Kárhozat (1987)

Directed by Béla Tarr
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Facets)

Tarr adopts the style of Antonioni, Tarkovsky, Kubrick and others with long, tracked camera shots. He uses them almost exclusively. After awhile, images of rain, dogs, and dogs in rain seem to dominate. The main character ends up on his hands and knees barking at/with a dog in the final shot. He epitomizes the self-pitying drunk philosopher. He says a lot, but really never says anything. Perhaps that is the point. A girl is involved, but she is emotionally detached and sleeps around. A long sequence takes place in a dance hall with a jazz band playing, while the rain falls outside. In the end, it's Kafka-esque, neo-noir, pseudo-philosophical, anything but original.