Review of Michael (2011) by Ben D — 16 Sep 2012

Markus Schleinzer's film Michael is a troubling, complex work that tells the story of a paedophile who has imprisoned a 10 year old boy in his basement. Nobody expects this to be an easy film to watch, and I know some people who have been so repulsed by it they have failed to reach the end. You hear such stories and you suspect that this film might be provocative for the sake of provocation, but it is entirely not that. It is a very calm movie that casts no judgement, but allows you, as the viewer, to interpret how you like.

Michael Fuith, as the eponymous figure, gives a truly unsettling performance. The sequence in which he attempts to abduct another young boy is nauseous and nailbiting. In fact, much of Schleinzer's direction is like that of a thriller - there are shock moments, shocking twists in the tale. He doesn't demonise Michael, but also critically he doesn't pass judgement - Michael is allowed to be, filmed as if this were a documentary. There is a fine balance of black comedy, and one 'gag' (filmed using a split-screen) that really unsettles.

This, then, is a very brave, unflinching look at a subject matter we are all too quick to brush under the carpet. Sometimes cinema needs to look into the abyss of human existance, without blinking or judging, and this film does just that.