CACHE (2005)

Written & Directed By: Michael Haneke
Cinematography By: Christian Berger
Editor: Michael Hudecek & Nadine Muse

Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Benichou

Georges, who hosts a TV literary review, receives packages containing videos of himself with his family--shot secretly from the street--and alarming drawings whose meaning is obscure. He has no idea who may be sending them. Gradually, the footage on the tapes becomes more personal, suggesting that the sender has known Georges for some time. Georges feels a sense of menace hanging over him and his family but, as no direct threat has been made, the police refuse to help....

I’ll be the first to admit. I consider myself a film academic (Mostly Home Schooled) and I don’t get this film. There is supposed to be some kind of secret to this whole film. I just didn’t see it or if I did see it, I didn’t understand it. What I can say is I think this films theme is about personal history. What your memory of it is vs. what the actual facts are. Just because you change and become a better person doesn’t change any evil or pat crimes. There are still victims out there who will not only never forget, but can’t forget because what may have been just a incident to you could have been catastrophic to another person completely with tremors still being felt and only getting more violent with age.

The film begins slowly then as it get’s going it picks up some speed with shocking moments and deeply felt emotional mystery That becomes a spiraling tragedy. There isn’t even a soundtrack, nor music. Which heightens the scenes and also never leads you anywhere so you have to take the scenes as they are presented and make up your mind and piece things together yourself. No real universal truth only what you believe compared to what might have actually happened, As it is never fully explained.

Director Michael Haneke is like a modern day Hitchcock only more of a masochist. He has a quirk for misery and human suffering. He is masterful with pace, timing, Settings and camera work. Nothing is ever rushed nor feel that way. The performances he gets out of the cast are deep.

This is a foreign film so it moves slower and is more about emotions than anything else. It plays like a thriller and it is, Though not in a conventional sense really it’s more of a drama.

I say check it out, But as a rental and only if you enjoy a film that really makes you think and put together it’s pieces.

GRADE: B-