Shot in black and white, with no music and a punishingly relentless rhythm of suffering, this real-life Czech drama is brutally austere. A portrait of a deeply troubled young woman, Olga Hepnarová (Michalina Olszanska), the film is jarringly episodic. Often little more than a series of seemingly unrelated scenes, it’s an alienating viewing experience, and that, perhaps, is the point. As Olga feels herself repelled by society, so the audience is held at arm’s length. Enshrouded in cigarette smoke and self-pity, Olga is an abrasive character. Audience empathy is likely to be in short supply.
