Though self-consciously structured as if a fairy tale or fable, Clio Barnard’s follow-up to the docudrama The Arbor continues the tradition of Britain’s kitchen sink socio-realism. Both devastating and compassionate, The Selfish Giant is a profound film on friendship and the class system.

Unmasking the illusory excess of the 1980s, Sean Durkin’s psychologically askew chamber piece is a decadent treat with a poisonous core, boasting standout performances from Jude Law and Carrie Coon. The superbly biting repartee makes this a must-see addition to the pantheon of toxic movie marriages.