Éric Rohmer and His Muses: The Four Seasons

'It’s like filmed theatre'; 'it feels like soap opera'; 'it belongs to television'… Éric Rohmer (1920-2010) has always had his share of detractors, not least among those filmgoers who prefer pyrotechnics to dialogue. To be fair, the charms of this maverick of the French New Wave aren’t always apparent on first viewing: his films are slow, wordy and arty, but also among the most sensual and profound that cinema has to offer. This 18-flick programme serves up everything from early-career shorts to some of Rohmer's finest pieces, including The Green Ray (1986), Full Moon in Paris (1984) and Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1987). Schedule details can be viewed here (in Japanese only, natch).