Summer Hours is a gently paced movie that tells the story of three adult siblings, Adrienne, Frédéric and Jérémie who have grown apart. Adrienne has moved to New York to pursue a career as an artist while Jérémie has moved to China to work for Puma while Frédéric remains in France. They reunite occasionally for family gatherings at their mother’s home just outside of Paris and this is where the film opens; with lavish shots of the beautiful house which is full of artwork by their mother’s deceased uncle, a celebrated artist whose legacy hangs over the family.

Of Time and the City was commissioned last year to celebrate the decision to make Liverpool the European Capital of Culture for 2008 (I know, I know). Rather than a portrait of shellsuit wearing scousers nicking hubcaps we’re presented with a very personal documentary from Liverpool born and bred director Terence Davies with a poetic elegance in both its imagery and narration. Davies traces the growth of his city and juxtaposes it with his own adolescence where he grapples with his sexuality, religion and taste in music.

I consider myself an apolitical person. My voting record is, shall we say, sketchy. There’s so much bullshit involved in the whole process that I can’t stand to see ordinary people drained of their character and droning platitudes in public. I don’t quite understand the Obama phenomenon for that reason, but I admire his obvious skill in making a frighteningly large percentage of the global population become enamoured with a lawyer.