This stark, agonizing black-and-white film is a remarkably artistic statement about the human condition. You must be willing to hypnotized by the slow pace to absorb the power of this film. The DVD conversation between Duvall and Horton Foote (the screenwriter) is a bonus.

One of Robert Duvall's best performances in a career of great performances. The slow pace and relatively little narrative development might put some people off, but at the center is a very understated and beautiful story. It's fairly obvious that the film was based on a stage play, and in fact the source material for that play was a Faulkner story. Overall a great and under appreciated film.