PART THREE of the much-hailed 'Dogme 95' Danish arthouse project which has already brought us Festen and The Idiots, Mifune is by far the most involving of the trio, largely because it's filmed in straightforward, conventional fashion and doesn't seem too preciously proud of its own detached 'artiness' (The Idiots was terrible shite altogether).

Considering that the film opens with the wedding of two yuppies, it's remarkable how emotionally involving it eventually becomes. Post-wedding night, Kresten (Berthelsen) receives word that his father has died, and exits back to his family's farm to care for his retarded brother (Asholt) whose performance is a beautifully pitched study of simplicity and naivete. Best of all, they hire a housekeeper called Liva (Hjelje) who happens to be a hooker on the run from her pimp.

A strained, troubled but deeply moving romance develops between Kresten and Liva, and the closing scenes are so heart-rendingly sad I had difficulty sitting through them.

The entire affair is gorgeously filmed and perfectly-paced, and in spite of its arthouse origins, it could hardly be less detached if it tried.

Recommended, unhesitatingly, to everyone.