An oblique cousin of the vitriolic satire of Sergei Loznitsa's 2018 film Donbass.

An impressively shot drama marbled with welcome notes of absurdist comedy and wry humor...

Unfortunately Bondarchuk doesn't have as much to contemplate as he lets on; the movie often disintegrates into superficial art-film moodiness.

While the absurd humor generates crushing awkwardness, the convincing environments promulgate a sad authenticity.