10 films worth watching on TV this week

Matangi/Maya/MIA   Sat   6/7   BBC2 @ 22.30

Mathangi Arulpragasam is a British rapper born to Sri Lankan parents. This documentary is her story but it's also the story of the troubled country that turned her into the woman she is today. A powerful watch, as far removed from your usual bio-doc stories as it's possible to get while at the same time feeling quite familiar. Be warned though, archival footage of real violence is within and it's shocking.

The Lady In The Van   Sat   6/7   BBC1 @ 23.20

A homeless elderly woman moves into van outside a man's house. At first they hate each other but a bond slowly but surely develops over the years. A lovely gentle bit of comedy bolstered by a superlative performance from the always excellent Maggie Smith. She's perfect at playing a cranky old wagon with plenty of hidden depths. Alex Jennings is good too as Alan Bennett on who's life this story is based.

Garage   Sun   7/7   RTE1 @ 00.40

Josie lives a slow and solitary life in a small village in Offaly. One day a chance of friendship rears it's head but it doesn't take long for things to go sideways. Pat Shortt is absolutely fantastic in Lenny Abrahamson's quietly devastating tale of rural isolation. It sounds grim but it's a painfully real film that deserves to be seen. Anne-Marie Duff in a support plays one of Josie's few friends and offers some respite from the darkness.

On Dangerous Ground   Sun   7/7   BBC4 @ 01.30

A rough and ready detective's methods get his sent into the sticks as punishment. There's meets a blind women who's brother has been accused of murder. This 67 year old film is a beautiful looking slice of film noir. The combo of director Nicholas Ray, Robert Ryan and the excellent Ida Lupino makes for a slightly predictable but very satisfying watch.

Rudderless   Mon   8/7   TG4 @ 21.30

In the aftermath of a sadly topical tragedy a father uses his son's direction and influence to give his life some meaning again. William H. Macy directs this lovely little story and does it well, deftly balancing light and dark moments. It's an upsetting but ultimately uplifting watch and has a fantastic cast with Billy Crudup in the lead supported well by Felicity Huffman, Laurence Fishburne, Anton Yelchin & Macy himself.

The Relic   Mon   8/7   Syfy @ 23.20

Something is causing havoc in the Chicago natural history museum and it's up to Dr Margo Green to figure out what it is. This could have been a schlocky disaster but in the hands of leading lady Penelope Anne Miller & veteran director Peter Hyams it's instead genuinely well made and very watchable. A nicely atmospheric movie and with some solid gory shocks that goes haywire in the best way near the end.

Loveless   Tues   9/7   Film4 @ 23.25

A Russian couple's marriage has crumbled into a series of fights and vicious bouts of invective. Their hate for each other affects everyone on their family. A bleak, brutal and breathtaking film but one that should only be watched when you are in the right frame of mind. There's stuff in here that will stay with you for weeks. Maryana Spevek & Aleksey Rozin are both phenomenal.

Vacancy   Wed   10/7   The Horror Channel @ 21.00

Amy & David are stranded miles from civilisation. They take a room in the nearest place they can find and soon enough realise they are in the middle of the kind of nightmare that plays on our most intimate worries and basest fears. Kate Beckinsdale and Luke Wilson are both very believable in a well made chiller that goes from zero to 100 in rapid manner.

Rope   Fri   12/7   TCM @ 19.15

Two men commit what they think is the perfect murder and decide to host a dinner party afterwards so they can gloat. They didn't count on Rubert Cadell though. Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 thriller is a stunner, both storywise and technically. It's designed to look like it was all done in one go and this technique has the effect of hooking you into the story. It's just great. As are James Stewart, Fairley Granger & John Dall.

RTE2 @ 21.40

L.A. Confidential   Fri   12/7   RTE1 @ 23.15

One of the best films of the 90's, a modern classic magnificently adapted & thankfully pared down from James Ellroy's labyrinthine novel. Three very different policemen find themselves up to their necks in dodginess in post WW2 Los Angeles. Thrillingly satisfying stuff with a storyline that demands you pay attention. Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger & Guy Pearce give career best performances too.