I saw this movie years ago and I felt very impressed; in spite of its defects it is still one of my favorites. Others seem to have disliked the movie's atmosphere, but in my opinion its pared-down and unsentimental style is one of its stronger points: I cannot think of a better description of a society pervaded by anomie. I read the book later and, though I liked the book well enough, I still liked the movie better. Many situations come across more powerfully in the movie than in the book, and the ending (which is quite different from the book) is one of the most beautiful and haunting things I have ever seen.