Andrei Tarkovsky is a phenomenal director. I discovered his films in the late 80s during a season of his films on Channel 4, when I was about 11 or 12. I remember going into school and raving to others in my class about the films. Imagine my dismay when I discovered they weren’t interested in bleak, existential Russian trudges. But I found them utterly captivating and hypnotic. Alas, I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of his films at the cinema. Andrei Rublev, Ivan’s Childhood, Stalker, and Solaris would be musts for me.

On the Italian neo-realist front, Rome Open City and Bicycle Thieves look fabulous at the cinema, but I also really like some of Visconti’s work — The Leopard obviously, but Rocco and His Brothers in particular blew me away.

I’m less enthusiastic about the French New Wave, although I’ve seen A Bout De Souffle at the cinema, and that’s still a remarkable piece of work. I like Truffaut on the whole, but I do think Godard later disappeared up his own backside (Film Socialisme — what a load of pretentious garbage).

I would love to see Potemkin on the big screen — that’s another great shout.

I think the only Pontecorvo film I’ve seen in the cinema is The Battle of Algiers (a flat-out masterpiece).

Sorry for your snooker woes by the way. I heartily concur on that front.