One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Milos Forman

An iconic tale of rebellion and stubbornness, Milos Forman’s 1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, challenges notions of psychic normality and deviant behaviour, while illustrating the explosive meeting of an unstoppable force with an immovable object, and its aftermath.

What is the difference between the group therapy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and a typical dinner party across the land? Are the anxiety and neurosis shown in the film really worlds apart from the ones displayed by ‘normal’, well-adjusted individuals? There is no doubt that R. P. McMurphy is not crazy. More pertinently, is anyone in the group really insane? Billy has a self-esteem problem, but who hasn’t? Cheswick has an issue with self-control. Who somehow does not? And Harding suffers from a form of emasculation. Well, tell me about it…

Life of Brian (1979), Terry Jones

An unrepentant and caustic satire of belief systems, Terry Jones’ 1979 Life of Brian, with a reluctant messiah at the centre of its tale of mistaken identity, is not only extremely clever and funny, but also, intelligent and subtle in its critique of political idealism and credulity.

It is quite funny – actually, rather hilarious indeed!! – that in a film which supposedly intends to criticise religious beliefs, the best jokes are directed at other subjects. Through political commentary, cultural reference, psychological insight and philosophical discussion, Life of Brian – this laugh-out loud movie!! – has a go at every absurd aspect of the human condition.

Five Easy Pieces (1970), Bob Rafelson

Essentially a road movie that goes well into the past, Bob Rafelson’s 1970 Five Easy Pieces examines class relations in America through the eyes of a spoilt rebel, who is unsure whether to gurgle down beer in bowling alleys or sip wine with sophisticated and yet cold intellectuals.

Who is Robert Eroica Dupea? Is he an egocentric cynic – the unwanted consequence of a counterculture focused on self-improvement? Or a principled idealist, who likes to fight the conformist status quo? Is Dupea’s arrogance a sign of despair or the trait of a truly Übermensch? What is at the core of his dissatisfaction? What is behind his resentment?

Taxi Driver (1976), Martin Scorsese

One of the seminal works of the American New Wave, Martin Scorsese’s 1976 Taxi Driver, a noirish masterpiece about loneliness and alienation with a powerful ambiguity at its core, raises morally important issues without ever leaning towards clear-cut or sanctimonious answers.

Is Travis Bickle a deranged man with psychopathic tendencies or an avenging angel with noble purposes? Are Bickle’s racism and misogyny utterly distinguishable from the other characters’ or purely a reflection of their time and place? Is he really an outsider or simply an extreme representation of that society’s darker side?