Alan Rickman passed away in January this year leaving behind an almost 40 year long acting career that spanned film, theatre and television, as well as venturing into directing. His first foray into directing was in 1997’s The Winter Guest, a relationship dramastaring Phyllida Law and Emma Thompson. In 2014 he stepped behind the camera again to direct the delightful period romance A Little Chaos, set in the gardens of Versailles, and in which he also stared. It was his third to last performance on screen, and one that reminds us there is so much more to Rickman than his reputation as a memorable villain (Die Hard, Harry Potter, Robin Hood). His languid drawl and distinctive looks worked beautifully in any genre from drama to action, comedy to romance. A Little Chaos is a wonderful way to see Rickman on screen again, and celebrate and remember his acclaimed career.

Alan Rickman passed away in January this year leaving behind an almost 40 year long acting career that spanned film, theatre and television, as well as venturing into directing. His first foray into directing was in 1997’s The Winter Guest, a relationship drama staring Phyllida Law and Emma Thompson. In 2014 he stepped behind the camera again to direct the delightful period romance A Little Chaos, set in the gardens of Versailles, and in which he also stared. It was his third to last performance on screen, and one that reminds us there is so much more to Rickman than his reputation as a memorable villain (Die Hard, Harry Potter, Robin Hood). His languid drawl and distinctive looks worked beautifully in any genre from drama to action, comedy to romance. A Little Chaos is a wonderful way to see Rickman on screen again, and celebrate and remember his acclaimed career.

A Little Chaos  … Saturday 16th April, 8.30pm

Alan Rickman directs this period drama about Madame Sabine de Bara (Kate Winslet), an independent and pioneering landscape gardener who is commissioned by King Louis XIV's landscape artist André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts) to design and build one of the main gardens at the King’s new palace in Versailles. Like an episode of Landscape Man meets a British period drama, this charming story is immensely watchable for both its glorious gardens and performances. Winslet, who worked with Rickman previously on Sense and Sensibility, has both the strength and vulnerability for the role of a woman recovering from a terrible personal loss, while breaking down barriers in a physical male industry. Matthias Schoenaerts (excellent in Rust and Bone and Bullhead) matches Winslet’s intensity as the famous landscape architect Le Notre, and their budding romance is the heart of this story. The film as a whole fluctuates between solemn and lighthearted as we flit from the muddy fields into the pomp and cleavage of King Louis XIV's court. Rickman takes on the role of King Louis and along with Stanley Tucci as his bisexual brother, gives this film its wit and humour.

Tangerines … Monday 11th April

This intelligent and poetic anti war drama from Georgian writer-director Zara Urushadze was nominated for an Oscar at the 2014 Academy Awards, but lost out to Polish film Ida. The film is set in the early 90s during the growing conflict between Georgia and Abkhazian separatists in the wake of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Even though the war is approaching, Estonian immigrant farmer Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) and his friend Margus (Elmo Nüganen), decide to stay in their deserted village in Georgia’s Apkhazeti region in order to harvest their valuable crop of tangerines. The war reaches them and Ivo finds himself nursing a solider from each side; Georgian Niko (Misha Meskhi) and Chechen mercenary Ahmed (Giorgi Nakhashidze) who threaten to kill each other as soon as they are physically able. Delightful black humour hovers just beneath the surface of this drama, and there are some lovely moments as Urushadze focuses on the reality of living in a war zone. When Ivo and Margus push a soldiers’ truck down a hill and it doesn’t catch fire like they do in the movies, Ivo mutters with disappointment “Cinema is a great big fraud”. Tangerines however, is anything but a great big fraud.

Burn … Wednesday 13th April, 8.30pm

This fascinating film looks at the tragic effect the demise of the Detroit motor industry has had on the city through the eyes of its firefighters. For a year filmmakers Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez follow members of Detroit's Engine Company 50 as they attempt to stop their beloved city from burning. Burn captures the danger and excitement of fighting fires and the difficulties of running a fire station on depleting budgets, but most importantly it tells the personal stories of these dedicated men and women who, through their tightknit community, are determine to help rebuild Detroit.