Alex Linden is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil.
Editing
Roeg's fractured chronology makes you complicit in disorientation.
Score
Pink Floyd's abandoned soundtrack haunts every frame.
Acting
Theresa Russell's raw vulnerability against Garfunkel's creepy restraint.
Director
Nicolas Roeg
Art Garfunkel
Alex Linden
Theresa Russell
Milena Flaherty
Harvey Keitel
Inspector Netusil
Denholm Elliott
Stefan Vognic
Daniel Massey
Foppish Man
Dana Gillespie
Amy Miller
William Hootkins
Col. Taylor
Eugene Lipinski
Hospital Policeman
George Roubicek
Policeman #1
Stefan Gryff
Policeman #2
Ania Marson
Dr. Schneider
Lex van Delden
Young Doctor
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Roeg originally wanted a different ending; the studio called this 'sick' and buried it.
This film effectively ended Roeg's mainstream career—too disturbing for 1980 audiences, too honest for studios.
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