Gloomy Sunday

In many ways, this is trite and predictable and full of little conveniences, drawing from every Holocaust film, genre melodrama, and swingin’ threesome movie that’s come before it. For all that, it is strangely and strongly affecting. I gather this is also a historically irresponsible appropriation of a real Hungarian suicide song myth, and yet I want a soundtrack of every variation on the theme in the film’s score. It also suffers from the director’s preoccupation with Erika Marozsán’s bouncy breasts, and the actress’ blatant attempt at channeling Hanna Schygulla. All in all a rewarding mixed bag.