There's nothing like curling up with a good read during the cold winter months. Something sad. Something unforgettable. Something about sex addiction.

Which is why Shame's script makes the top of the Christmas reading list in our Advent Calendar.  

But while the chance to read Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan's description of Michael Fassbender's sex face has obvious appeal, Shame's screenplay is a fascinating read because of McQueen's visual style. He's scarily good at creating perfect moments on screen, but how much of that is in the script?

Take Michael Fassbender's breathtaking run through the New York streets, in one long, graceful tracking shot. How do you get to that from a few sentences on a page? 

Thanks to Fox Searchlight's lovely awards campaign site, you can now take a peek at the Shame script. A great resource for those wanting to vote for McQueen and Morgan's work (they jolly well better), as well as folks trying to learn the lyrics of New York, New York, but also a curious insight into the creation of a staggering slice of cinema.

What more could you want from a quiet read after Christmas dinner?

You can find the script here.