Review of The Tenant (1976) by A.j. S — 24 Oct 2010
Roman Polanski discovered he had nothing to hide considering his personal life is well documented. With his experiences in the holocaust he ran from evil; in late sixties Hollywood he was again a victim of the Manson family; by the early seventies he experienced obscured judicial prejudice.
As a result of these offenses, he was ready to mold what would be the catharsis for the rest of his career with "The Tenant" (1976). As always there is a mixture of comedy and horror with Polanski; the world is a strange place of mixed emotions for him and he attempts to capture them entirely.
His experiences are not translated onto the screen, but their natural emotions are. With this film specific feelings are achieved through cold distance and careful plotting. The lead, Trelkovsky (played by Polanski - with a tame Sven Nykvist comfortably behind the camera for the triple duty auteur) has no background.
Only working acquaintances are introduced to the audience, yet he is relatable. He begins to suspect that his apartment complex is plotting against him, which sets the scene for an odd but relevant third act.
He crumbles under the surmounting pressure in a poignant display of indignation. A human being can only take so much abuse. No matter what one experiences in their life, denial by others is the most harmful injustice and Polanski seems to be begging for some understanding.
The stories he chooses to tell are so candid that they cannot be denied. To do so would be refusing an account of a living being's soul stripped of flesh and other material matter.
This review of The Tenant (1976) was written by A.j. S on 24 Oct 2010.
The Tenant has generally received very positive reviews.
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