I knew that this one would by highly idiosyncratic, and yet it still struck me how off-beat it was. Very difficult to describe. First there are the omnipresent early music people, singing and playing material from the 12th and 13th centuries. God help me, some of it I recognized. Then there are the sets, which are highly stylized. Then there is the highly figural, and still opaque narrative. In many ways very Rohmer-like, but in most of the obvious ways, a huge departure, even from his other period pieces.

Also very long. I was fascinated, but happy that I was watching it on video and could break for dinner.