2008 Woodie Awards
'Funny Games' not all fun and games
Bruce Shields/Guest Columnist
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: After Hours
There is a scene in the film where the two sociopaths discuss the difficulty of communication between the immaterial and the material.
The audience is clearly representative of the material while the family in the film is representative of the immaterial.
But by each act of violence, the family appears more material, moving from a caricature to something hauntingly real.
I cannot say that this is a bad film. On the contrary, it is a very good film. The acting and direction are all superb. But it is a disturbing film.
Before purchasing my ticket, the cashier warned me, "Funny Games is not a funny movie." Apparently one couple went into the theater with that expectation. During the showing, one group of people walked out.
Afterwards, several snippets of dialogue drifted in the foyer claiming that the movie was pointless. I wouldn't say that it is pointless. Rather, the point of the film is flawed.
In interview, Haneke has said that he rejects violence of modern cinema, yet this film relishes in it.
If the torture inflicted on the family is to be made material, that is, to be viscerally experienced by the audience, then the audience ultimately becomes the victim. The film becomes a torture device.
The audience is clearly representative of the material while the family in the film is representative of the immaterial.
But by each act of violence, the family appears more material, moving from a caricature to something hauntingly real.
I cannot say that this is a bad film. On the contrary, it is a very good film. The acting and direction are all superb. But it is a disturbing film.
Before purchasing my ticket, the cashier warned me, "Funny Games is not a funny movie." Apparently one couple went into the theater with that expectation. During the showing, one group of people walked out.
Afterwards, several snippets of dialogue drifted in the foyer claiming that the movie was pointless. I wouldn't say that it is pointless. Rather, the point of the film is flawed.
In interview, Haneke has said that he rejects violence of modern cinema, yet this film relishes in it.
If the torture inflicted on the family is to be made material, that is, to be viscerally experienced by the audience, then the audience ultimately becomes the victim. The film becomes a torture device.
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