Viewing the past through an oblique lens can often be more rewarding than the sweep of an historical epic - as Iranian horror Under the Shadow studied the insidious effects of conflict through supernatural goings-on, By the Time it gets Dark is a film about a film about a Thai student massacre in 1976. Director Anocha Suwichakornpong's layered approach incorporates fantasy and meta-commentary on documentary-making to great, and memorable, effect. The trailer looks as beautiful and mystical as a Terrence Malick epic, minus the solipsism. The main character is a director named Ann, who attempts to cover this painful piece of history and direct her actors faithfully, and confides in the camera about her shortcomings. Hallucinatory scenes and magical-realist reminiscences show that the aftermath of tragedy is internalised in indefinable ways. See why the film has received excellent reviews, in the Guardian and elsewhere, at the Ultimate Picture Palace this week.