Matiss Zelcs (Egons Dombrovskis) lives a routine and lonely life in a bleak city. One night he comes across a woman on the edge of a bridge, poised to jump. They exchange a look but Matiss walks on without a word. It is only when he hears a splash that he returns to help but the woman has disappeared. After finding her handbag he begins to piece together her life in his attempt to alleviate his guilt and assign blame.

Shot in black and white, Fallen has the look and feel of an old thriller. Bird calls provide an eerie soundtrack. The gloomy mood and drabness of the city set the tone of the film, and the focus shifts to Matiss’s journey as he walks the lonely streets in search of the woman’s past. Matiss appears to be fuelled as much by curiosity and a desire for something unordinary in his dull life as he is by guilt and recrimination. While the film has a mystery at its core, it is really an exploration of guilt, despair, disconnection and the consequences of our actions.

Nothing moves quickly in this film, including Matiss. His movements are shown in painstaking detail and the camera lingers after he has gone. Director Fred Kelemen uses lengthy shots throughout and the repetitive style becomes tedious and had me wishing that Matiss would quicken his pace. Fallen will test the impatient and frustrate those who enjoy character development and interaction.

The performances are truthful and Vigo Roga was particularly good as the jaded Inspector who voices his pessimistic views on a society gone wrong.

Despite the downbeat nature the film, it doesn’t leave us without hope. It will certainly make you embrace light and colour in a world so often cast in shadows.