This post was inevitable, right?
I picked up a copy of the American version years ago, watched it sometime last semester. (It should be noted you need to kind of be in the right mood for this film. Like, totally down for a disturbing night. So it took me quite a while to get around to it.) Now with a bit of German under my belt I decided to watch it auf Deutsch.
For those who don't know, this is a film by Michael Haneke first made in Germany in '97 then remade shot-by-shot with American actors - Tim Roth, Naomi Watts, Brady Corbet & Michael Pitt.
I'm currently watching the last 15 minutes and it is making just as little sense as the American version. I literally have no idea what you are thinking, Haneke! But it's perfect. I don't think there's enough written about this by real film scholars. There are some so-so reviews. This one is good but I am utterly unfamiliar with this "Brechtian" influence.
It all makes a lot more sense with some thought and this interview, but at surface value the style of this film just kills me. And the perfection of the shot-by-shot remake is incredible.
My mom watched this because she loves really sick horror films - but she didn't really like it that much or appreciate it. I was only ever interested in it for two reasons - the fact it was a shot by shot remake, and the fact that Michael Pitt is in it. I called her up after I watched it the first time and went on and on about the self-reflexivity and how confused I was about the whole ending. She didn't get it. But anyone who has ever taken a film class should be intrigued by this film.
Also, I really, really love the opening sequence.
PS
The most curious thing ever - I watched this streaming on Netflix and you know how when you scroll backwards it goes frame by frame? Well, it was suddenly Michael Pitt and Naomi Watts even though I'm watching the German version. WHAT?!
Thanks for posting this and I'll definitely have to check out this movie when I get the chance! I'm a huge fan of Michael Haneke personally. Much of what I've seen by him is fairly slow, highly disturbing, and haunts my mind for weeks after the initial viewing. Yet there is something beautiful about his films none the less. The confusion you had in the ending of his film, Arianna, is something produced by most of his films. But so is this self-reflexivity and this idea of taking a step back and observing yourself and society. While the themes he examines might not be the cheeriest of sort, I think it's important for us to be exposed to them.
ReplyDeleteI'm incredibly interested in him now. The Piano Teacher & Code Unknown are on netflix but if you happen to have any others on DVD I'd love to borrow 'em, and will be more than happy to lend my American Funny Games DVD.
DeleteThe White Ribbon especially interests me because of this class.
I have Michael Haneke's "Time of the Wolf" if you ever want to view that. It's another film starring Isabelle Huppert. I would be happy to exchange it for "Funny Games" at some point :)
DeleteGreat post! I like how it ties in to the whole self-reflexivity we've been talking about in class, especially concerning the "aura" of film and the "gaze" concept.
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