The Trial

1962
Directed by Orson Welles
Starring Anthony Perkins, Romy Schneider, Orson Welles





     A man is awoken one morning by an investigator and subsequently arrested for an unnamed, unapparent crime. Unwilling to roll over for the totalitarian system, he takes it upon himself to find justice in the convoluted court. I found the story fairly difficult to follow, there are mounds of doubletalk and misdirection along with a distinct lack of information. It is, however, visually striking. Stylistically, it's somewhere between German Expressionism, French New Wave, and surrealism. There are a lot of bizarre, imaginative events dripping with oppression and paranoia. It's equally enthralling, memorable, and unrewarding. Great atmosphere, shaky storyline, mild recommendation.