We introverts have all been there. Sitting on a train or in a pub, harmlessly reading a book or newspaper. An extrovert joins us and wastes little time before uttering the dreaded words "is that something interesting you're reading?". One would love to reply that I'm only pretending to read to deter people from talking to me. But no, we give a polite, straightforward answer, letting us in for an interminable period of his (sadly it's always a he) boorish and unwelcome company.
The Compartment takes this quotidian scenario to extremes. Marty Feldman plays Bill, a chippy, manic extrovert who imposes himself on introvert Joby Blanshard in an old style train compartment. It's well acted but I can't rate it any higher because it's very unpleasant viewing, like spending half an hour watching a nasty youth torture a rabbit.
There should have been a sequel where the introvert turns the tables and invites Bill to his house for a drink. After drugging him, he keeps him prisoner, providing food and drink, books, and a newspaper of his choice. But no TV, radio, or any conversation. Forced to live as a reclusive introvert, we could have enjoyed seeing Bill driven even madder than he already was.
The Compartment takes this quotidian scenario to extremes. Marty Feldman plays Bill, a chippy, manic extrovert who imposes himself on introvert Joby Blanshard in an old style train compartment. It's well acted but I can't rate it any higher because it's very unpleasant viewing, like spending half an hour watching a nasty youth torture a rabbit.
There should have been a sequel where the introvert turns the tables and invites Bill to his house for a drink. After drugging him, he keeps him prisoner, providing food and drink, books, and a newspaper of his choice. But no TV, radio, or any conversation. Forced to live as a reclusive introvert, we could have enjoyed seeing Bill driven even madder than he already was.