Comments on: MIFF 2009 reviews – 35 Shots of Rum (2008), The White Ribbon (2009), Shadow Play (2009)

By: Paul Martin

Paul Martin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:36:02 +0000

The White Ribbon is all about the journey, not the destination. It's a whodunnit where whodunnit isn't important. The culture of the time is what's on show, how people relate and react to the violence around them. I found it thoroughly engrossing and having just returned from my last film at MIFF, I can confidently say it was my festival favourite.

By: Thomas Caldwell

Thomas Caldwell — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:56:40 +0000

Hi Claire. I don't think you are shallow at all. In fact, I suspect that your response is exactly what Haneke intended. He often likes to undermine audience expectations in order to comment on how we have become accustomed to certain cinematic norms such as the cause and effect relationship, and closed resolutions. Caché concluded in a similar way to The White Ribbon and both the Funny Games films are exercises in frustrating the audience. I think Haneke is a great filmmaker but his films can become very academic and demand a level of intellectual engagement that you really have to be in the right mood for. The White Ribbon is tricky because for the most part it is so engaging and fascinating but you are then expected to get all analytical and detached right at the end!

By: claire

claire — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:29:32 +0000

Saw The White Ribbon on Tuesday night and was completely engrossed in it until the non-ending. Call me shallow but I wanted some catharsis (or at least an ending that wasn't so freaking abrupt), dammit!