I don’t know what I would make of an apartment that has survived the apocalypse. It’s not a thought that has crossed my mind, but it’s interesting nonetheless. The possibility of stumbling upon skeletal remains isn’t out of the question, nor is the possibility of stumbling upon a rat infestation. All the more reason to avoid upsetting the landlord, especially when he isn’t concerned with maintaining a building that has been the wringer. After all, why spend the money when the tenants are used to less-than-ideal living conditions? It’s not like they’re chomping at the bit for wall repairs.

There’s a surreal quality to this film. It’s prevalent as well as constant. I wouldn’t say it left me satisfied, but I found it appealing because of the unusual situations and the nightmare sequences. Both were striking; in fact, I felt as though I had a front-row seat to the events as they unfolded. I wasn’t able to make sense of them all, but there was no doubt in my mind that I was observing some rather strange yet thrilling circumstances. I don’t know if I would go so far as to say that there’s weirdness for the sake of it. A second or third viewing would help me to draw that conclusion, but in any case, I enjoyed seeing the madness play out.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget aspects such as movement and sound. They’re hard to ignore, and on top of that, they have a repetition to them that is rhythmic but also in tune with the editing. The bed rings stand out all the more as a result of that, which is odd but worth pointing out since mundane things are treated as though they aren’t mundane. Snails are featured prominently, and there are a few moments where water leaks from pipes. I couldn’t imagine a plumber would be paid enough to deal with those, but at least he’d be making a living while the landlord treats his tenants to a meal they’ll never forget.

Delicatessen is without a doubt a bizarre and unique film. I don’t know how else to describe it, but nonetheless, I’m glad I got around to it. It doesn’t conform to convention, and for that I admire it.