Rumba

Candy-coloured and almost silent, this sweet but odd French/Belgian co-production is a quirky fusion of comic characters Monsieur Hulot and Mr Bean. Two hapless married schoolteachers meet with comedically accented tragedy on their way home from a dance competition. The way they then battle the terrible consequences - disability, amnesia and a house fire - with strangely contained emotions makes for a deadpan delight. Although some gags are overplayed, the upbeat tone gives a surprisingly spare, light feeling to the potentially gloomy story. Carried for the most part by the chemistry and physical grace of the gifted leads (who have performed together for some years on stage and screen), this curio is a marvellous showcase for their elegant, near-wordless exchanges, which are almost dreamlike in quality.