A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

Showing on Saturday, October 25, 3.45pm, Vox 1 and Monday, October 27, 9.30pm, Vox 3.

Ana Lily Amirpour in a scene A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Film Festival
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Note down the name. Ana Lily Amirpour is the freshest, most audacious director to come out of the American independent film scene since Lena Dunham made Tiny Furniture. Born in Britain to Iranian parents and raised in the US, her debut film has been labeled an Iranian vampire western. Yes you read that right. Arriving in Abu Dhabi fresh from a competition berth at the London Film Festival, Amirpour's film has been compared to the early and great works of Jim Jarmusch. Praise does not come much higher or more deserved. From the very first black-and-white image, the film is visually arresting. But it's the ambience and atmosphere that really hits home in this love story of sorts, between a sassy music-loving vampire (Shelia Vand) and confused Arash (Arash Marandi), who lives in the fictional town of Bad City. It's a film full of poignant metaphors that unmask both second generation living and gender roles. My vote for best debut film of the year. *Kaleem Aftab

• Saturday, October 25, 3.45pm, Vox 1; Monday, October 27, 9.30pm, Vox 3