At almost two overwritten hours of overacting, it's a long time dying.

It is a prescient but lugubrious sci-fi satire about reality television, though a more low-key satire can hardly be imagined.

Romy Schneider positively sizzles while the atmosphere remains suitably chilly.

Tavernier slips in subtle touches that seem meaningless and would normally have a big circle around it and an arrow pointing at it and saying "look at me, I'm important," but instead reinforce the droning, impersonal nature of this particular society.