Conscience with a sinful sound

The most harrowing story of the year where a wee lad - surrounded by death and inhumanity - is fighting for survival in Eastern European countryside during the Second World War. His ordeal is oftentimes painful to watch, some of the scenes are downright disturbing. Václav Marhoul's Painted Bird is a visually stunning masterpiece with a poetic yet unapologetic storytelling. Essentially a European production, but spiced up with a few familiar names such as Harvey Keitel, Stellan Skarsgård and Barry Pepper.