Éva Almássy Albert

Based on László Krasznahorkai's novel "The Melancholy of Resistance," this is an uncanny fable about powerlessness and tyranny. Set in a small Hungarian village at a moment of great crisis, a mysterious circus comes to town with a giant whale and news of an appearance by a Prince known for his strange powers. Soon the locals' emotions are stirred to a fever pitch of anticipation. (Anthology Film Archives)

In a small dilapidated village in post-communist Hungary, life has come to a virtual standstill. The autumn rains have started. The villagers expect to receive a large cash payment that evening, and then plan to leave. Some want to abscond earlier with more than their fair share of the money... (imdb)

As pic begins, a boat from London is just discharging its passengers at night on to the waiting train, and from his eyrie above the harbour Maloin sees a small case thrown from the boat to a man waiting on the other side of the harbor. Soon, the man who retrieves the case is in a struggle with another, and the former drowns in the harbor, taking the case with him. Characters are seen only in long shot, from Maloin's vantage point, as they enter and exit pools of light thrown on the stone quay (Variety)