Sascha Verhey

A virtuosic act of defiance against his detractors, Lars Von Trier’s The House That Jack Built is a brilliant, ultra-violent portrayal of a serial killer. Starring a mesmeric Matt Dillon on terrifying form, this Dantean plunge into the mind of madness is a provocative blend of comedy and horror.

If The State I’m In was a new German cinema at its start, Christoph Hochhäusler’s combination financial drama and romance showcases its maturity. The setting is 21st century capitalism, the playing field, glass-walled skyscrapers and flats. But the stakes—life, happiness, love—are utterly human.