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2000 | Color | 145 min

Based on László Krasznahorkai's novel The Melancholy of Resistance, this is an uncanny fable about powerlessness and tyranny. Set in a small provincial town in Hungary at a moment of great crisis, the film tells of a mysterious circus that comes to town, complete with a giant stuffed whale carcass and rumors of an appearance by a prince known for his strange powers. Soon, the locals' emotions are stirred to a fever pitch as the strange state of affairs begins to disrupt the order of the small town, changing relationships irrevocably. The tension is brought to a head by the strange and disfigured Prince, a man whose very appearance is enough to send the town spiraling into destruction and disarray.


Country: Hungría, Alemania, Francia, Italia
Direction: Tarr; Béla, Hranitzky; Ágnes
Script: Krasznahorkai; László, Tarr; Béla
Production: Von Vietinghoff; Joachim, Szita; Miklós, Saadoun; Paul, Goëss; Franz
Photography: Tregenza; Rob, Novák; Emil, Lanzensberger; Erwin, Gurbán; Miklós, De Ranter; Patrick, Medvigy; Gábor
Music: Vig; Mihály
Cast:Fitz; Peter, Rudolph; Lars, Schygulla; Hanna, Derzsi; János, Kormos; Mihály, Kállai; Ferenc, Szajki; Irén, Járai; Alfréd, Horváth; Putyi, Börcsök; Enikö, Wichmann; Tamás, Rosic; Djoko
Participation year at FICM: 2011

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