User reviews

I thought I was going to watch the eponymous movie by John Huston, but this one did continue to hold my attention anyway. I'm pretty sure I have never seen anything else with these two actors in it, or any other film by this director, but it was a pleasant experience, for as far as pleasant is the appropriate description here. Because, this story, greatly playing out in real time, is pretty unpleasant most of the time. Two people live together in a rather paradise-like place, but the woman is agoraphobic and also wants to leave the man, and the man is possessive and wants to keep her there, no matter what.

The film is a psychological tour de force between the two (there are some extras in the home video playback memories, but other than that, there are no other actors), where especially the man is trying to manipulate the woman (or else use force), although there are some moments in which he comes off as pretty helpless and somewhat pathetic himself. Will she get out? Or will the man see the light and admit to his mistakes and make up to his wife? I won't tell, but even though there is no really shocking outcome, I thought it was all pretty good and au naturel. Not a big budget film, sure, but in this case, who needs it. Nice setting, good actors, intriguing story, sometimes that's all it takes.

About 6 or 7 out of 10, with sympathetic lenience.