Cache - European mystery/thriller
This film made me mad. Really mad. Mad enough to do a lot of research, and then to completely change my mind. Here’s the deal with Cache–
I will not spoil it by getting too detailed, but basically the plot follows a couple, played very well by Juliette Binoche and Daniel Auteuil. They are being watched by someone who videotapes their home, leaves the videos and weird scary drawings for them to find, and basically starts to really freak them out. Auteuil’s character, George, starts to remember things that he wishes he could keep hidden from himself, and the tension mounts…
My first thought was that David Lynch already did this film, but I suppose that is not a fair assessment. I have spoken to many who really liked the film, and it has won several awards in Europe: Cannes Best Director, European Film Awards Best Actor, Director, Editor and Best Film.
What bothered me about the film, and perhaps closed me off from really getting into it was the fact that an animal is killed during the course of the story, on-screen. I have always felt that animal abuse has no place in art and film, especially since it can be faked. We don’t actually shoot people in a western, so why should we hurt animals? (who didn’t sign up for this)
Well, as far as I can tell from my research and speaking with others who saw the film, the scene with the animal was faked and is a special effect, and is used on purpose to provoke your anger as a metaphor for the apathy and violence towards ethnic minorities. As soon as I found that out, I was and am no longer mad at Cache. I think I have also learned to keep an open mind until I have all the facts. (How many times have I learned that one?) And without slamming people with my own beliefs about respecting our fellow creatures on Earth, here is some info about animals and filmmaking, for those who are interested:
www.americanhumane.org
We are looking forward to playing Cache sometime soon, and you shall have your own opportunity to see if you agree with those who have been intrigued by the film’s mystery and elevated psychological tension.
I will not spoil it by getting too detailed, but basically the plot follows a couple, played very well by Juliette Binoche and Daniel Auteuil. They are being watched by someone who videotapes their home, leaves the videos and weird scary drawings for them to find, and basically starts to really freak them out. Auteuil’s character, George, starts to remember things that he wishes he could keep hidden from himself, and the tension mounts…
My first thought was that David Lynch already did this film, but I suppose that is not a fair assessment. I have spoken to many who really liked the film, and it has won several awards in Europe: Cannes Best Director, European Film Awards Best Actor, Director, Editor and Best Film.
What bothered me about the film, and perhaps closed me off from really getting into it was the fact that an animal is killed during the course of the story, on-screen. I have always felt that animal abuse has no place in art and film, especially since it can be faked. We don’t actually shoot people in a western, so why should we hurt animals? (who didn’t sign up for this)
Well, as far as I can tell from my research and speaking with others who saw the film, the scene with the animal was faked and is a special effect, and is used on purpose to provoke your anger as a metaphor for the apathy and violence towards ethnic minorities. As soon as I found that out, I was and am no longer mad at Cache. I think I have also learned to keep an open mind until I have all the facts. (How many times have I learned that one?) And without slamming people with my own beliefs about respecting our fellow creatures on Earth, here is some info about animals and filmmaking, for those who are interested:
www.americanhumane.org
We are looking forward to playing Cache sometime soon, and you shall have your own opportunity to see if you agree with those who have been intrigued by the film’s mystery and elevated psychological tension.
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