Here is a scene: my dad doing the whole thing of decapitating, straining the blood, plucking the feathers, and all that. I never saw any of it. Just a faint shadow as he was behind the coloured frosted glass door of our small bathroom. That chicken was going to be our Christmas dinner… As much as it made me uncomfortable, I knew even at the tender age of 12 that it was a natural process. That is a raw truth we cannot deny. I agree with Joseph Campbell, who said in The Power of Myth:
“One of the main problems with mythology is reconciling the mind to this brutal precondition of all life, which lives by the killing and eating of lives. You don’t kid yourself by eating only vegetables, either, for they, too, are alive.”
But watching a scene like that in a film somehow feels inappropriate… I don’t really know how to properly put it. I haven’t seen the film and to be honest I don’t want to. I am on the same page with Ana - Haneke’s films are disturbing.
I like though, your train of thought and your writing, Remy.
Thanks Fotini, to be honest, I think what's disturbing is that you can tell the filmmaker enjoys the idea of violating the audience with this. He knows people will walk out on the scene, and you could have had a disturbing scene still, while eluding the beheading. But he has it full front, and the agony as well. I think he knew very well that this would be scandalous and would make people speak of the movie. And that's what's distasteful about it.
Yeah, I understand what you're talking about. I don't know if he enjoys the idea of violating us, but he sure did made that scene the way he did to provoke us.
I do remember this scene and how shocking it is by how plainly shot it is.
I'm conflicted on Haneke. I have not seen anything past The White Ribbon, and while I don't love his movies, I don't hate them either.
You could make an argument that Haneke took the sadism of the scene you studied and applied it to the entire run time of Funny Games. That is a cruel movie. He torments not only the family in the movie, but the audience as well. He shows you every trope in horror movies we've become used to, and flips it, denying you the release you expect. Very smart and cruel.
Yes I agree with your analysis on Haneke. He is smart, he is undeniably a great filmmaker... But there is something profoundly disturbing about his work. It feels a bit like observing something dead. It’s fascinating but you don’t want to think about this too much.
Yow. Not a movie I'll be watching. I'm a farm girl, and raised chickens. My mother killed them with an axe (but kept a big tank nearby for the chicken bodies). I became a vegetarian as soon as I left home for college.
I was watching the movie, Miles Ahead. I listened to the director's narrative throughout the movie. I never knew, so much thought goes into filming and shooting a movie. Who knew? They spoke of how Miles Davis was a tortured and imprisoned soul. The film makers would set him in screen shots that showed him in bars, or stripes, something that always showed he was imprisoned. I never would have looked at all that. If you have the time, here's the full movie. It was good. I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUmDXHE7QW0
I love the way you 'see' this movie. When you speak of camera angles and certain eye pulling and what needs to be paid attention to, it enthralls me. When a 'normal' person, such as myself, watch a movie. I don't think like that. I don't 'see' what you 'see'. I only see it when film makers, say what we the audience, should be looking at. Regular movie goers and watchers, don't 'see' things the way you do. Fascinating! It really is.
Me? Ones that I have watched at least 4 times, so I can doze off to them... I have three children Remy, it’s all Harry Potter and Peppa Pig these days in my house 😢
Very true. It's interesting how the deliberate agonising slowness of everything in this film only makes this incredibly moment stand out. Certainly bold
While that’s kind of why I asked, be/ Assayas seems to be working more in English language film recently. “Summer Hours” almost seemed like he said- “I’m going to make this one EXTREMELY FRENCH movie. But that’s all you get. I’m an international filmmaker”- which is cool. That movie is so unlike his other work, (not that I’ve seen all of it), that it stands out to me.
What do you think of Olivier Assayas? I love “Summer Hours”. I think that is one of the best movies, of any kind, that I’ve seen in the last 15-20 yrs.
I haven't seen that many films from him, I have mainly be watching UK/US films for the past decade, being out of France, I haven't been following as well as before
I don’t know that I’m that knowledgeable, (but i will accept the compliment). That is a really good question. I’ve never thought of that before.
If one is a real film buff in the States- a cinéaste (if I’m using that correctly?)- and came of age in the 80’s & 90’s, French movies were the most accessible foreign movies. And I mean that literally: I could rent French movies at the video store. And while there was usually a couple Chinese movies, maybe a Spanish movie (Almodovar was fairly well known by the late 90’s I guess); that was basically the entire “Foreign Film” Section: But there were, comparatively, a lot of French movies available. And there were old French movies like “The Wages of Fear”(La Salaire de la Peur); “Grand Illusion”, “The Rules of the Game”; and new movies “Amelie”, “Brotherhood of the Wolf”, etc… But there were also thrillers, gangster movies, war movies- the same genres I was familiar with. And liking some of those French movies led me to watch Italian movies, German movies, Russian movies, Japanese movies, and most anything else.
So I’ve always been willing to give a French movie a chance. I hope that makes sense. At least a little bit 😉
I find Michael Haneke’s films deeply disturbing. I couldn’t finish watching Funny Games. The “beauty” of his art is that he never shows anything truly horrific, he manages to make the viewer imagine it, which is worse in so many ways. There is nothing as terrifying as what goes on in our heads.
I agree, but I can't help but feel like he knows that a scene like this one is going to scandalise people and he enjoys it a bit. That's what I don't like if that makes sense
On the music front, I like when you do that too. Audience participation. Ha! My latest thinking music/chill mode are the Yellowjackets. Jazz baby! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQ2jiy7cTc
Here is a scene: my dad doing the whole thing of decapitating, straining the blood, plucking the feathers, and all that. I never saw any of it. Just a faint shadow as he was behind the coloured frosted glass door of our small bathroom. That chicken was going to be our Christmas dinner… As much as it made me uncomfortable, I knew even at the tender age of 12 that it was a natural process. That is a raw truth we cannot deny. I agree with Joseph Campbell, who said in The Power of Myth:
“One of the main problems with mythology is reconciling the mind to this brutal precondition of all life, which lives by the killing and eating of lives. You don’t kid yourself by eating only vegetables, either, for they, too, are alive.”
But watching a scene like that in a film somehow feels inappropriate… I don’t really know how to properly put it. I haven’t seen the film and to be honest I don’t want to. I am on the same page with Ana - Haneke’s films are disturbing.
I like though, your train of thought and your writing, Remy.
Thanks Fotini, to be honest, I think what's disturbing is that you can tell the filmmaker enjoys the idea of violating the audience with this. He knows people will walk out on the scene, and you could have had a disturbing scene still, while eluding the beheading. But he has it full front, and the agony as well. I think he knew very well that this would be scandalous and would make people speak of the movie. And that's what's distasteful about it.
Yeah, I understand what you're talking about. I don't know if he enjoys the idea of violating us, but he sure did made that scene the way he did to provoke us.
They must not have known how to kill a chicken! 🐔 When I was a kid my grandma killed one to two chickens each week for food.
I enjoyed reading about this movie through your lens and perspective Remy. Thank you! ✨
I do remember this scene and how shocking it is by how plainly shot it is.
I'm conflicted on Haneke. I have not seen anything past The White Ribbon, and while I don't love his movies, I don't hate them either.
You could make an argument that Haneke took the sadism of the scene you studied and applied it to the entire run time of Funny Games. That is a cruel movie. He torments not only the family in the movie, but the audience as well. He shows you every trope in horror movies we've become used to, and flips it, denying you the release you expect. Very smart and cruel.
Yes I agree with your analysis on Haneke. He is smart, he is undeniably a great filmmaker... But there is something profoundly disturbing about his work. It feels a bit like observing something dead. It’s fascinating but you don’t want to think about this too much.
Yes the effect his work has on you is insidious.
I think that I want to watch the movie
(I like movies that don't have music..or it so happenned that thosethat I watched that didn't have it were really good. )
Make sure to eat some chicken wings as you go :)
..I'll be fine))))
Yow. Not a movie I'll be watching. I'm a farm girl, and raised chickens. My mother killed them with an axe (but kept a big tank nearby for the chicken bodies). I became a vegetarian as soon as I left home for college.
Right, so this scene is a piece of cake for you :)
Heh. Except my mother wasn't a psycho killer. 😉
lol
I was watching the movie, Miles Ahead. I listened to the director's narrative throughout the movie. I never knew, so much thought goes into filming and shooting a movie. Who knew? They spoke of how Miles Davis was a tortured and imprisoned soul. The film makers would set him in screen shots that showed him in bars, or stripes, something that always showed he was imprisoned. I never would have looked at all that. If you have the time, here's the full movie. It was good. I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUmDXHE7QW0
Yes, it’s all subtle manipulation basically
I love the way you 'see' this movie. When you speak of camera angles and certain eye pulling and what needs to be paid attention to, it enthralls me. When a 'normal' person, such as myself, watch a movie. I don't think like that. I don't 'see' what you 'see'. I only see it when film makers, say what we the audience, should be looking at. Regular movie goers and watchers, don't 'see' things the way you do. Fascinating! It really is.
Yes, it’s actually hard sometimes to look at things with an innocent eye
Me? Ones that I have watched at least 4 times, so I can doze off to them... I have three children Remy, it’s all Harry Potter and Peppa Pig these days in my house 😢
ha, Peppa pig is not the worst by a mile!
I replied to the wrong thread, sorry for butting in this conversation that was way deeper than Peppa Pig comment 🙃
Ahh! Innocence.
This is excellent. I didn't realize until now how this scene foreshadows the OTHER moment of bloody violence later in the film.
Very true. It's interesting how the deliberate agonising slowness of everything in this film only makes this incredibly moment stand out. Certainly bold
While that’s kind of why I asked, be/ Assayas seems to be working more in English language film recently. “Summer Hours” almost seemed like he said- “I’m going to make this one EXTREMELY FRENCH movie. But that’s all you get. I’m an international filmmaker”- which is cool. That movie is so unlike his other work, (not that I’ve seen all of it), that it stands out to me.
Sounds good, I'll check it out. I remember seeing Carlos from him, that was fun
If I may be so bold; What are some of your favorite American & British movies?
I've always found it difficult to have a favourite film or films as it changes with my mood but I'll try (on top of my head)
US: To be or not to be, Apocalypse Now, Amadeus, Magnolia, Being Malkovitch, Annie Hall, The Shining
UK: Withnail and I, Trainspotting, Lawrence of Arabia, The Commitments
What do you think of Olivier Assayas? I love “Summer Hours”. I think that is one of the best movies, of any kind, that I’ve seen in the last 15-20 yrs.
I haven't seen that many films from him, I have mainly be watching UK/US films for the past decade, being out of France, I haven't been following as well as before
I don’t know that I’m that knowledgeable, (but i will accept the compliment). That is a really good question. I’ve never thought of that before.
If one is a real film buff in the States- a cinéaste (if I’m using that correctly?)- and came of age in the 80’s & 90’s, French movies were the most accessible foreign movies. And I mean that literally: I could rent French movies at the video store. And while there was usually a couple Chinese movies, maybe a Spanish movie (Almodovar was fairly well known by the late 90’s I guess); that was basically the entire “Foreign Film” Section: But there were, comparatively, a lot of French movies available. And there were old French movies like “The Wages of Fear”(La Salaire de la Peur); “Grand Illusion”, “The Rules of the Game”; and new movies “Amelie”, “Brotherhood of the Wolf”, etc… But there were also thrillers, gangster movies, war movies- the same genres I was familiar with. And liking some of those French movies led me to watch Italian movies, German movies, Russian movies, Japanese movies, and most anything else.
So I’ve always been willing to give a French movie a chance. I hope that makes sense. At least a little bit 😉
Ha! I've been to film school with French people who hadn't seen Serie Noire, so yeah I'd say you're pretty knowledgeable
It was my pleasure entirely, Remy 😉
How are you so knowledgeable about French films btw. Series noire is quite niche for instance
I find Michael Haneke’s films deeply disturbing. I couldn’t finish watching Funny Games. The “beauty” of his art is that he never shows anything truly horrific, he manages to make the viewer imagine it, which is worse in so many ways. There is nothing as terrifying as what goes on in our heads.
I agree, but I can't help but feel like he knows that a scene like this one is going to scandalise people and he enjoys it a bit. That's what I don't like if that makes sense
That’s what makes him Haneke, no? But in any case, not my cup of tea.
Yes, not exactly my cup of tea either. What kind of films do you like Ana?
So, when you do films, do you have storyboards, to help tell and 'visualize' your ideas?
On complicated scenes yes. I usually have a storyboard, but the reality of the day usually throws it out of the window.
It's quite important for action scenes and the like
Well, tell us a story, using storyboards. I want to see your mind at work. I promise, I will not throw it out! Promise...
BTW, Take your time. You haven't time to entertain me. You have a REAL LIFE you must attend to. Just @ me when you do.
Ha! You don't want to see my drawing skills lol
On the music front, I like when you do that too. Audience participation. Ha! My latest thinking music/chill mode are the Yellowjackets. Jazz baby! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQ2jiy7cTc
Yeah need to make a new thread!