Michael is a 2011 Austrian drama film directed by Markus Schleinzer[1] which resembles the famous Natascha Kampusch case from the offender's viewpoint.[2] It premiered In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.[3] It is Schleinzer's directorial debut.[4]
Michael
Film poster
Directed by
Markus Schleinzer
Written by
Markus Schleinzer
Produced by
Nikolaus Geyrhalter Markus Glaser Wolfgang Widerhofer
The film's title character is an insurance broker who lives a quiet, unassuming existence — and who secretly keeps a 10-year-old boy called Wolfgang in his soundproof basement. He sexually abuses the boy, but they otherwise have something of a father–son relationship. In the evenings, after Michael locks the door and closes the blinds, Wolfgang is allowed into the living room for dinner and to watch TV. When in hospital after an accident, Michael is in a hurry to be released and return to Wolfgang. When Wolfgang gets sick Michael digs a grave in the woods, in case Wolfgang dies. However, he recovers. The boy writes a letter to his parents, to be mailed by Michael, but Michael does not send it and lies to Wolfgang, saying his parents do not want him back.
Sometimes he takes the boy on a pleasure trip outside the town, where people do not know Michael. On one occasion he goes on a skiing trip with friends for multiple days, leaving extra food for Wolfgang, who has water, a toilet, simple cooking facilities and a TV in his room.
Seeing that Wolfgang is lonely, Michael promises to bring another child for company. Together they assemble a bunk bed in advance. Michael attempts to abduct another boy by luring him away, but the boy is called back by his father, who scolds him for walking off with a stranger. Michael tells Wolfgang that he did not succeed in providing him a friend. One day Wolfgang throws boiling water into Michael's face, nearly blinding him, but does not succeed in escaping. Due to the burns inflicted upon him in the attack, Michael takes his car and attempts to seek medical attention but dies in an accident. After the funeral Michael's mother is about to discover the boy when the film ends.
The film contains a scene in which Michael exposes his penis to Wolfgang. Schleinzer used an invisible split screen to ensure Rauchenberger did not have to participate in the scene.
Receptionedit
The film was met with mixed critic ratings at the Cannes Film Festival.[5] While Indiewire's Eric Kohn called the film "a triumph of uneasy cinema: Not since Todd Solondz's Happiness has a movie portrayed pedophilia in such uncomfortable detail",[6]Esquire's Mike D'Angelotweeted "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE IN AUSTRIA. SERIOUSLY.[7][8] Once again, very well made in the approved festival style, but I understand now exactly how detractors of Funny Games felt".[9] In Télérama, Aurélien Ferenczi wrote: "a (apparent) objectivity, the refusal of emotion, a willingness to show horror as something ordinary. We can admire the mastery, praise the coherence of the subject, or find that this mannerism is almost dated".[10]
Referencesedit
^Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 68. ISBN978-1908215017.
^"Newly released film depicts life as a pedophile". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
^. Cannes. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
michael, 2011, austrian, film, michael, 2011, austrian, drama, film, directed, markus, schleinzer, which, resembles, famous, natascha, kampusch, case, from, offender, viewpoint, premiered, competition, 2011, cannes, film, festival, schleinzer, directorial, deb. Michael is a 2011 Austrian drama film directed by Markus Schleinzer 1 which resembles the famous Natascha Kampusch case from the offender s viewpoint 2 It premiered In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival 3 It is Schleinzer s directorial debut 4 MichaelFilm posterDirected byMarkus SchleinzerWritten byMarkus SchleinzerProduced byNikolaus GeyrhalterMarkus GlaserWolfgang WiderhoferStarringMichael Fuith de CinematographyGerald KerkletzEdited byWolfgang WiderhoferMusic byLorenz DangelRelease dates14 May 2011 2011 05 14 Cannes 2 September 2011 2011 09 02 Austria Running time94 minutesCountryAustriaLanguageGerman Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksPlot editThe film s title character is an insurance broker who lives a quiet unassuming existence and who secretly keeps a 10 year old boy called Wolfgang in his soundproof basement He sexually abuses the boy but they otherwise have something of a father son relationship In the evenings after Michael locks the door and closes the blinds Wolfgang is allowed into the living room for dinner and to watch TV When in hospital after an accident Michael is in a hurry to be released and return to Wolfgang When Wolfgang gets sick Michael digs a grave in the woods in case Wolfgang dies However he recovers The boy writes a letter to his parents to be mailed by Michael but Michael does not send it and lies to Wolfgang saying his parents do not want him back Sometimes he takes the boy on a pleasure trip outside the town where people do not know Michael On one occasion he goes on a skiing trip with friends for multiple days leaving extra food for Wolfgang who has water a toilet simple cooking facilities and a TV in his room Seeing that Wolfgang is lonely Michael promises to bring another child for company Together they assemble a bunk bed in advance Michael attempts to abduct another boy by luring him away but the boy is called back by his father who scolds him for walking off with a stranger Michael tells Wolfgang that he did not succeed in providing him a friend One day Wolfgang throws boiling water into Michael s face nearly blinding him but does not succeed in escaping Due to the burns inflicted upon him in the attack Michael takes his car and attempts to seek medical attention but dies in an accident After the funeral Michael s mother is about to discover the boy when the film ends Cast editMichael Fuith de as Michael David Rauchenberger as Wolfgang Christine Kain as Mother Ursula Strauss as Sister Victor Tremmel as Brother in lawProduction editThe film contains a scene in which Michael exposes his penis to Wolfgang Schleinzer used an invisible split screen to ensure Rauchenberger did not have to participate in the scene Reception editThe film was met with mixed critic ratings at the Cannes Film Festival 5 While Indiewire s Eric Kohn called the film a triumph of uneasy cinema Not since Todd Solondz s Happiness has a movie portrayed pedophilia in such uncomfortable detail 6 Esquire s Mike D Angelo tweeted WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE IN AUSTRIA SERIOUSLY 7 8 Once again very well made in the approved festival style but I understand now exactly how detractors of Funny Games felt 9 In Telerama Aurelien Ferenczi wrote a apparent objectivity the refusal of emotion a willingness to show horror as something ordinary We can admire the mastery praise the coherence of the subject or find that this mannerism is almost dated 10 References edit Smith Ian Hayden 2012 International Film Guide 2012 p 68 ISBN 978 1908215017 Newly released film depicts life as a pedophile Deutsche Welle Retrieved 3 June 2016 Festival de Cannes Official Selection Cannes Archived from the original on 15 May 2011 Retrieved 15 April 2011 Bradshaw Peter 1 March 2012 Michael review The Guardian Retrieved 24 October 2015 OtrosCines Archived from the original on 18 May 2011 Retrieved 15 May 2011 Eric Kohn Indiewire Kohn Archived from the original on 18 May 2011 Retrieved 15 May 2011 Mike D Angelo Twitter Twitter Retrieved 10 March 2012 Clarke Donald 24 February 2012 Absolutely no excuse Irish Times Dublin Ireland Irish Times Trust Retrieved 10 March 2012 gemko Mike D Angelo Twitter Gemko Retrieved 15 May 2011 Un film doit il etre un systeme Ferenczi 11 October 2011 Retrieved 13 August 2019 External links editMichael at IMDb nbsp Michael at Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael 2011 Austrian film amp oldid 1212992642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
