Michael Haneke is one of the small handful of directors whose every film nowadays is, for me, an 'event' - and this one is no exception. His recent films have included the chilling 'Hidden', 'The White Ribbon', 'The Piano Player' and, probably the most disturbing film I've seen in all the last 20 years, 'Funny Games' (I mean the Austrian version of 1997. Couldn't bring myself to see the recent American re-make. In any case, why did they feel the need to make one? Answer: Because a re-make in English would make more money!)
This new film, 'Amour', won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year. 'Entertaining' is not the right word for it; 'troubling' it most definitely is. I knew it was going to be a tough watch - and one certainly does have one's emotions put through the wringer
Near the start of the film we see a long-term married couple in their 80s having breakfast together, talking normally. Then, out of the blue, the husband discovers that his wife has gone into a sort of trance, totally frozen and unresponsive. He starts to dress himself, resignedly, to go for help - then, hearing sounds from the kitchen, finds that she has returned to 'normal' - and she doesn't believe it when told what had just happened. It had been her first stroke, of course. In the next scene we see her returning home from a stay in hospital, now in a wheelchair but still fully compos mentis. The film chronicles her deterioration both physical (she loses control of one side of her body) as well as her mental slide, while her husband tries to manage care for her at home, at first alone, then with a nurse. He resists, among arguments, their daughter's earnest and well-meaning calls for her mother to be put in a home in order to get professional round-the-clock care.
It's harrowing to watch the descent into advanced senility and helplessness, all captured so gradually, seamlessly and believably. There are no awkward jerks in time which might have made it look contrived. A lot of the scenes are filmed using a completely stationary camera, viewing what happens like a detached observer. Towards the end there's a shocking event which I hadn't expected - part of which is left unresolved at the film's conclusion, something which tends to be a feature of Haneke's works. He is not one to tie up loose ends.
This film got under my skin for two particular reasons:-
I am nearer in age to the sad fate (if it is also to be mine) of the woman here than nearly all of my blog-readers.
Also, my own mother, at about the age that I am now, suffered her first stroke, with a very similar effect, when she was in a restaurant with my sister and her husband. An ambulance had to be called. And that event probably signalled the start of her own physical (though not mental) deterioration over the ensuing years.
It's not a film to see if you want a 'happy' experience. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it. In fact I would do so, but only if you're prepared to steel yourself for a grimly moving, but also strangely satisfying, viewing. 7/10.
3 hours ago
I'll pass me thinks!
ReplyDeleteI can well understand people preferring to shun it, J.G. It's an intense experience, and by no means a film for everyone.
DeleteThis sounds excellent. It also sounds like something I will avoid at this time!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how to take your first sentence, Mitch, but assuming you're sincere, it might be better to watch it on DVD or in some way where you can pause or cancel your watching if it gets too much. Rather like walking out of the cinema, in a way.
DeleteWhen I spend money on a movie ticket, I want to see excellent actors portraying characters in a story that will affect me emotionally on many levels. I don't want to see heros saving the world from destruction (OK, maybe once in a while) or kids educating adults. As you can guess, this is one film that I certainly will see.
ReplyDeleteIn the light of what I said about this film (and probably what you've also read elsewhere) I applaud your adventurous spirit, Paul. I can guarantee you a heart-rending viewing but I think one that will leave you feeling it was worthwhile. Again, when you catch it let me know.
DeleteBtw: I'm currently in a dilemma as to whether to see this week's 'biggie' release - 'Seven Psychopaths' with Colin Farrell (always a bit of a hottie for me) and a star-studded cast. The idea of kidnapping pet dogs so as to extract ransoms from their owners, played out for real but employed as a 'joke', I would not find comfortable. Actually I'm told that there's a self-referential observation in the film, that although they are not allowed to actually harm dogs for the purposes of a film, the depiction of violence towards women is permitted. If I've got that right I espy a flaw in that argument - any violence towards women would likewise not be occurring for real.
But even so (maybe it says a lot about me) that whereas I cannot abide the depiction of violence towards animals even when it doesn't happen in reality, I do go and see a films like 'Amour' where devastating human suffering is to be portrayed.
If I were preparing a Top 10 list, would "Anna Karenina" be included? ABOLUTELY! The director made some over-the-top choices - different and stylized - but it is sexy, entertaining and you can't take your eyes off of it. I would also like to give a shoutout to the scoring - brilliant! This is one movie that will always remain in your mind.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you had such a good time, Paul. I'd thought that maybe you'd not have rated it quite so highly as I had, but once again we're on the same side. It was an imaginative and very brave take on the bulky original source, but it worked a total treat. Whether it will be recognised in the awards season coming up remains to be seen, though it will not be so surprising if this jewel is overlooked.
DeleteReviews here were generally favourable but few, if any, have been as ecstatic as we have. There has, however, been unanimous praise for Jude Law.
I wish I'd seen it twice in the cinema before it disappeared but, now that I'm TV-less, when I buy a new set it will almost certainly have an inbuilt DVD player (which I also haven't currently got) and this film would be one of my initial purchases. (Whether I get a TV before this year is out is currently open to question.)