re:mote voices

Title: Caché [Hidden]
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou, Annie Girardot
Director: Michael Haneke

A videocassette turning up on Georges and Anne’s door step starts the threatening process at work in the French film Cache (Hidden). Someone is watching them, and as more tapes and post cards arrive it becomes clear that this is something more than just a mad fan of Georges’s television show. Rather it would seem to be something to do with his past, an event he would prefer remained hidden from his wife.

Hidden is the latest film from Austrian director Michael Haneke. As always he is a difficult bastard. This is the fourth film I have seen by Haneke, other then the earliest all being filmed and funded by the French. The difficulty with Haneke comes from his tendency to be controversial, as well as just his whole approach to film making.

Funny Games was an in your face shocker, Code Unknown was dull, while Time of the Wolf was an interesting exploration of apocalypse. Hidden is probably most like Code Unknown out of those, how people clash against each other with undertones of racism.

The most interesting thing about Hidden is the use of videotape. The way that it integrates into the film, so that the viewer starts to question whether each scene is real of something that the characters are watching on tape. However, for the most part, Hidden is a slow film, where not much happens. Despite which it seems to have sparked wild speculation, many trying to fathom the motives behind events that occur here. Though most of the resulting ideas have little to back them up.

Cast wise we have Daniel Autiel and Juliette Binoche as the quintessential French couple. To a degree this is particularly safe casting, both reliable enough to give at least average performances, especially presented with such clichéd characters to work with.

Hidden is not the worst film I have seen by Haneke. But it certainly isn’t the best.