Michael

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Sep 28, 2017 Wisely enough, the film chooses to approach its already complex and harsh subject with an almost total dependence over an interestingly enough visual-narrative, making natural (and at times tiresome) dialogue flow into what we could all appreciate as an appropriate depiction of overly human characters, all for the benefit of an artistic depiction of an already taboo plot; child abuse and the background behind it. See more

Oct 6, 2014 Well this was a grueling watch, and a solo one; as Claire bailed out. And as usual Austrian cinema just doesn't do feelgood! So here we're going in for the story of a paedophile kidnapper, and his 10-year-old captive. Not a date movie. For me all the great horror is rooted in the normal. And in a dull Vienna suburb, sexual and psychological horrors abound here. This is seeking to study the protagonist rather than understand him. Fuith's depiction of evil is given a dull image, with occasional outbursts of childish petulance. He is truly chilling. This film is extremely uncomfortable viewing, but the fact that it's neither adopts pathos or horror only makes it all the more disturbing. My only criticism was the feelgood Boney M at the track? See more

Sep 24, 2014 Extremely challenging picture from Austria, a stark vision which avoids sensationalism See more

Sep 24, 2014 WOW.....WOW.....WOW.....SO SO SO SO SCARY......man I have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a great movie 2 watch, its got a good cast of actors/actresses throughout this movie......I think that Irawati Harshe Mayadev, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Purav Bhandare, Mahi Gill, Naseeruddin Shah, play good roles/parts throughout this movie.....man this movie is so scary, as it is more like a horror movie, I think that the director of this drama movie had done a great job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie.....man this movie is so scary, The film contains a scene in which Michael exposes his penis to Wolfgang. Schleinzer used an invisible split screen to ensure Rauchenberger did not have to participate in the scene The film was met with mixed critic ratings at the Cannes Film Festival. While Indiewire's Eric Kohn called the film "a triumph of uneasy cinema: Not since Todd Solondz's Happiness has a movie portrayed pedophilia in such uncomfortable detail",Esquire's Mike D'Angelo tweeted "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE IN AUSTRIA. SERIOUSLY. Once again, very well made in the approved festival style, but I understand now exactly how detractors of Funny Games felt". which resembles the famous Natascha Kampusch case from the offender's viewpoint. It premiered In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. It is Schleinzer's directorial debut man this is such a really powerful drama movie 2 watch, it is a really sad/sick/twisted movie 2 watch but it is so fantastic movie 2 watch, it is a really scary movie 2 watch, but it is so really well directed movie 2 watch.......I think that this is such a really well written/acted/directed movie 2 watch, its such a scary movie 2 watch.....it is so frightening movie 2 watch, but it is so fantastc, its got a really sad ending, but it is such a powerful drama movie 2 watch, with a great cast throughout this movie.....its got a good soundtrack throughout this movie man this is such a powerful drama movie 2 watch...... See more

Sep 20, 2014 I'm rating this movie 5/5 because I felt profoundly moved and disturbed by it. People say it didn't give much insight into the motivations of Michael but I feel it gave a great deal and not by the way of 'excusing'. It revealed an emotionally incompetent man utterly unable to relate to adults and that his family were cold and distant people amongst themselves and certainly the mother portrayed as dysfunctional. I felt sick and wounded after watching this and convinced the child is dead not alive, I am surprised to see people think he is found alive as there were signifiers to indicate this would not be the case. Although he did have the electricity switched on inside when the mother opened the door which is a clue to his possible survival. I know the director has said he intended it for the child to have been assumed to live however clearly he didn't and wanted it to be ambiguous and for us all to draw our own conclusion. The style of narrative (or lack of) is clearly that all interpretation is subjective. See more

Mar 23, 2014 Easily one of the top 5 most uncomfortable times I've ever had watching a film as the curtain is pulled back to reveal the tedious, day-to-day, meanderings of a Fuith's kidnapper/pedophile in this foreign thriller that's just too creepy for words. See more

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Michael

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