Edi

A first feature, shot with DV, that pulls off that trickiest of cinematic genres: the socially conscious tearjerker. The star, Henryk Golebiewski, gives one of those 'where on earth did they find him' performances, and it's hard to believe this goblin-faced bloke really isn't a middle-aged rag and bone man eking out a living in grim, dog-eat-dog modern Poland. Edi, a classic casualty of capitalism, is an educated man fallen on hard times, until his brainy reputation lands him a job tutoring the teenage sister of two crime lord 'brothers'. Tragic consequences ensue - and while this is essentially melodramatic, slightly manipulative stuff, Golebiewski's powerfully persuasive performance elevates Edi's tale into an unexpectedly moving parable of self-sacrifice and redemption. Strong support from composer Wojciech Lemanski and veteran cameraman Krzysztof Ptak.