13. Fanny And Alexander
GaumontLike Andrei Tarkovsky, Ingmar Bergman has a reputation for being a director of challenging, pretentious and often impenetrable films which deal with deeply spiritual and philosophical themes in a way which refuses to pander to the audience. But not all of his films are hermetically inaccessible, and Fanny and Alexander is perhaps the greatest example of one which audiences new to his work can engage with and enjoy. While it comes in at a daunting 3 hours for the theatrical cut, the story of the titular siblings as they celebrate Christmas and later find themselves under the iron rule of their Puritanical father-in-law instantly grabs your attention with its rich array of characters. Bergman's long-standing preoccupation with childhood, religious dogmatism and escape into fantasy is explored with a less foreboding attitude than in much of his other films, ending on a surprisingly tender and optimistic note. For the full experience, check out the 5 hour TV version - another Sunday afternoon marathon you won't regret.