Vibrant, kinetic and beautifully shot, Soul Kitchen – the newest offering from award-winning Turkish-German director Fatih Akin – centers on the motivational story of a local restaurant’s efforts to restructure its menu choices and attract new clientele. In a break from Akin’s previous more dramatic and culturally rich works such as Head-On (2004), In July (2000) and The Edge of Heaven (2007), Soul Kitchen treads lightly with its gentler approach to life and occasional moments of humor, making this film to cinema what crème brûlée is to dessert: an exquisite and highly delightful concoction to be savored at leisure and preferably in the company of a friend or two.

A long-awaited cinematic adaptation of Frédéric Beigbeder’s best-selling novel by the same name, Jan Kounen’s ambitious new feature 99 Francs is clearly meant to epitomize the French world view, offering an insultingly, cynically comical portrayal of modern consumer culture in general and of the advertising business in particular. Profoundly philosophical yet strikingly frank in its presentation, the film leaves a lasting impression by daring to playfully tackle serious issues while remaining dynamically paced, stylistically innovative and thoroughly entertaining throughout.

Among the countries of the world, Denmark is known in some circles for Hans Christian Andersen and perhaps more generally for good beer, but certainly not for its contributions to the field of world cinema. Yet, if director Henrik Ruben Genz’s Terribly Happy is any indication, this may be about to change. With its uniquely Scandinavian atmosphere of eerie moroseness permeating every shot, this well-paced suspense builder is the work of a talented auteur, an artistic triumph that sets itself apart from like-minded films by focusing on the quality of the experience it delivers rather than settling for cheap thrills.