The movie is somber, make no mistake, so be sure to have a hanky handy. Bright moments do sprout out on occasions--but they soon will be tangled and forgotten, as the movie further delves us into a place of a waning of era with disillusioned characters.
The players are all trap in their own roles with conflicts, decisions taken only within their power--never for convenience, never for whims. Maybe the telltale sign of the government, or some poetic semblance, whichever--the result is a masterpiece effusively tragic, and beautifully shot.
Communist era, as depicted in the movie--was just at its zenith before the regression.
The story declines in a way as to match at best of the country's stages of travails. We were able to delve into the politicking, and its deadly nature were scapegoats are wrought, and lives are paid.
The film evokes these panoramic moments, and tableau's. Longshots, marking out as those of stageplays, or out of Koreeda's Maborosi. Later these scenes, for instance the Cliffside--comes back, and reestablishes itself with a rendered darker atmosphere, as the film progress, or regress if you like.
I won't go much in debt with the characters--but I believe they're well fleshed out. And that purports well with performance--especially Vera...
Sigh, makes me sad just thinking about her.
Regardless. I'm much excited for the director/writer's next project. Thief was a narrative spectacle wrapped in a simple allegory--this on the other hand was well executed, and well fleshed out.
I hope it'll be available in the U.S. soon, for such a rare film as this deserves exposure to all, if not the world.
Might I add it's a memorable movie? Verily.
