At the end of World War II, the world didn’t declare peace and call it a day. Reparations had to be made, and while many displaced citizens stayed in the refuges they found, some were curious to discover what happened to their home. This black-and-white period drama doesn’t paint a good picture. As two Orthodox Jewish men return to their town, the film reveals the reactions of the people that have stayed. For some, they’re understandably wracked with guilt. But for others, the greed for the loot they’ve stolen, and the resulting paranoia, dares to echo the real-life tensions that still affect Europe today.
"In this twitchy, claustrophobic view of moral degeneration, it becomes apparent that this town is not so much convulsed with guilt as with defensive anger."
— Christina Newland
An unsettling feeling overwhelms a small Hungarian town when two orthodox Jews arrive with a mysterious trunk. As residents begin to speculate on the purpose of the visit of these two strangers, order starts to crumble in town with some pursuing devious plans and others finding remorse in their hearts.
An unsettling feeling overwhelms a small Hungarian town when two orthodox Jews arrive with a mysterious trunk. As residents begin to speculate on the purpose of the visit of these two strangers, order starts to crumble in town with some pursuing devious plans and others finding remorse in their hearts.
BAFTA
1 win
"The movie's denouement is indelible."
— Michael Sragow