A remarkable debut, this wordless tale of everyday life and death in a Hungarian village evolves into an elliptical murder mystery, blending quiet observation with sardonic visual wit. At first glance, Hukkle looks like a serene nature documentary, but as the film unfolds, it appears that in this bucolic setting, untimely death is in the nature of things. The film contains no dialogue, but it's far from silent: the soundtrack meticulously orchestrates ordinary noises into what the director calls a “conceptual soundscape.” The wit and formal rigor of the sound design are matched by inventive images that combine lush photography with startling special effects.