Winter's Bone (2012 Debra Granik)

The American Academy went nuts over this, nominating it for best film, screenplay (Granik & Anne Rosellini), for Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes ('Teardrop') (both great).

The British Academy ignored it completely.

Like Beasts of the Southern Wild it shows the poor, grimy side of American life (here, Missouri) shot by Michael McDonough with what feels like a non-professional cast. I'd certainly seen that squirrel in something before.

I daresay this Jennifer person might end up with some sort of career. I didn't realise she was in The Burning Plain.

It was engaging.