Sweet suffering Jesus. What have I watched?
I realize this film has gotten some mention in the disturbing films thread, but it was only a couple mentions and, quite frankly, this film deserves something more.
For the uninitiated the film is about Klaus, a crippled Nazi doctor and chld killer. He's confined to an iron lung following a failed suicide attempt. His long suffering wife, Griselda, tries her best to tend to him, but can't manage it. She needs help. A mysterious young man, Angelo, forces himself into their lives and, against Griselda's wishes, takes on the role of nurse. With no prior experience as a nurse it soon becomes apparent that he has his own agenda.
Despite the grisly subject matter, the film is extremely light on the blood and gore. The lack of grue is easily made up for in the unflinching and voyeuristic approach the film takes. The camera lingers, often for uncomfortably long periods of time, as young boys are tortured and killed.
Thematically the film deals with the corrupting nature of violence and abuse. It posits that there is no hope for the victimized. There is no escape from the cycle. Once inducted into violence the abused have no choice other than becoming abusers themselves. It's a dark and nihilistic worldview, but fits the film perfectly and only helps with the uneasy nature of the film.
It would be easy to write if off as nothing more than exploitation if it were a crudely crafted and slip shod effort. But it's not. It has style to burn. The way director Agustin Villaroga works with shadow, light and dark is striking and, at times, beautiful.
In a Glass Cage is easily not for everyone. Melding together King's "Apt Pupil" and The Tenderness of Wolves it's definitely an uncomfortable and disturbing view. There are images you will never be able to unsee. It's a wonderfully crafted film with something more on its mind than just shock.
I realize this film has gotten some mention in the disturbing films thread, but it was only a couple mentions and, quite frankly, this film deserves something more.
For the uninitiated the film is about Klaus, a crippled Nazi doctor and chld killer. He's confined to an iron lung following a failed suicide attempt. His long suffering wife, Griselda, tries her best to tend to him, but can't manage it. She needs help. A mysterious young man, Angelo, forces himself into their lives and, against Griselda's wishes, takes on the role of nurse. With no prior experience as a nurse it soon becomes apparent that he has his own agenda.
Despite the grisly subject matter, the film is extremely light on the blood and gore. The lack of grue is easily made up for in the unflinching and voyeuristic approach the film takes. The camera lingers, often for uncomfortably long periods of time, as young boys are tortured and killed.
Thematically the film deals with the corrupting nature of violence and abuse. It posits that there is no hope for the victimized. There is no escape from the cycle. Once inducted into violence the abused have no choice other than becoming abusers themselves. It's a dark and nihilistic worldview, but fits the film perfectly and only helps with the uneasy nature of the film.
It would be easy to write if off as nothing more than exploitation if it were a crudely crafted and slip shod effort. But it's not. It has style to burn. The way director Agustin Villaroga works with shadow, light and dark is striking and, at times, beautiful.
In a Glass Cage is easily not for everyone. Melding together King's "Apt Pupil" and The Tenderness of Wolves it's definitely an uncomfortable and disturbing view. There are images you will never be able to unsee. It's a wonderfully crafted film with something more on its mind than just shock.
