(comedy/drama. Starring Armand Assante, Jamie Elman, Razvan Vasilecu. Directed by Cristian Nemescu. Cert Club)

Between carrie bradshaw and indy jones, there is enough high-octane mayhem being pumped into Irish cinemas right now to last a lifetime. But a handful of cerebral films will be needed to sate the non-ADD set. Awarded the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes 2007, California Dreamin' could fit the bill.

On paper, it has the makings of a delicious and quirky pastoral comedy: a Romanian railway chief delays a Nato train transporting military equipment during the war in Kosovo in 1999. Buoyed by the arrival of 'glamorous' Americans, the gormless mayor of small-town Capalnita declares a celebration; out come the Billy Ray Cyrus records, star-spangled banners and coral-lipsticked village daughters.

Predictably, there is much dramatic and comedic scope in this plot, but, alas, 28-year-old writer/director Cristian Nemescu was tragically killed in a car accident during post-production on the film. For this reason the film remains utterly bereft of identity and direction, and as flabby and dense as the town's mayor. The movie was released as Nemescu left it, clocking in at a hefty 155 minutes long. If Indiana Jones is more your speed, that could be a problem. HH - GB