The Sparrow in the Chimney

Among the film’s strongest qualities is its suspense: Mr. Zürcher builds a wicked sense of anticipation about just how far its desperately unhappy characters may go. As bleak as it is, The Sparrow in the Chimney is a skillfully painted portrait of an unstable menagerie.

All the micro-motivations and manipulations of life are present, from the desire to be loved and look after others to the urge to tear down a carefully constructed emotional wall.

With its deep, bold dives into the nightmarish and the surreal, The Sparrow in the Chimney is that rare film that feels like a catharsis for protagonist and director both.

While the story leaves something to be desired, The Sparrow in the Chimney is a memorable family drama with plenty of layered symbolism that will keep you thinking long after the credits have rolled.

The film seems to insist upon the idea that intimacy and isolation are ultimately two sides of the same coin.

It’s a disturbing, sometimes beautiful film that, by the end, is disquieting for all the wrong reasons.