REVANCHE (2008) ¢ ¢ ¢ 1/2
D: Götz Spielmann
Johannes Krisch, Irina Potapenko,
Andreas Lust, Ursula Strauss
An Oscar-nominated movie from Austria, about a handful of characters whose lives intersect in the aftermath of a small-town bank robbery. There's the thief, an ex-con working as a janitor in a Viennese brothel. His girlfriend, a hooker from the Ukraine. A cop they encounter by accident during the getaway. The cop's emotionally frustrated wife. And the thief's aging grandfather. The story plays out at its own pace, mostly in long takes with a stationary camera. It's a celebration of stillness, a thoughtful and somewhat somber reflection on guilt and loss. Viewers with short attention spans should probably stay away.
