I hated this film. Its pretentious ,boring and slow on purpose. Most of the film is old blokes being horrible to women and children for no reason. Its rubbish.
Simon Mayo doesn't do himself any favours here. It must be great to have such an active social life that you can co-host a film review show and not feel embarrassed about the fact that you haven't seen 'Hidden' and don't know who Michael Haneke is. I know the guy is primarily a music dj and has a family to look after etc., but come on - you co-host a movie review show! At least try and make the effort to be in the know. Metropolitan sophisticates are really shown up to be ignorant sometimes.
If you manage to put your mind into the film and be at one with the world it created (yes i know that that sounds pompus) but really it makes all the difference to make this film so disturbing.
Not sure its one of Haneke's best but it's in his top 3.
I'm sorry I just saw this and it's awful. Terribly boring nothing happens very slowly for 2 hours. This is terrible, incredibly dull and oh my god I hated it. I normally love you Kermode but sorry, you missed this.
Good for Kermode pointing out that Haneke lectures his audience. Let's not forget that the remake of Funny Games was made just before The White Ribbon
Hidden was crap - and racist. The turkish character is merely a manifestation of Auteil's sublimated guilt. He has no existence apart from to slash his throat. He's been waiting all that time to see Auteil again, just to kill himself and cover Auteil in blood - gimme a break. The other side of the same coin: white man's burden yet again.
The 'turkish' character is in fact Algerian. Also, considering the whole plot of Hidden is about France's disgraceful treatment of Algerians (not Turks) it strikes me as odd to call it racist. If anything its got an anti-imperialist message
@Budapestkick Moreover, I think that while Auteil is a personification of French brutality and/or guilt, he is not just a cipher but fully fleshed out. The Algerian man really has no voice at all. I do not think this is to signify that Algerians then and now have no voice in France. His suicide thrilled the cinema audience I was with, albeit in a shocking manner. That was his voice. And I found that really cheap.
(Sorry for the long reply.) I also found the backstory glib in relation to imperial guilt. Are we supposed to incriminate a child with such guilt?
I also suspect that Hidden was a success in the UK because it focused on French imperial guilt. It allows us to put on all on Auteil's head. With the recent remake of Funny Games, Haneke wants to shove the casual violence of cinema onto America's head. Not good enough, IMO, and very patronising. His "uncertainies" are a gimmick.
Yes, that is important. It has been a long time since I saw the film, but I apologise for that mistake.
It has got an anti-imperialist message - but at the cost of making the Algerian character nothing but a cipher of post-imperialist guilt. This is why I think the film is racist, even if it's intention is the reverse. Haneke seems so pleased with his set-up, with the uncanny feeling of being watched by history etc, that he also strays into racism, in my opinion.
I take your point but I think that the question is whether the Algerian character is merely a cypher or that we simply are only given brief glimpses into his psychology and history. A lot of Haneke's characters are like this. While there is clearly a lot going on in their heads, we are only given glimpses into that. Though your analysis has given me pause for thought on this one.
I definitely agree about the feeling at the end. I felt like screaming because the tension is never alleviated. And the town and individuals felt all too familiar in spite of their seeming strangeness.
Actually I'm a huge Mark Kermode fan and I disagree with him quite a bit. Must be tough being so insecure that you have to insult everyone who disagrees with you.
I hated this film. Its pretentious ,boring and slow on purpose. Most of the film is old blokes being horrible to women and children for no reason. Its rubbish.
GuttyYZ 1 month ago
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Simon Mayo doesn't do himself any favours here. It must be great to have such an active social life that you can co-host a film review show and not feel embarrassed about the fact that you haven't seen 'Hidden' and don't know who Michael Haneke is. I know the guy is primarily a music dj and has a family to look after etc., but come on - you co-host a movie review show! At least try and make the effort to be in the know. Metropolitan sophisticates are really shown up to be ignorant sometimes.
SuperRobertoboy 1 month ago
Comment removed
SuperRobertoboy 1 month ago
Mayo is about as funny and relevant as a punch in the face.
theunusualsuspectstv 1 month ago
The White Ribbon is Haneke's best film. It's a true masterpiece of filmmaking restraint.
trentkill 11 months ago
Mayo is a right twat
Wintersome 1 year ago
Mayo. Just... shut... up.
Intiom 1 year ago
I'm a big Haneke fan and I absolutely love the impression Kermode gives at the end.
Neonman78 1 year ago
If you manage to put your mind into the film and be at one with the world it created (yes i know that that sounds pompus) but really it makes all the difference to make this film so disturbing.
Not sure its one of Haneke's best but it's in his top 3.
themanwholikesducks 1 year ago
@themanwholikesducks If it's in the top 3 then surely it is one of the best???
TheDensley7 4 months ago
I'm sorry I just saw this and it's awful. Terribly boring nothing happens very slowly for 2 hours. This is terrible, incredibly dull and oh my god I hated it. I normally love you Kermode but sorry, you missed this.
samsunghy 1 year ago
Good for Kermode pointing out that Haneke lectures his audience. Let's not forget that the remake of Funny Games was made just before The White Ribbon
Hidden was crap - and racist. The turkish character is merely a manifestation of Auteil's sublimated guilt. He has no existence apart from to slash his throat. He's been waiting all that time to see Auteil again, just to kill himself and cover Auteil in blood - gimme a break. The other side of the same coin: white man's burden yet again.
avastyer 1 year ago
@avastyer
The 'turkish' character is in fact Algerian. Also, considering the whole plot of Hidden is about France's disgraceful treatment of Algerians (not Turks) it strikes me as odd to call it racist. If anything its got an anti-imperialist message
Budapestkick 1 year ago
Comment removed
avastyer 1 year ago
@Budapestkick Moreover, I think that while Auteil is a personification of French brutality and/or guilt, he is not just a cipher but fully fleshed out. The Algerian man really has no voice at all. I do not think this is to signify that Algerians then and now have no voice in France. His suicide thrilled the cinema audience I was with, albeit in a shocking manner. That was his voice. And I found that really cheap.
avastyer 1 year ago
@Budapestkick
(Sorry for the long reply.) I also found the backstory glib in relation to imperial guilt. Are we supposed to incriminate a child with such guilt?
I also suspect that Hidden was a success in the UK because it focused on French imperial guilt. It allows us to put on all on Auteil's head. With the recent remake of Funny Games, Haneke wants to shove the casual violence of cinema onto America's head. Not good enough, IMO, and very patronising. His "uncertainies" are a gimmick.
avastyer 1 year ago
@Budapestkick
Yes, that is important. It has been a long time since I saw the film, but I apologise for that mistake.
It has got an anti-imperialist message - but at the cost of making the Algerian character nothing but a cipher of post-imperialist guilt. This is why I think the film is racist, even if it's intention is the reverse. Haneke seems so pleased with his set-up, with the uncanny feeling of being watched by history etc, that he also strays into racism, in my opinion.
avastyer 1 year ago
@avastyer
I take your point but I think that the question is whether the Algerian character is merely a cypher or that we simply are only given brief glimpses into his psychology and history. A lot of Haneke's characters are like this. While there is clearly a lot going on in their heads, we are only given glimpses into that. Though your analysis has given me pause for thought on this one.
Budapestkick 1 year ago
'My kids are blonde!' I love Mayo's dryness.
Haeronthegreat 1 year ago 2
Haha, his Haneke impression was priceless!
Richie11291 1 year ago
This film isn't half as distrubing or anxiety inducing as he makes out.
It's interesting and intriguing at best and at worst utterly insufferable.
musicman02 1 year ago 2
Best Film of 09
skinwalkerxxx 1 year ago
I definitely agree about the feeling at the end. I felt like screaming because the tension is never alleviated. And the town and individuals felt all too familiar in spite of their seeming strangeness.
elleoneiram 1 year ago
thank god im subscribed to Kermode
ibez07 2 years ago
Too bad you didn't include Mayo's ridiculous conclusion that black-and-white was dated and that Eraserhead would've been better in color.
TulseLuper 2 years ago
Comment removed
Larkspladge 2 years ago
Actually I'm a huge Mark Kermode fan and I disagree with him quite a bit. Must be tough being so insecure that you have to insult everyone who disagrees with you.
TulseLuper 2 years ago
Wow. Issues? Did Kermode sleep with your wife or something?
MyStupidNamesTaken 2 years ago
I didnt know i was subscribed to Kermode!!
AlanMcB 2 years ago