Four apartment-dwellers and the rich elderly woman who owns the place spar and scheme in a key chamber drama that bridges Tarr’s early social realism and later stylistic brio. The older woman, her son, her nurse, a teacher, and the nurse’s lover trade charged scenes in an experience that recalls Strindberg and Cassavetes. But just as prominent a force is Tarr’s visual scheme: shooting in color, the director bathes the alternately shabby and Old World interiors in blues, oranges, and greens, making for a heady visual counterpart to the headlong psychological intrigue.

Note: The 35mm print being screened is missing the first few minutes. The missing footage does not contain any information that is crucial to understanding the plot. Its use has been approved by the director.

Image courtesy of Magyar Filmunió / Hungarian National Film Fund