The cast, including Victoria Carmen Sonne, as the object of both Emil and Johan's affections, and Lars Mikkelsen, as the quarry boss, is uniformly strong and singular.

The movie also has a startling visual texture. Shooting on 16-millimeter film, Mr. Palmason, gliding his camera through snowy woods, has an eye for compositions that rhyme chalk-covered faces and wintry vistas.

Winter Brothers may not be completely successful when all is said and done, but it is certainly a singular film.

Pálmason seems to work intuitively, and what he creates with Winter Brothers is a shaggy film that alternates between being invigorating and tedious.