This movie was fraught with tension. I was surprised at the frantic pace of it, particularly compared to the movies being made in Hollywood around the same time. The music added to this feeling as well.

I was also struck by the powerful body language. The actors are placed in the frame very strategically. It speaks volumes. For example, the brothers who are fighting over the community water supply are shot on the far ends of the frame as a crowd literally comes between them. There are also some interesting mirrored shots, and frequently when power is changing hands as a scene goes along, the characters will walk around, rearranging themselves so that whoever has the upper hand is physically higher as well.

The film was recently restored by Martin Scorsese and his World Cinema Foundation and can currently be viewed for free on The Auteurs.