Événement

MICHAEL, Drama/Thriller, NR, Austria, 96 mins, in German with English Subtitles

FESTIVAL DE CANNES - Official Selection, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - 2011 Official Selection

"Schleinzer could hardly have chosen a more difficult subject, but he treats it with an unnerving simplicity, shorn of sensationalism or obvious moral cues." - Robbie Collin, The Daily Telegraph

"It is quite hard to describe as enjoyable, but it is an exceptionally interesting and well-made piece of work".-Conor O'Nolan, The University Observer

Markus Schleinzer's "Michael" is a triumph of uneasy cinema: Not since Todd Solondz's "Happiness" has a movie portrayed pedophilia in such uncomfortable detail. With an unorthodox level of restraint, the Austrian director tells the story of Michael (Michael Fuith), a seemingly meek insurance agent who has a secret: he's holding 10-year-old Wolfgang (David Rauchenberger) captive in a locked room in his basement.

Chronicling a five month period, director Markus Schleinzer reveals a tense portrait of how seemingly mundane lives can hide the darkest secrets. MICHAEL is a masterfully executed study of a monster with rich cinematic detail and unnerving insight. Despite its subversive edge, "Michael" successfully drains the shock out of a frightening premise and instead delivers a keen observational thriller