Michael - UK Trailer - In Cinemas & Curzon on Demand - March 2nd

Measured, eerie and confident, both in style and concept, Markus Schleinzer's debut film Michael created a stir at it's premiere at Cannes in 2011. This is a portrait of an impassive man, remarkably (or un-remarkably) portrayed by Michael Fuith, who we observe quietly going about his suburban life; attending work, returning with his shopping to cook dinner in his neat and tidy home. We soon learn this man, Michael, has a boy held captive in his cellar. What makes the film so compelling is the ordinariness of their strangely domestic set up, at times they could be mistaken for father and son. Michael cuts the boys hair, they prepare for Christmas and take trips to local parks. The true horrors of what is going on are only implied to us.

Schleinzer, a casting director for amongst others Michael Haneke's White Ribbon, reportedly showed the script to Haneke who immediately expressed an interest to direct Michael himself should Schleinzer decide not to. You can immediately sense the appeal this story of society's hidden decay must have had to Haneke, and Schleinzer's cool and detached handling of the subject is, even if unintended, a homage to Haneke's early films in particular.

The film deftly avoids emotions, judgment and even controversy, and as it should, we hardly need to be coerced into a feeling or opinion on this. What plays out has a cool, slow burning tension, fractured intermittently with shocking moments and sometimes even humour, that serve to remind the viewer of the quiet chaos that lies not only in the cellar, but what often lurks beneath the ordinary.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Markus Schleinzer
• London Film festival

[theaxelazul1994]

wooooooaa que buen trailer me atrapo quiero verla ojala y si se estrene en mexico