The only sad thing to come out of this is that I couldn't finish the movie in one sitting, that feels important to mention because I have a feeling it was made to be experienced like that

Longest movie of all time but not a single scene wasted. It gets you almost drunk in a certain way, the landscaped stretched as far as it would go feels like it could be any place on earth at any time. I guess that's what gives this movie it's "post-apocalyptic landscape" as it describes itself in Kanopy's description but to me it felt like my hometown: broken up, not too many things working and everyone knows everyone so hardly anything remains a secret but the resentment penetrates everything as well.

To make a film like this and make it seven hours long is the easiest thing to argue in this film. The leisurely plot, the long takes that make themselves as distant as they can be to a character without losing focus, the close-ups or side-views of characters just going about their business all feels like it is part of the plot and therefore justified. Seriously, If you look at the plot beats then it's like any other movie ever except it's fucking huge. The rise in stakes doesn't come until way after 3 hours and before that the film just moves along establishing itself like any first act

Lighting and shot-wise it's fantastic too, much of the attention goes to it's long-takes that have a almost intoxicating drowsiness reality to them but the backdrops all look gorgeous in black-and-white and there's even a scene that goes beautifully from darkness to daylight

It's pacing and plot might not be the most intriguing of all movies but they are nonetheless definitive elements to it and I enjoyed the story for what it's worth. This is clearly a mystery to unravel on further re-watches and I would love to watch it again some time