This is one of Hungarian master Bela Tarr's earlier work, his third film and the first one for which he used professional actors, I understand. "Raw" is a word that has been used almost universally to describe Tarr's earlier films. What "Prefab People" depicts is a very ordinary young working-class family of four. If he were to make an entertaining movie, a director could make this into a situation drama/comedy of a sweet warm family, with a general dose of Spielberg spirit. But entertainment is not what Tarr offers. He dwells on the strife, the frustration and the inability to communicate. The movie is so direct and realistic that we feel like peeking into the everyday life of stagnation of this couple, lost in a vicious cycle of nagging complaints and resigned indifference. While the story could be seen as linear, starting with a simple flashback, some interpret it as a repeat of a nightmare-in-real-life over and over again. Certainly not a joy to watch, and not entertaining in the normal sense, "Prefab people" is worth a look to get a feel for Tarr's work and to be reminded how unpleasant life could be, whether by destiny or by choice.
Review of The Prefab People
