Sleep Furiously

It's hard to watch Gideon Koppel's documentary about the Welsh farming village of Trefeurig, where he grew up, without thinking about the sitcom classic Seinfeld—or at least the guiding concept of the series: a show about nothing. Koppel here captures the quotidian daily activities of Trefeurig in such a dreary manner—absent commentary or voiceover narration—that this does indeed come across as a film about nothing. Granted, some things happen—a bookmobile makes a monthly visit, a woman asks her husband if he would prefer leeks or cabbage for his dinner, a dog chases after his master's van as it lumbers down a road, schoolchildren learn their lessons in English and Welsh. As presented here, Trefeurig feels like a place that time (mostly) forgot until the appearance of modern farming vehicles reminds the viewer that this is not a vintage travelogue. But Koppel never gets close enough to the villagers to ascertain why they prefer to live in this isolated area. Everyone seems very pleasant—perhaps somewhat for the benefit of Koppel's camera, as there are no unruly students or cranky elders to be found. Still, the crisp cinematography and a charming score by Aphex Twin do somewhat help keep the viewer's attention, although some will no doubt take the title literally and doze off. DVD extras include a bonus short. Optional, at best. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)