In Johan van der Keuken's subtle and entrancing portrait of his city, the camera is at times an observer; it glides down canals, through streets, above the town, catching glimpses of anonymous people seated in cafes, staring from windows, gathering in parks. Then, its interest piqued, the camera moves in to spend time with someone, for a short visit or a more sustained journey. The lives of a Chechen businessman, a Moroccan bicycle courier, an elderly Jewish singer, and a Bolivian musican are interwoven in a dense, complex structure-a series of variations on a theme. Ideas raised by one person are answered by another; homes within the city are linked to original homes in far-off countries. Van der Keuken slowly reveals the history of exile and displacement by which Amsterdam has evolved into a global village.-Kathy Geritz