Review of Michael (2011) by Manon M — 07 Jul 2012

My respect to Markus Schleinzer, for going through with this film, and to Michael Fuith for being so brave and playing such a repulsive role. Michael is a deeply disturbing character study, a film shocking by suggestion and not by display. This is - by all means - one of the scariest films I have ever seen, showing the audience the everyday life of a pedophile and his prisoner. The film is largely quiet, but therein lies it strength: it keeps things really well balanced without falling into easy shocking territory, tho never forgetting to show how the victim reacts to the sexual violence.

I honestly had problems going through with it - I was "enduring" it. That guy made me sick, he really did and at some point I just couldn't stop crying and just wanted the film to end. You never know if Michael is actually caring sometimes, if he has feelings, if he is just a monster, if he is a wounded personality - everything is implied, but never shown. Whatever the case, I wanted to throw up. You never get to see behind his mask, his motives are never explored.

Fact is, this film is damn well acted - Michael Fuith is a terrific actor, for going so much into detail...and he really is brave for playing such a disgusting character. Anyway, great job here. Making such a film is one hell of a hard task and Markus Schleinzer surely did some masterful work here, but I probably won't watch it again, it was way too disturbing for me.