Welcome to Culture Vulture, your alternative, non-mainstream weekly entertainment guide. Our aim is to highlight films and programmes that offer something deeper—whether through social critique, political subtext, or psychological insight. Selection and writing are curated by Pat Harrington, with music provided by Tim Bragg.

Here are three highlights from this week's schedule:

• The French Connection (1971) – BBC Two, 22:00, Sunday 16th March A gritty, uncompromising crime thriller that delves into police obsession, systemic corruption, and the brutal realities of law enforcement. Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Popeye Doyle remains one of cinema’s most fascinating antiheroes.
• The Northman (2022) – Film 4, 21:00, Monday 17th March Robert Eggers’ visually stunning Viking epic explores revenge, destiny, and the destructive cycles of violence, questioning whether vengeance ever leads to true justice.
• Aftersun (2022) – BBC Three, 21:00, Friday 21st March A deeply moving drama about memory, fatherhood, and self-discovery, Aftersun offers a quiet yet powerful meditation on nostalgia and intergenerational trauma.

Longer reviews of some of the featured films are available at Counter Culture, where we explore the cultural, philosophical, and political themes emb

A full transcript is available here

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