Best films of the week

The BFG (2016) (BBC1, 2.45pm)

Precocious orphan Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) is snatched from her bed at the witching hour by a hooded 24ft-tall figure, who introduces himself as the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). The BFG wouldn’t normally kidnap a ‘chiddler’, but he explains that he was fearful Sophie might cause a great ‘rumpledumpus’ by yodelling the news that she had seen a giant. A tender friendship is forged between Sophie and her kind-hearted abductor, who is bullied by his fellow giants. In order to rid Giant Country of these man-gobblers, Sophie hatches a hare-brained scheme to visit The Queen (Penelope Wilton)… TheBFG is a gloriumptious rendering of Roald Dahl’s fantasy, which marks the final collaboration of director Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison, screenwriter of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial.

LittleWomen (2019) (Sky Cinema Premiere, 9.00am & 8.00pm) In Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed take on Louisa May Alcott’s much-loved novel, Marmee (Laura Dern) presides over the March family home while her husband (Bob Odenkirk) is enlisted in the American Civil War. Her four daughters pursue their dreams. Jo (Saoirse Ronan) wishes to become a writer, Meg (Emma Watson) falls in love, aspiring artist Amy (Florence Pugh) yearns to step out of Jo’s shadow so handsome next-door neighbour Laurie (Timothee Chalamet) might look her way, and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) loves to play the piano. The siblings’ paths diverge courtesy of romantic dalliances and grave sickness. LittleWomen is distinguished by terrific performances including Ronan as the fiercely independent wordsmith, who is fully aware of the lack of privilege afforded her sex.

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