This film reminds me of classic early Hitchcock films like "Blackmail", "Strangers on a Train" or "Secret Agent". These are films that don't feature a lot of action but instead focus on mood, message, dialogue and the audience's imagination.
I'll omit the customary rant about today's Hollywood action flicks with car chases, explosions, cgi & contrived romances with busty supermodels because you don't need to hear it. Suffice it to say that this film is the opposite of that stuff. Here, in Hitchcockian form, we get a quiet, slow-moving freight train of a film. It sparks your imagination as you work to piece together not just the story but the meaning & symbolism behind everything.
The title of the film refers to an ear condition suffered by the main character. He is plagued by a high pitched whining in his head which could be indicative of a terminal condition or possibly nothing. Similarly, the film focuses around fear and how it plays with our minds... possibly justified or possibly paranoia, but powerful regardless.
The story revolves around a crime, witness protection and an underdog police officer's attempts to deal with it in addition to his own failing life. There is a pervasive feeling of loneliness and disconnection that runs throughout the film, which for some reason reminds me of the Clint Eastwood classic "In the Line of Fire" (about a failed secret service agent trying to wrap his head around an assassination plot.
It's slow paced but powerful. I'd say if you're a fan of Wim Wenders ("Wings of Desire", "Paris Texas", "Million Dollar Hotel") or Takeshi Kitano ("A Scene at the Sea", "Fireworks") or Rebecca Miller ("Angela") you'll probably like this film. It doesn't have a lot of flashy pyrotechnics to hold the attention of the average Hollywood-action-flick-junkie, but if you're looking for a powerful, poetic experience, look no further.
