Revanche (2008)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Götz Spielmann

Writer:

Götz Spielmann (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 2008 (Austria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Whose fault is it if life doesn't go your way? [US release]

Plot:

Ex-con Alex plans to flee to the South with his girl after a robbery. But something terrible happens and revenge seems inevitable.

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Farm | Bank | Policeman | Shooting Range

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Johannes Krisch	...	Alex
Irina Potapenko	...	Tamara
Andreas Lust	...	Robert
Ursula Strauss	...	Susanne
Johannes Thanheiser	...	Grandfather Hausner (as Hannes Thanheiser)
Hanno Pöschl	...	Konecny - Tamara's Boss
Magdalena Kropiunig	...	Prostitute in Hotel
Toni Slama	...	Tamara's Customer
Elisabetha Pejcinoska	...	Cinderella Prostitute #1
Aniko Bärkanyi	...	Cinderella Prostitute #2
Annamaria Haytö	...	Cinderella Prostitute #3
Nicoletta Prokes	...	Cinderella Prostitute #4
Rainer Gradischnig	...	Harry - Man Beating Tamara
Haris Bilajbegovic	...	Man stopping Harry
Aleksander Reljic-Bohigas	...	Owner of Cinderella

Runtime:

121 min | Austria:117 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Austria

Language:

German | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:15 | Hong Kong:III (Hong Kong International Film Festival)

Filming Locations:

Vienna, Austria

Company:

Prisma Film

Trivia:

Austria's 2009 Academy Awards official submission to Foreign-Language Film category.

A fantastic portrayal of different worlds that should be seen by all

I saw Revanche last night at the Sydney film festival and aside from the out of focus image and at one point the movie reel stopping mid-film it was an amazing experience.

Eastern Europe is captured so beautifully. A seemingly quiet and simple countryside (reminiscent of 'blue velvets' suburbia) is contrasted amazingly to the usual city stereotype of brothels, human trafficking and crime.

The director (Gotz Spielman) lingers on certain images that at first, seem to be just for aesthetic purposes but as the film continues; the alleyways, the park benches etc are all extremely significant to the main character (Johannes Kirsch) journey.

The centerpiece in this film though, is definitely the characters. The main character Alex (Johannes Kirsch) is commanding in the lead. Although he is incredibly unlikeable, you cant look away and eventually begin to sympathize with him. By the end of the film you see an amazing evolution.

The wife, the prostitute and the grandfather all are amazing as well. The wife (andreas lust) has some brilliant dialogue in particular and she is just so interesting. I found her to be very real with flaws and temptations that we can all relate to (even if we wont admit it).

There was some action. There was some comedy. The ending was SENSATIONAL. I didn't know which direction it was being taken and became a little impatient but as the screen went black (intentionally, not reel fault) I was incredibly satisfied.

See this movie. It was great.