World War II has just ended, and sweeping landscapes of a crumbling German town fill the opening sequence. What follows is an intimate re-imagining of the Mann family’s experience post-war with the patriarch Thomas (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erica (Sandra Hüller) embarking on a sort of literary tour of the country to boost national morale perhaps? But also maybe to boost his ego and boast patriotism after having escaped to the US for many years to avoid the destruction that had consumed his homeland.

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York proves we’re passed the age of cash in hand, which is great for most of us but not the protagonist. There once was a time when cash was king, money clips were mandatory and pickpockets made a legitimate living on the subways of New York City.

Set in the odd, sassy, and lush wilds of Portland, OR, Wildwood takes us on an adventure not unlike Jim Henson’s Labyrinth (sans David Bowie in skin-tight stretchy pants). Young Prue just wanted to take her effervescent and curious baby brother Mac out on the town (ok, to farmers market and a couple of stores) when their very loving yet super tight leash parents left for a knitting event (oh so Portland). Out of the blue, poor little Mac was carried off by a large and strangely coordinate murder of crows into the unpassable forest.

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination for most Americans to understand the concept and realities of the world in which Digger lives. A ridiculously wealthy man living on his own save a nearly-deceased cat he holds incredibly dear and a few employees that flow in and out of his rooms like water at his bidding. On the day we are introduced to him, he finds out the drilling he so desperately had been pining after in Alaska has caused a crack in the ice shelf creating a brand new and incredibly dangerous speeding projectile of an iceberg headed for Norway. With no warning, things shift and you’re seeing the story in a whole new light. Tension galore throughout the two hour run time and you’re not sure if you hate it or love it, but it got your attention.

Set during the great depression, dry earth covering everything, near starvation plaguing more people than it isn’t, and no end it sight leaves Samuel Murphy (Ethan Hawke) and his young whip smart and headstrong daughter Penny (Avy Berry) in dire straights. In a manner of seconds their lives take a nose dive as he throws punches to protect her from predators, but the assault lands him in prison. Promising to be back for her, he takes on any opportunity to lessen his sentence. Time is of the essence, so when the warden of his prison-work camp offers a way to freedom within a week he jumps at it knowing full well it could be life threatening.

Owen (Spike Feam) is a bit of a sad sack romantic perpetually being dumped by his “true love”. With hearts still in his eyes and an ever hopeful view of love, he’s struck dumb by a woman at a club one night and after a heady time talking about nothing and flirting their hearts out, he got her phone number. He barely catches her first name (Emily of course) and that she goes to Manchester U as friends dragged her off into the night. He tried calling the next day, but the number was one digit short and so began the search for Emily. Desperate to find any clue to her identity after many failed attempts, he finds psychology major Emily (Angourie Rice) who is not the one he seeks but vows to help him none the less while hiding an agenda of her own.