Man From London DVD – Erika Bok , Gyula Pauer

Hungarian director Bela Tarr helms this brooding mystery drama, which is loosely based on a lesser-known novel by Belgian crime novelist Georges Simenon. Maloin (Miroslav Krobot) is a middle-aged dockland worker whose life changes forever after he witnesses a violent altercation between two men on the harbourside that results in one of them drowning, taking a suitcase full of British sterling down with him.

Four years in the making the new film from the acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker B”la Tarr is an adaptation of a novel by thriller writer Georges Simenon. Maloin (Miroslav Krobot) leads a simple life as a railway signalman barely registering the world around him. His life takes a sudden turn when he becomes a witness to a murder and he is forced to confront issues of morality sin punishment and the line between innocence and complicity. Exploring themes of desire greed and man’s indestructible longing for freedom this hypnotic film bears the distinctive trademarks of Tarr’s universe – fluid and stunning monochrome photography pared-down dialogue and performances (with a striking appearance by Tilda Swinton) and a hauntingly beautiful score by long-time Tarr collaborator Mih”ly V”-g.