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This horrific tale is told with marvelous shadowy indirection and delicate lyricism. It is full of enigmatic silences, which create a nice, ironic tension between the film's genteel manner and its really quite ferocious theme. It may be seen as a mature exercise in style by a young director, if for no other reason. In addition, it is the centerpiece, so far, of the revitalized Australian film industry and the first assured work by a director who could gain an international reputation. -Richard Schickel