Eki

It is fatalistic and cyclical. A work of philosophy with a structure that is thought provoking well past the ending. "What did that look mean?" "Why did she do that?" It is anchored by the lead performance of such layers. While he is terrorized by his past he unwittingly makes entirely new mistakes. Mistakes that, in Shakesperean tradition, could not be avoided.

The film is a true visual experience, with scenes that have a palpable sense of atmosphere like nothing else. The snow-covered setting is rendered with such vividness that it feels you are there.

But it's not just the cinematography that impresses; pretty picture on their own do not inspire. It is the feelings of these images. The filmmakers understand how to get in our psyche through a cozy sense of atmosphere.

The performances are equally evocative, with every expression carrying the weight of a panoramic vista. Every scene of quietness is like a puzzle. It is the rare mix of an adult drama, but also a cop film at its core. It delivers all the staples of the genre: hostage situations, shootouts, and surprise attacks. What more can one ask for? It is a film for film lovers.