William Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.
Acting
Isaac's stillness speaks volumes—every blink is a confession.
Direction
Schrader's boxed-in 1.37:1 ratio traps you in William's head.
Cinematography
Motel rooms lit like confessionals, casinos as empty cathedrals.
Director
Paul Schrader
Oscar Isaac
William Tell
Tiffany Haddish
La Linda
Tye Sheridan
Cirk
Willem Dafoe
Gordo
Alexander Babara
Mr. USA
Bobby C. King
Slippery Joe
Ekaterina Baker
Sara
Bryan Truong
Minnesota
Dylan Flashner
Sergeant Hoskins
Adrienne Lau
Crystal
Joel Michaely
Ronnie
Rachel Michiko Whitney
Nancy
Joseph Singletary
Inmate
Kirill Sheynerman
Prison Guard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Schrader wrote this during lockdown in 10 days, calling it his 'COVID movie'—explaining the claustrophobic motel isolation.
The 1.37:1 aspect ratio references Schrader's own 'First Reformed' and Bresson's 'Pickpocket'—visual lineage of spiritual crisis.
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