personally, found it unbearable

Film has a beautiful visual language, and I appreciated the long, introspective takes.

But "Three Monkeys" was simply unbearable to watch. Listening to people breathe for five minutes (through ADR no less) was like watching paint dry. And believe me, I've sat through many a film that required patience - "Begotten," "Dog Star Man," and "Platform" to name a few, all of which I loved immensely.

*slight spoiler ahead*

I felt I was being put on by the director - the film could have taken an interesting turn with the apparition of the lost child, which was an image lifted directly from the Guillermo Del Toro / J-Horror book of arthouse frights. The image was used for narrative purpose but it also came off as cheap thrills.

From that moment, I understand the inherent level of inner torture, but the characters were so incredibly unlikeable that I couldn't even try to walk a mile in their shoes. It doesn't mean that characters have to be amicable - I thought David Thewlis in Mike Leigh's "Naked" was an absolute monster, but I was fascinated by him. The characters in "Three Monkeys" always keep you at arm's distance, which is immensely frustrating. And if that's the point, then I don't translate that to an engaging film experience.

I really don't get the praise that is being bestowed upon this film. I give it top praise for its cinematography, but other than that I found it to be an exercise in banal arthouse indulgence.

"We can never achieve peace by killing each other's children."