Dirty Pretty Things (2002)

Directed by Stephen Frears. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sergi López, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Wong, Barber Ali, Darrell D’Silva, Paul Phattacharjee, Zlatko Buric. [R]

While working the night shift at a London hotel, Nigerian immigrant Ejiofor stumbles upon a grisly discovery that reveals a black market organ trade operation. Meanwhile, his friend, a conservative Turkish illegal played by Tautou, is dodging the UK Immigration Service, desperate enough to consider exchanging one of her kidneys for a passport. Grim but gripping story shot in the grainy pseudo-documentary style, giving the story additional urgency but making the disagreeable sights even more taxing on the eyes. Contains some revelatory passages even as it flirts with semi-exploitative thriller elements, but the confident storytelling and credible performances seize the viewer’s attention almost every step of the way. Anxious, unorthodox score by Shudder to Think’s Nathan Larson; David Byrne’s “Glass, Concrete & Stone” plays over the end credits. Written by Steven Knight.

75/100