The late, great Katrin Cartridge is most recognizable from Mike Leigh’s films, but here she appears in this Macedonian gem alongside Croatian actor Rade Šerbedžija, a character actor who seems to pop up in most every kind of film, but for never quite long enough. This is probably his best role. He won at Venice for this, and it was Macedonia’s first film to be nominated for an Oscar.
The film touches on cycles of life, violence and social upheaval, with a looping narrative, set against a stark Macedonian landscape.