The movie does many things - some are wrenching, some pose unanswerable existential questions, and some make one wonder whether the film should exist in the first place.

A dark and challenging film and those searching for escapist fare might find that "Vivarium" is a little too intense for comfort.

Exists as a reminder not only of a time when filmmakers had more latitude but of the types of production that would find little traction in today’s changed cinematic marketplace.

Relies on old-fashioned movie elements like atmosphere, character development, and narrative arc without needing crutches like fast editing, frenetic action sequences, and visual clutter.

With too little emphasis placed on and exploring the rich possibilities of the milieu, the movie turns into a ho-hum Vin Diesel action film.

The most accessible of Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky’s films, it relies more on mood and atmosphere than narrative and character.