(Terry Gilliam / 1985 / UK / 142 mins / Cert 15)
(Fri 9th / 9.30pm / £2)

With images such as the one shown beginning to appear on public transport in America as a reaction to the rise in homeland terrorism, the time seems ripe to re-visit Terry Gilliam's satirical vision of the spectre of totalitarianism and evil in modern democracy.

Sam Lowry is a harried ministry worker in an all-too familiar society that is needlessly convoluted and inefficient. He dreams of a life where he can fly away from echnology and overpowering bureaucracy, and spend eternity with the woman of his dreams. While trying to rectify the wrongful arrest of one Harry Buttle, Lowry meets Jill Layton - a truck driver who he believes to be the girl he has seen in his dreams...

Jonathan Pryce plays Lowry as a sympathetic anti-hero whose sense of personal responsibility has been undermined by the systems of government and family which surround him, whose naive attempts to challenge the system vause more harm than good, and whose friends smile with impunity whilst torturing innocent suspects.

Gilliam returns to cinemas this year after an eight year absence - well worth reminding yourself of what he is capable of at his very best.