previously in this thread I mentioned that I would be seeing more Haneke films. I've watched 2 more, and I can honestly say that I am now a HUGE fan of him.
One thing's for sure, Haneke's goal is not to entertain the viewer. He pulls no punches and isn't afraid to give us a glimpse of the human condition by the most brutal and harsh means. He challenges conventional means of storytelling - his films don't give you the cliched Hollywood ending and don't resolve themselves the way you expect. His movies will make you think and will almost certainly evoke a wide range of emotions. And it's because of these reasons that I consider Haneke to be one of the best directors of our time.
First off, see the original, not the American remake (even though they're both directed by Haneke). Now, this is not a movie that I can imagine wanting to see again, but I'm definitely not sorry I watched it. Haneke makes us question the role of violence in entertainment by portraying violence in a raw, brutal, and visceral manner. Some people passionately hate this movie (for reasons that become clear once you've seen it) and think it's pointless (which couldn't be further from the truth), but the fact that this movie causes some people to react in such a manner further supports the point Haneke is making in the film.
It's been a while since I've seen a film that I would call a "great movie" (it's not a term that I use lightly). Well, Haneke's
The White Ribbon is just that - a great movie, a ****ing masterpiece. This film received the highest honor at Cannes and was nominated for an academy award for Best Foreign Language Film (it lost to the Argentinian film
El secreto de sus ojos, another amazing movie although I think
White Ribbon deserved it more). It takes place in a fictional German town during the months preceding the outbreak of World War I. On the surface the plot deals with a series of heinous events whose perpetrator(s) is unknown, but as is a trademark of Haneke the movie isn't really about the plot and its resolution. It's a masterful work of art in which Haneke explores the root of evil.
The White Ribbon portrays events that are almost universal in the lives of children and families, but they are exhibited in the most raw, brutal, and unforgiving form. Several horrendous and unspeakably tragic things happen to the children in this village, children who will one day grow up to become the first generation of Nazis. Throughout the film we sympathize with the children in their innocence who are being forced to endure so much brutality, but at other moments we feel as if these children have already had their innocence stolen away (ironically, the title comes from the practice of one of the film's abusive fathers to put a white ribbon on his children to remind them of their innocence). This movie was one of the most powerful films I've ever seen. I'd put it in my top 20 of all time, maybe even top 10. I just can't say enough good things about this movie.
I'm going to watch
The Piano Teacher next, then I'll probably try and find some more of Haneke's earlier films.
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