The Duke Of Burgundy -

Sidse Babett Knudsen (best known for Borgen ) is a marvel of micro-expression. As Cynthia, she is the reluctant dominatrix. She doesn’t want to punish Evelyn; she wants to read about butterflies. Watching Knudsen switch from stern cruelty to exhausted, loving tenderness in a single glance is a masterclass in acting.

If there is a flaw, it is that the film’s deliberate pacing can sometimes feel like a test of endurance. The repetition is the point—showing the monotonous, unsexy reality of scheduling your kinks—but around the 60-minute mark, the film’s small runtime starts to feel longer than it is. The Duke Of Burgundy

Director: Peter Strickland Starring: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Chiara D'Anna Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) Sidse Babett Knudsen (best known for Borgen )