Lost Embrace [Daniel Burman, 2004]

A really enjoyable film, full of warmth and colour. The collage of
characters are wittily observed, but with a genuine sense of
connection. The story never descends into sentimentality, even when
the father-son relationship takes centre stage. A fast pace is
maintained by lots of hand-held camera work and some nice editing, but
this does not get in the way of telling the stories of the people who
work in the Argentinean shopping mall.

Tasuma [Daniel Kolo Sanou, 2002]

This African comedy is pleasant enough, but far from `hilarious', as
billed.

Of minor interest.

Tony Takitani [Jun Ichikawa, 2004]

A beautifully crafted minor key contemplation on loneliness and
alienation. Its rigorousness of form not only gives it a pleasing
aesthetic, but perfectly matches the internal psychological rhythm of
the lead character. The introspective voiceover, sometimes abstract,
sometimes witty, sometimes actually spoken by characters, is a perfect
example of how the technique can be used – how it can add to the
narrative (both external and internal) without detracting from the
layers of meaning. Despite the film's subject matter, it manages to
avoid despair or bleakness, giving it far greater power.

Highly recommended.