Once In A Lifetime (1981) *****

One of the best music videos of all times. David Byrne's solo performance of Talking Head's greatest song is a marvel of timing, simplicity and sophistication.

Seeing In The Rain (1981) *****

A meticulously executed experimental short, filmed entirely through the windshield of a bus on a rainy day. The movement of the wipers marks the rhythm of the editing. The clever manipulation of time and space creates a weird poem to modern life. The forward movement of the film is continuously interrupted by brief flashbacks that create a feeling of deja-vu, while the rhythm of editing is constant without appearing too monotonous. Directed by Chris Gallagher. Length: 10 minutes.

The Man Who Could Not See Far Enough (1981) ****

Visually stunning experimental film in five parts. The last one is set atop the Golden Gate Bridge.

Les Photos d'Alix (1981) ****

A woman shows her photographs. Surprising, intriguing short by Jean Eustache. There is a great review of the film here.

Girls On Film (1981) ***

Don't You Want Me (1981) ***

Woody y yo (1981) ***

Spanish short inspired by the Woody Allen films. Directed by Manuel Valdivia.

Couples And Robbers (1981) ***

Oscar-nominated short film from Britain.

Fast Paced World (1981) ***

La Tendresse du maudit (1981) ***

Post-apocalyptic French animated film about a Notre Dame gargoyle fighting against a skeleton.

Crac! (1981) ***

A few years before enchanting audiences with his masterpiece, "The Man Who Planted Trees" (1987), Frederic Back directed this less ambitious, but equally stylish cartoon. Using an old rocking chair as the main motif, the film is a wonderfully understated, nostalgic hommage to the old ways of life in rural Quebec.

The Creation (1981) ***

Erection (1981) ***

Tale For The Road (1981) **

Directed by Garry Bardin. True love blossoms between two cars, a pink coupé and a blue pick-up. Then, a nasty black truck... A sentimental little film from Russia.

Priorité absolue (1981) **

The life of poor peasants in a Third World country.

The Tender Tale Of Cinderella Penguin (1981) *

The Cinderella tale with penguins instead of people. Boring and predictable, but nominated for an Academy Award.