RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 25, 2009, Featured Articles, Film
"Revanche" is a slow-paced drama worth the patience
Revenge is a dish best served cold. While the merits of that proverb have been debated ad nauseam, there is nothing cold about the devastatingly tragic tale depicted with raw emotion and brutal honesty in the 2008-released Austrian film, "Revanche."
Revenge is a dish best served cold. While the merits of that proverb have been debated ad nauseam, there is nothing cold about the devastatingly tragic tale depicted with raw emotion and brutal honesty in the 2008-released Austrian film, Revanche.
Alex (Johannes Krisch) is an ex-con who jeopardizes his life and brothel job daily by sharing a secret romance with an attractive Ukaranian prostitute, Tamara (Irina Potapenko). She is tired of the degradation and the debt that keeps her trapped there. With debts of his own, Alex creates what he believes is a fool proof plan to rob a bank and then flee to Spain with Tamara.
Robert (Andreas Lust) is an overly serious cop burdened by the stress of not being able to have a child with his kindhearted wife, Susanne (Ursula Strauss). His mental state collapses after stumbling upon Alex's robbery and accidentally killing Tamara. Devastated, Alex hides in the countryside by living with his Grandfather Hausner (Johannes Thanheiser), who regards him as a scoundrel.
As it turns out, Hausner is a neighbor to Robert and Susanne. The latter often visits the ailing Hausner, which leads to an encounter with Alex. Already guilt-ridden, Alex fumes with hatred towards the man who killed the love of his life and begins contemplating his act of revenge.
Spoken in German and Russian with English subtitles, Revanche was Austria's official submission in the Foreign Language Film category at the 2009 Academy Awards. It was a well-deserved honor for Austrian director/screenwriter Götz Spielmann who weaves a complex tragedy with Shakespearean mastery. Spielmann's pacing is slow like molasses at times, which means you have to be patient. Additionally, his decisions to have the camera linger on a shot long after the characters have disappeared off screen are maddening as they hinder more than help the story's progress.
While the four principal cast members of Revanche deliver solid, respectable performances, none of them transcends the screen to the point that you are left with a long lasting impression, as say was done by Abbie Cornish in Bright Star.
Revanche is a tragedy, but ultimately with a slight twist. The tragedy for you would be to not see it. If that's the case, then I hope your next dish is served cold to you by a rude waiter.
On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, Revanche receives a B.
Revanche is rated R and has a running time of 121 minutes.
Now showing through November 26 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for showtimes.
Indie Film Editor
Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.
In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.
Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.
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KC Events this week and beyond
Looking for something to do this weekend? Click here for the KC Events calendar of theatre, classical music, dance and jazz events through 2011. Highlights of this week's classical music and dance offerings are in Don Dagenais' "City Classics." For current Theatre listings visit Victor Wishna's "City Stage." Enjoy!
KC Events this week and beyond
LOTS of theatre featured this week: “Christmas in Song,” “A Taffeta Christmas,” “A Christmas Story. The Musical!,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “The Time of Your Life.” Music offerings included student recitals at UMKC and that grandfather of all Holidays programs – Handel’s “Messiah” with the Kansas City Symphony and Chorus and the Independence Messiah Chorus at Community of Christ Temple. Check it out and the many upcoming concerts over the next few weeks.
Giving thanks for small blessings
In the Coterie Theatre's new production of "Little House on the Prairie," big questions are asked.
"The Wise Women" cometh
The Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City is reprising Conrad Susa’s contemporary holiday opera "The Wise Women." The opera tells the story of the Christ child’s birth and the travels of the Three Wise Men, but from the perspective of important women in their lives.
My heart finds Christmas
"This show is about light," says director J. Kent Barnhart. "And about Christmas, about all of the different meanings it has for each one of us."
Christmas is "On the Air" at AHT
Christmas lights and garland decorate the American Heartland Theatre lobby, leaving no doubt of the impending Holidays despite the warm November evening.
Taffeta for the Holidays
The Chestnut Fine Arts Center is presenting "A Taffeta Christmas." a musical revue that features Christmas songs and golden oldies.
Flog the dog
The 1997 Barry Levinson film "Wag the Dog" took the idea that politics is 1% decision-making and 99% show biz, and turned it into a satire of Shavian, if not Shakespearean, proportions. In Beau Willimon's savage comedy "Farragut North," the spin-doctor gets spun--it is a case of the dog getting flogged.
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