Mick LaSalle of the "San Francisco Chronicle" observed the film "has the virtues of suspense, good performances and well-written scenes that are given time to breathe. That's what's entertaining about it. What's most interesting about it - its overall feeling - is harder to describe. Partly as a result of the period setting but mainly because of the movie's entire atmosphere... there's a quality of distance to the picture, as though we're seeing a case study. Or watching ourselves watch the movie. It's strange. It's different. It's arresting, and it's definitely intentional. Ira Sachs knew what he wanted to do, and he's a talent worth watching."