Writer-director Jean-Pierre Améris’ latest film is a romantic comedy despite itself. Telling the tale of two romantics as united as they are handicapped by an overwhelming fear of relationships, Romantics Anonymous is a sugar-coated love story that proves every bit as sweet as it does saccharine. Boasting agreeably quirky contrivances and a deeply calorific serving of catharsis, this end of year treat just about manages to have its chocolate and eat it.

Gérard Depardieu excels as a hulking giant of a man in the weirdly hypnotic French melodrama Mammuth. It’s an ultra surreal tale of man, machine and the journey that lies beyond retirement.

It’s a difficult thing not to get mired in the seriousness of social commentary when you have something particularly serious to say. Enter Louise-Michel, the absurdist story about social revolutionism, fiscal utopias and transgender-hitmen, and a film that delivers its sobering message with an indulgent dose of dark humour and sheer, unadulterated madness.