Police Beat

Pape Sidy Niang is terrific as the cop, Z, who is viewing America through a new immigrant's eyes.

A delicately funny tale about everyday surrealism.

Dreamlike in style, Police Beat is also a real-world vision of what American indies could be if they dared to recognize the drama in our own neighborhoods.

Distinctive, physically ravishing indie is a natural for fests, but it's questionable whether this sometimes involving, sometimes obscure pic will have appeal beyond the specialty market.

A bizarre original from the bizarrely original director.

Soulful performance by non-pro Pape Sidy Niang as the bicycle-riding police officer Z, gives the film a poetic tone, but cumulative impact is diffused rather than enhanced by the fractured form.

The most frustrating aspect of Police Beat is that it's clear everyone involved has great talent...Too bad all their efforts are lost in the service of pointless material.