In Bela Tarr’s mysterious, slowly unfolding world, there is trouble ahead when a circus group comes to town. This is not a Fellinesque kind of circus. There are no sad clowns to be found here. Something far more ominious is at play. An embalmed killer whale acts as the Troyan horse in the story, while the circus villains plot havoc deep in the shadows. The accompanying DVD booklet notes that the film is comprised of exactly thirty-nine shots. Every single one lingers on the scene as if to draw you into that moment completely. And it does. There is such a timeless quality to this movie watching experience. More than anyone else, Tarr reminds me of Antonioni, but there is more fluidity and earthiness to his style. This is a unique cinematic experience.