It also recounts their journey among helpless citizens as a sinister visiting circus arrives, built around a huge stuffed smelly whale and its star performer, "The Prince” which casts a shadow over everyone's lives. With the ethereal cinematography of Gabor Medvigy, and the soothing but discordant score by Mihaly Vig, the film explores themes of order and chaos, and it is difficult to view the film without visions of Eastern Europe under Soviet control. Werckmeister Harmonies opened to wide acclaim from critics when it was first released, and it has come to be regarded by many as one of the best films of the 21st century.