En Garde [Ayse Polat, 2004]

In the last 15 minutes or so of this study of a withdrawn girl slowly
beginning to build tentative, fragile connections with those around
her, I began to really engage with the story. However, despite some
interesting ideas, and a nicely understated directorial style, the
machinery of plot and character development seemed a little too
calculated for me.

Pusher II [Nicolas Winding Refn, 2004] – UK Premiere

A superbly controlled study of a grim father-son relationship in the
brutal and sleazy criminal underworld of Copenhagen. Refn's
depiction of this gritty low-life world has a real immediacy and
realism to it. Mads Mikkelsen is brilliant in the lead role, bringing
out the subtleties of his inadequate and troubled character. The
supporting cast are also first class, which is all the more surprising
when you realise they are non-actors. With an ever present sense of
menace and violence, Pusher II is not comfortable viewing, but hugely
rewarding.

One Missed Call [Takashi Miike, 2003] – UK Premiere

To me the plot resolution was incomprehensible, but this being a Miike
Takashi film there was much else to enjoy in being swept along with
this director's characteristically skewed take on the ghost horror
genre. I suspect that his tongue was firmly in his cheek.