Despair

Despair is the kind of drama that turns inward and keeps pressure on the viewer rather than on plot machinery. By our assessment, that inwardness is its main strength: it can make mood, dread and psychological strain carry the film without needing broad movement. The trade-off is plain, because this sort of drama is not built for comfort or quick release; it can be heavy, slow and emotionally draining. In practice that usually means close attention, a patient pace and a willingness to sit with discomfort instead of waiting for tidy payoff. Against more decorative or melodramatic films, it sounds harder and more exacting, which is often where the value lies. The 1978 date and the title itself suit a serious, severe piece of cinema, and Despair looks like something for people who want drama to sting rather than soothe.