re:mote voices

Title: The Time Of The Wolf [Le Temps Du Loup]
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Béatrice Dalle, Patrice Chéreau, Rona Hartner, Maurice Bénichou, Olivier Gourmet, Brigitte Roüan, Lucas Biscombe
Director: Michael Haneke

Michael Haneke despite being german born makes another film in france, apparently that is because regardless of the fact that he seems to have had some sucess it remains difficult to get the backing to make more films, with the result that the french arts seem to be his best option. with the time of the wolf he is perhaps back in the same kind of territory as funny games, though there has been talk of the themes of code unknown and his ideas on poverty and refugees. which to a degree is the case, but to say that the time of the wolf entirely captures that kind of idea would be an over simplification, especially when there is a certain level of dramatization. one which was less present in code unknown, which was ironically a considerably less satisfying film.

the title of the film refers to a legend about a wolf which will eat the sun, causing the end of the world. while there is no actual reference to this within the context of the film, the film does set up a narrative that is very post-apocalyptic, in an undefined fashion. part of the strength of the time of the wolf is the feeling that we really don't know what is happening - without knowing what the problem is we can't dismiss it, without knowledge we can't propose quick fixes. the disaster just is, and the characters have to cope with that fact.

a family pull outside their weekend cottage in the country, the car packed full of supplies. at this point everything seems normal. but as they come into the house they are confronted by another family who have broken in. from there they are forced to flee, and we quickly become aware that this is not normal. night seems to last, villages seem abandoned and fog bound, people that used to be friends repel them from their properties. the field is filled with a pyre for burning cows.

from here on it is a struggle to survive. random acts of violence. stray bodies. other "survivors". all dotted about until they reach a train station, where they are promised that one day a train might come, and if the train stops then they will all be ok.

the time of the wolf is a bleak film, oppressively atmospheric. while it does not remain night all the time, which i found odd given the title's origin, day light brings little relief. city folk are suddenly living day to day, barely enough clothes to keep them warm, lucky if they have a roof to sleep under and having to get used to a new economy of trade or die. those familiar with Haneke's funny games should be somewhat prepared for his approach to casual violence and the real impact he can give that. but with the time of the wolf it takes on a darker tone, and in the end this film will leave a more lasting impression.

while there is no mention of the legend the name of the film came from there were a couple of references to other things. a couple of people mention the concept of the just - breathless tones, describing people who are incredibly important and influential, the suggestion that there are only ever 36 just, and that if even one of them were to die disaster would occur. this would seem to create a subtext as to the disaster which has caused the circumstances which the film is set against. another curious idea was of the brothers of fire - men who were sacrificing themselves in flame to save the world - each sacrifice repairing a degree of damage. the idea of the just and the numberic significance of 36 reminded me of foucault's pendulum - there must have been some parallel in there - but then there must be parallels between everything and foucault's pendulum given how dense it was in conspiracy and mystic organisation.


one of the things that i find particularly striking about Haneke's work is the way he abandons certain conventions. most noticeably sound track - the titles at the start and end of the film go up in silence and the only music featured through the film is the incidental of someone listening to a tape. this was the same in funny games as well, though i can't recall with code unknown. the lack of accompanying sound gives an extra starkness to events, gives them a gravity that a comodified sound track would not.

cast wise the time of the wolf stars two of france's most well known actresses - isabelle huppert (8 women, the piano teacher (also by haneke), amateur, the bedroom window, etc) and beatrice dalle (17 fois cecile cassard, trouble every day, clubbed to death, betty blue, etc). florence loiret also features, who i recently mentioned here for her parts in olga's chignon and vendredi soir - though she doesn't really have a big part here. but it is really anais demoustier who steals the film, apparently the first film for this young actress, who plays the part of huppert's daughter, and is our witness to the layers of horror from the start.

for me, of the three films by haneke i've seen to date, the time of the wolf is his most striking and memorable. achieving a depth of disturbing moods and effective in that it leaves such a lasting impression