A Bolt from the Blue

Argentinian writer-director Santiago Amigorena's attempt to blend French intellectualism with an American thriller ends up a right diner de chien.

Juliette Binoche is the "spy teacher" pressed into service days before the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Her task is to escort the grown-up children of former agent Elliot (Nick Nolte) to a meeting in Venice. Others, including a poetry-spouting hitman in the form of John Turturro, are similarly keen to hook up with the mysterious Eliot and hear his predictions.

Moving at a pace that could generously be described as glacial, Amigorena's picture is like Waiting for Godot with international politics and without the laughs.