It’s that feeling that makes you squirm in your seats that Haneke is searching for in each of his films—but why?
Micheal Haneke is one of the most unsettling directors out there. His films, which are notoriously uncomfortable to watch, deal with difficult topics through a unique visual style that leaves the audience breathless and riddled with anxiety.
What makes these films beautiful and unsettling isn’t achieved by the normal tricks. Instead, Spikima Movies found that Haneke’s use of long takes, static shots, in medias res, and use of genre conventions create films that are memorable despite the discomfort the audience feels while watching.
Let’s break down these elements that make a Haneke film a Haneke film.
Long takes
A long take can make a scene feel inescapable, forcing the audience to see through the perspective of the subject on screen. It’s forced observation, telling the audience what they are and are not allowed to look at. It’s torture through limited viewing.
Author: Alyssa Miller
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
