Der Siebente Kontinent (1989) (The Seventh Continent)

de Michael Haneke
(extracto)
debut feature film, inspired by a true story of a family that committed suicide. The film chronicles the last years of the Austrian middle class family.A family, that consists of an engineer, an optician (his wife) and their daughter, spends urban life only to have a sudden decision to destroy their lives without any apparent reason. The film only implies some kind of their nervous depression and isolation in modern repetitive life.
The film is divided roughly into two parts. The first section is devoted to depict protagonists' sense of discomfort in the urban society. The notable second section contains over 30-minute sequences of exhaustive action of complete destruction. Intertitles at the last of the film suggests all of the story is based on a true event.
The title "The Seventh Continent" stands for an imaginary continent the family envisions in the film. Its image is visualized as a desert and isolated beach, accompanied by discreet sounds of waves in ominous tone.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• haneke
• film
• seventh
• continent

[MrJekal]

Such a powerful scene. Brilliant move. A simple film with such a complex meaning. Haunted me for weeks after.