Review of Caché (2005) by Michael O — 07 Dec 2009

My first introduction to director Michael Haneke was with his 2008 shot-for-shot remake of his own film Funny Games, which I was less than fond of. But even in it's grotesque nature, you're able to detect signs of a talented filmmaker. Those signs are what intrigued me to invest a little more time into some of Haneke's other works, and one I'd heard about for awhile, that being Cache.

The story is of a married couple being sent mysterious videotapes of their home accompanied by disturbing childlike drawings and no explanation as to why. As the story unfolds you realize it's less about the actions of the plot and more about the study of the nature of the characters it depicts. The style in which Haneke shoots is superb and he brilliantly raises tension with long suspicious scenes of surveillance which lack action, but that's what is most absorbing about them. You don't know why they're being watched and that is one of the most unsettling things about it. The climax, without giving anything away, was jaw dropping and completely unexpected.

The slow pacing may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy character studies and art house films, I highly recommend a viewing. The performances by Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche were phenomenal and everything from the cinematography to editing were all top notch. This picture is definitely a far cry from Funny Games...