet elegant beauty of his work is stunning. The compelling minutiae of human behaviour is explored in forensic and revelatory detail. In The Mood For Love is an incomparable work. It’s study of love, betrayal, relationships and honour is delicately realised by the restrained and poignant acting of Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. Their singularly stoic refusal to embrace the amoral behaviour of others makes for a unique kind of tragedy. There is a solemn universality to their lives as time passes, along with opportunities, leaving only regret. This is a beautifully quiet and subtle piece of cinema which we can’t recommend enough.
Tue 13 Feb 6pm at  the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Brief Encounter (dir: David Lean, 1945, cert PG)
A perfectly constructed cinematic treatise on love, obligation, trust and the ego. Everyone remembers the clipped accents and stilted Englishness, but beneath that Lean shines a light on the transcendent pulse of the human condition. What makes us who we are? Why do we do the things we do? Is everything as it seems? Is Trevor Howard’s Alex Harvey simply a predatory cad circling the napkin thick naivete of Celia Johnson’s Laura like he has so many other women? A film that is guaranteed to disturb your existential equanimity on some level. “This misery can’t last. I must remember that and try to control myself.”
Wed 14 Feb 1pm & 7.30pm at Artrix, Slideslow Dr, Bromsgrove B60 1GN £14 uk.patronbase.com

Casablanca (dir: Michael Curtiz, 1942, cert U)
The intense and oft misquoted romantic Second World War thriller Casablanca is perfect Valentine’s day fare. Bogart and Bergman light up the screen as Rick and Ilsa, sacrificing their love to help defeat the Nazis. ‘Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time’.
Wed 14 Feb & Sun 18 Feb at The Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

True Romance (dir: Tony Scott, 1993, cert 18)
The film that elevated Quentin Tarantino from video store clerk to Hollywood hot shot, QT’s whip cracking script giving bravura director Tony Scott the ammo to produce one of his most explosive pictures. Relentlessly entertaining and featuring the worst Jamaican patois ever committed to celluloid in Gary Oldman’s daft Drexl Spivey. “He musta thought it was white boy day…it ain’t white boy day is it?”
Wed 14 Feb 9pm at The Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Amelie (dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001, cert 15)
Cute as a button Audrey Tautou is the titular hero discovering that making the citizens of Paris happy is more complicated than she initially thought. Whizzing about the city in a buzzing flash of energy before discovering happiness of her own. Jeunet’s epileptic style beautifully captures the mystery and adventure of the home of love and romance.
Wed 14 Feb 8.30pm  the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle (dir: Paul Sng, 2017, cert PG)
Never has the issue of indifference to tenant’s interests been more pertinent and in Paul Sng’s thoughtful documentary the stigmatisation and cultural devaluing of social housing is explored in unsettling detail. Beginning with Thatcher’s populist ‘right to buy’ policy there has been a steady decline in available social properties and a catastrophic meltdown in the treatment of those who need to live in them. The screening is followed by a discussion with artist Mahtab Hussain.
Thu 15 Feb 6pm  at The Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS Free www.ikon-gallery.org

Road House (dir: Rowdy Herrington, 1989, cert 18)
Screened as part of an occasional trash cinema night at The Mockingbird we think Patrick Swayze’s turn as moody doorman James Dalton is most unfairly maligned. It may have been nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards but its bizarre marriage of tender romance and extreme violence (or was it extreme romance and tender violence?) is rollicking no holds barred good fun. So just sit back, chow down on your complimentary hot dog, imagine you’re in the Double Deuce and enjoy the ride.
Fri 16 Feb 8.35pm at The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA £5 (inc hot dog) veezi.com

Check out our guide to Valentine’s Day screenings this week here.