As we approach the midway point of the year, we tend to look ahead—toward summer’s blockbusters and autumn’s Oscar fare—but some of 2016’s finest movies are already behind us. This year’s most provocative, entertaining and deliciously weird movies have transported us back in time to New England in the 1630s and Dublin in the 1980s. They have challenged our assumptions about relationships and immersed us in three-dimensional, computer-generated worlds of verdant vegetation and brilliant blue rivers. As we look forward to big friendly giants and ghostbusting comediennes, here’s a look back at the gems you might have missed.

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com.

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