A Franco-Belgian Yarmush but with more, much more irony; as in Yarmush, however, there is great respect for those on the down site of life. No wasted sentimentalism. Some scenes are built in the manner of Chaplin, with an unmoving camera and tripod waiting for things to happen in front of it. Gags are basically social or visual rather than intellectual. One or two scenes appear to have been snipped in the middle, leaving us not quite understanding the point of it. For example, the two cripples at some point ride in a van, in the back of which are four shirtless guys with eyes closed. We never learn what they're doing there. Are they drunks, corpses, sleepers...? Right after that, we see a naked woman splayed out on the ship taking them to Finland. Who is she, why is she there? No clues. Technically,however, the high contrast and grainy quality of the B&W is almost painful to watch.
