Western (dir: Valeska Grisebach, 2017, cert 12A)
Utilising the familiar motifs of the Western genre and subtly recalling classics such as Fort Apache, Grisebach’s ingenious film sees a crew of German construction workers building a project in Bulgaria, with the exception of the taciturn Meinhard (Meinhard Neumann) this motley bunch of interlopers are driven by greed and have nothing but contempt for their ‘backwards’ hosts. Grisebach’s exclusive use of non-professional actors lends a gritty prescience to what is her first film in eleven years, Western is a simple tale of human resilience and shared experience possessed of an inspiringly uplifting coda.
Mon 30 Apr to Thu 3 May at the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Animated Shorts
A whole evening of thoughtfully curated animated shorts from around the world and across a range of genres at Stirchley’s wonderfully convivial arts centre Artefact, with proceeds going to The Hope Projects charity to fund their incredible work with destitute asylum seekers.
Wed 3 May 7.30pm at Artefact, 1464 Pershore Rd, Birmingham B30 2NT £5 www.facebook.com

Expresso 90 Second Film Festival 
Organised by Solihull College and Northampton University, but open to all filmmakers, with the only proviso being that submitted movies should be no longer than one and a half minutes, excluding credits. Tonight’s event features the festival finalists with the winning entry receiving the prestigious reward of being screened before features at The Mockingbird for the duration of May.
Thu 3 May 7pm at The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA Free filmfreeway.com

I Got Life (Aurore) (dir: Blandine Lenoir, 2018, cert 15)
Agnès Jaoui is delightful as the fifty year old titular Aurore, discovering that half a century of experience is no impediment to rediscovering her joie de vivre when old flame Totoche (Thibault de Montalembert) returns to her life. The schmaltz levels do dangerously edge into the red at times but rest assured you’ll be leaving the mac with a warm fuzzy life affirming glow.
Fri 4 May to Wed 9 May at the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Mary & The Witch’s Flower (dir: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2018, cert U)
If you imagine there’s more than just a whiff of the legendary Studio Ghibli about Yonebayashi’s charming feature, Mary & The Witch’s Flower, that’s probably because the director worked with the great Hayao Miyazaki for several years. Yonebayashi’s third film is a breezy tale of adolescent witchcraft and magic that will certainly appeal to younger audiences but with enough bite for the mature anime fan to enjoy.
Fri 4 May to Thu 10 May at The Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY  £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Planet of the Apes (dir: Franklin J. Schaffner, 1968, cert PG)
One of the most iconic and politically astute sci-films ever made and with the world seemingly edging ever closer towards oblivion some five decades later its potency is just as relevant. Charlton Heston is unforgettable as the crash landed astronaut Taylor, adrift in a brutal and confusing medieval land ruled by apes. We just wish we hadn’t already seen that stunning reveal at the movie’s end. “God damn you all to hell”.
Sun 6 May 1.30pm at The Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY  £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Days of Being Wild (dir: Wong Kar-wai, 1990, cert 12)
Wong Kar-Wei is one of the greatest filmmakers 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. Days of Being Wild is the first episode in a loose trilogy that includes In The Mood For Love and 2046 and begins the director’s dreamlike exploration of mis-connecting souls and romance.
Sun 6 May 6.30pm at Cafe Ort, 500-504 Moseley Rd, Birmingham B12 9AH £5 www.meetup.com