The relationship between Katya and Tanya is not a narrative. It is a ritual. And by the final shot—Tanya alone at the table, Katya passed out in the bedroom, the camera slowly racking focus to a fly on a dirty plate—you realize there is no moral. There is only the loop.
The performances by the lead actresses are stunning, bringing depth and nuance to their characters. The cinematography is equally impressive, capturing the bleak yet strangely beautiful landscapes of Soviet-era Ukraine. DAU. Katya Tanya
refers to Kora (or Cora), Dau’s wife, though in certain translations and subtitles, or specifically regarding the film DAU. Katya Tanya , the focus shifts between the women. However, the primary "wife" figure in the DAU universe is Kora (played by Darya Ekamasova). The relationship between Katya and Tanya is not a narrative