After his unfocused The Last Great Wilderness, director David Mackenzie returns with something rather more "sharp, cold, and thoroughly riveting". Sadly this concentration of thought is not so apparent on the otherwise unusual DVD release.

A Meandering Stream

Unlike the rather more forceful River Clyde upon which this drama is set, the contributors to the commentary form the audio equivalent of a meandering stream. Actress Tilda Swinton leads the way with a series of questions to Mackenzie and editor Colin Monie that make up for a patchy set of thoughts on what was being undertaken during the shoot. Not only is there little to learn here, but the distracted nature of the contributors soon loses the listener's attention.

Audio Alternatives

Apart from the film, this DVD does offer interesting extra features. For once, clicking onto the soundtrack section does not, as with many discs, simply offer an ad promo. Rather you actually get the score to the film separated into tracks. Once suitably absorbed by that, you can select a reading by Ewan McGregor of a passage from Alexander Trocchi's novel to listen to. Certainly this is a DVD that's best when the story does the talking, and not the talent behind it.

EXTRA FEATURES

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.