It’s Christmas, and thoughts can only turn to: what the heck to watch?

In indie world Christmas movies don’t often spring to mind. But in case you can’t possibly bear another screening of It’s a Wonderful Life let me suggest some treats that give a sideways glance at holiday spirit. My must see movie is Go. Doug Liman’s second feature after Swingers takes on Christmas Eve with Vegas, a rave and suburbia. Vegas – suburbia, hmm.

Next, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, the irresistible Catherine Deneuve on a snowy Christmas Eve.

It’s a bit of a weeper but why not get the tears out of the way before dinner with the family?

Finally indie master Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. I mean, really, shouldn’t every holiday kick off with a visit through the rooftop not from Santa but Fascist troopers?

And if mainstream is calling your name, Bad Santa and Die Hard always creep into my lineup but if anyone asks I will deny I ever mentioned them.