An interesting collection of lesser-known films is out this week on DVD, and the pick of the bunch appears to be Guy Maddin‘s unique Brand Upon the Brain — an unclassifiable silent film which enjoyed a great critical reception. Criticker users also enjoyed the more traditional fare served up by Marianne Faithfull in Irina Palm — a film about a widow who finds herself working in the sex industry.

Smart People – 41 Rankings – Average Tier 5.07
Into the life of a widowed professor comes a new love and an unexpected visit from his adopted brother. (imdb) Smart People @ Amazon

CJ7 – 23 Rankings – Average Tier 4.52
A poor Chinese laborer learns important lessons after his son gets a strange new toy. (imdb) CJ7 @ Amazon

Brand Upon the Brain! – 20 Rankings – Average Tier 6.80
Equal parts childhood reminiscence, Expressionist horror film, teen detectived serial, and Grand Guignol reverie, Brand upon the Brain! is a new cinematic spectacle from the unique mind of Canada's own Guy Maddin. (thefilmcompany.org) Brand Upon the Brain! @ Amazon

Irina Palm – 19 Rankings – Average Tier 5.47
Maggie, a 50-year-old widow – still faithful to her dead husband, desperately needs some money to pay for a medical treatment for her ill grandson. After several unfruitful attempts to find a job, Maggie finds herself roaming the streets of London Soho. Her eye is caught by a small poster in the window of a ‘shop’ called “Sexy World” which reads: “Hostess wanted”. Too desperate and lost to realize what she does she enters… (imdb) Irina Palm @ Amazon

Felon – 10 Rankings – Average Tier 6.00
A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system. Felon @ Amazon

Waz – 7 Rankings – Average Tier 2.86
A series of deaths have started occurring in New York; Some are being found mutilated while others have an equation wΔz = Cov (w,z) = ÃwzVz carved onto their skin. As police investigate they discover each victim was forced to choose between sacrificing their own life or a loved ones’ life. Before long it becomes clear that this perpetrator has suffered just such a similar fate… (imdb -suspicious) Waz @ Amazon