— by RACHEL COYNE —
Germany: Homeland of strudel, the glockenspiel, and some of the bleakest movies you’ll ever see.
The trailer for “The White Ribbon” is unsettling, to say the least; the fact that I have no idea what’s going on in it just adds to this uneasy feeling. It is shot in black and white, and features various dour-looking subtitled Germans in an early 1900s village setting talking about child abuse, God, unsolved crimes, and death, while an eerie church hymn plays in the background. Upon further research, I see that it tells a story of mysterious ritual abuse that takes place in a pre-World War I German village.
Mein Gott! I’ve seen Lars von Trier movies that were more uplifting.
“The White Ribbon” has already won several awards from various film festivals, and has thrown its hat in the ring for a 2010 Best Foreign Film Academy Award nomination. Being directed by Michael Haneke, director of critically acclaimed movies like “The Piano Teacher” and “Caché,” it probably has a very good chance of getting that nomination. Plus, who doesn’t love a good, wholesome ritual abuse movie?
“The White Ribbon” will have select cities squirming in their lederhosen on Dec. 30.
Source: Trailer Addict
Follow Rachel Coyne on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheOpinionatedB.
This is the kind of movie that wins awards, but is never seen by me.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this film, but you’re right, it does look a touch depressing. And let’s not forget that Mr. Haneke also directed “Funny Games” not once but twice. You know… just because it was so uplifting and fun!
^ Indeed! I couldn’t even get through the trailer for the “Funny Games” remake without getting upset. I can handle psychological thrillers, but gratuitous torture for little or no reason disturbs me to no end.
My friend saw this and said it wasn’t good.