Village At The End Of The World

The extras here have been well chosen. Those looking for some insight into how the film came into being will enjoy the interview with husband and wife creative team Sarah Gavron and David Katznelson. They're engaging and enthusiastic, and talk about why they chose a documentary - easier to shoot when both of you are filmmakers and you're also trying to raise a young family - and about the practicalities of reaching Niaqornat and shooting there.

The deleted scenes, meanwhile, will be welcomed by those looking for a few more encounters with the villagers. There are five - Ice Fishing, First Day At School, Polar Bear Counting and The Tupi-Lighter. All offer further insights into the community.

Rounding out the package, along with a trailer, is Sarah Gavron's good short film Girl In The Lay-by - which complements the feature well with its blend of melancholy and optimism. Shot for the BBC's 10 x 10 series - which ran for just over a decade and aimed to celebrate new directors through short film work - it stars Edinburgh actress Jenny Foulds as the titular girl, Coll.

Sitting in the isolation of a lay-by sandwich bar in one of the more remote parts of Scotland, she dreams of travelling to far-flung places, her day only broken up by visits from Tam (James Grant), an elderly man who is up to something mysterious in the hills, and the brassy and rather unpleasant Butch (Malcolm Shields), who tells her she'll be lucky if she makes it to Glasgow.

Gavron's direction has a loose, naturalistic feel, and she gets great performances from her actors. She also displays an eye for detail that goes on to serve her well in A Village At The End Of The World. The writing by Denise Whittaker is impressive, her dialogue natural and sparing, as lost hat-pin leads to an unusual bond and a new beginning