Hidden / Caché withTrailer (2005)

Right, where do I start off. This film you will either love or hate. As with most films directed by Michael Haneke you'll either adore his films or think that they are just a waste of time. I still haven't made up my mind on him just yet but I did find this film fascinating.

We start off with video footage being played by a family who receives it by an unknown sender with no clue as to what they are after. The video is a static shot of the front of their house. We watch it as the main leads watch (we only find out the first scene is actually the video the main leads are watching when the footage starts to be rewound). It's all very intriguing and interesting.

What we have is more of a character study on the affects of being watched/stalked and the feeling of unease and the violation of being spied upon. As we continue with the family's distress, little information is revealed slowly and progressively and we find out that Georges Laurent (Daniel Auteuil) is hiding a secret from his past that he does not want to disclose.

This isn't your usual thriller, I'm not sure you could even call it that but there is a moment of shock within the film whether you see it coming or not but it's too slow and languid for it to be an exciting and dramatic picture. There are plenty of long and deliberate shots which slows the pace of the film to a crawl. The acting by both leads Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche are outstanding as they portray a family trying to come to terms with their terrorising ordeal very effectively. Though there is no real threat and nobody really is in danger apart from the feeling and dread that someone is watching them.

It's more of the way Georges tries to deal with his past that causes the main problems between him and his wife not the videotapes. He begins to lie (he even lies to his own mother when she clearly knows something is troubling him) and conceals his actions when he tries to confront who he believes to be the antagonist . Further strain is placed upon their relationship when Anne (Juliette Binoche) is sent a videotape of her husband being caught threatening the suspected tormentor. When he decides to confess his past to his wife it's all too late, by that point she begins to distrust him. Unfortunately, Georges is not the only one with a secret to hide. Anne Laurent appears to be having an affair (or that is what is implied) and even the son has a secret he's hiding.....

I know for a fact this will not be everyones' taste. Its very slow and can be inconsequential, but no scene is really that inconsequential. You begin to wonder is there any point or purpose to this. What starts out to seem like your normal stalk and chase thriller ends up with something a little bit more refined and a little obscure and obtuse in it's general approach. Its open to interpretation what the real agenda is? Is it about race, jealously or is it about the lengths we are willing to go to, to hide our guilty secrets. There are many layers to this film which some viewers maybe are not willing to persevere with or to mull over. Some people may be annoyed about it's lack of resolution but keep watching and pay attention. We are offered something in terms of an ending (if you can spot it) but what you make of it, is up to you.

14/20