Nine-Ball

Showing that Sweden's fine recent tradition of dramas involving children, epitomised by recent films such as The King Of Ping Pong and Let The Right One In, extends to short film, comes this heartfelt drama from Nikolina Gillgren. Except here, it is the adults who are coming-of-age through the help of a child.

David (Daniel Gustavsson) knows he is socially dysfunctional. He spends his days at the pool hall trying to hang out with the other guys who play on a neighbouring table, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to make the connection. But when his son Markus comes to stay, it is a catalyst for a life lesson.

Gillgren handles the subject matter sensitively and carefully builds up the fear factor - David's fear of loneliness, the other adults fear of his otherness, his son's fear of the gut-wrenching embarrassment only dad's can create. There's no tricksy camerawork here, just a good story that is well-scripted and solidly told and acted - particularly by Gustavsson, who presents an emotional frailty as delicate and as complex as a gossamer web. Who could ask for more?