I saw this brilliant film in the early hours of this morning when it was broadcast on the Franco- German television station Arte. Unlike Coventry who found in (his?/her?) review that the script was confusing, I found it perfectly understandable though suitably complex, with a suitably horrifying logic of tragedy and supernatural revenge - in any case one cannot afford to let one's attention wander!
One should also remember that in many mountain regions of Europe there was a deep sense of loss from the dangerous and obliterative dam-building that went on between the late 1940s and the 1960s, and indeed earlier, and there were many tragedies and accidents. The fact that this is common to nearly all dams all over the world is no consolation to the victims.
I also found the somewhat dark and brooding photography helped render the oppressive atmosphere, complete with gloriously dark grey skies, and the final two scenes (which I won't spoil by revealing) are also memorable.
The music also contributed greatly including the use of a (Schubert?) song I didn't quite catch but which was key to the plot, and Marlene Dietrich's "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt" from Josef von Sternberg's "Der Blaue Engel".
I thoroughly recommend this film - see it if you can!
One should also remember that in many mountain regions of Europe there was a deep sense of loss from the dangerous and obliterative dam-building that went on between the late 1940s and the 1960s, and indeed earlier, and there were many tragedies and accidents. The fact that this is common to nearly all dams all over the world is no consolation to the victims.
I also found the somewhat dark and brooding photography helped render the oppressive atmosphere, complete with gloriously dark grey skies, and the final two scenes (which I won't spoil by revealing) are also memorable.
The music also contributed greatly including the use of a (Schubert?) song I didn't quite catch but which was key to the plot, and Marlene Dietrich's "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt" from Josef von Sternberg's "Der Blaue Engel".
I thoroughly recommend this film - see it if you can!