Feel-Good Films

Studiocanal have been adding entire movies from their back catalogue to view for free on their YouTube channel. Our pick of the selection available is Taika Waititi’s (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) sweet and hilarious debut, starring Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) as a social misfit looking for love.

“★★★★★ – A refreshing and invigorating delight” – Guardian. Kate Beckinsale stars as Lady Susan Vernon, a devilishly acerbic widow surrounded by a whiff of scandal and seeking a wealthy spouse for her daughter. Based on Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan, Whit Stillman’s gloriously comedic period romp is overflowing with elegance and barbed wit.

Nominated for five Cesars, this charming, stylish and witty French comedy will leave you beaming long after the credits roll. It’s the 1950s and Rose Pamphyle aspires to become a secretary, but unfortunately she’s very clumsy and disorganised. She does, however, possess one true talent and when her new employer discovers her incredible speed typing ability, her life changes forever.

★★★★★ – Empire. Bill Forsyth’s “timeless masterpiece” (Mark Kermode) is gloriously reminiscent of Ealing’s comedies. A young Texas oil executive is sent to a remote Scottish seaside village to arrange the construction of a new refinery. But he finds himself facing opposition from the locals. A heart-warming film about community and the pleasures of small-town life.

Arriving in 2018 and raising the bar for all comic book and family films, Into the Spider-Verse is a triumph of animation, character, heart and filmmaking craft. Young Miles Morales has enough problems dealing with his fancy new school, but after a chance meeting with Spider-Man and an assortment of heroes from the multiverse, mild-mannered Miles must train to become the web-slinging protector of his city.

One of the most successful Indian films of all time, this glorious comedy-drama features megastars Aamir Khan, R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi. Best friends in college, Rancho, Farhan and Raju get into student hijinks while struggling with the pressure to achieve good grades. Years later and now successful, Farha and Raju go in search of Rancho who disappeared on their graduation day.

Clayton Jacobson’s hilarious Australian mockumentary stars his brother Shane as a lovable plumber. Kenny is proud of his work supplying and servicing porta-loos, despite his family’s disdain. Offered the chance to be an executive after his performance at a trade show, and keen to impress his son, Kenny has to decide whether it’s time to hang up his plunger for good.

“★★★★ – An exquisite portrait of family life” – Guardian. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s beautiful and tender tale of sisterly love. Three twentysomething sisters are estranged from their parents – first their father left to live with another woman, then their mother walked out – but when their father dies they attend his funeral. There they meet their younger half-sister, which transforms all their lives.

One of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved films, My Neighbour Totoro is adored by young and old alike. Sisters Satsuki and Mei move into an old house with their professor dad to be closer to the hospital where the girls’ mother is recovering from a long-term illness. Encountering a creature who calls itself Totoro, the sisters embark on a magical adventure with woodland spirits.