Some thoughts on the documentary
The documentary opens with Michael discussing Amour and he re-enacts Georges's dream from Amour after which we see the cast filming the dream scene. The documentary then focuses on Haneke, who, as might be expected, proves to be an awkward bugger to interview; he will not interpret himself in the light of his films, or interpret his films. This is the Haneke I expected, respect and like. Much of this awkward beginning is accompanied by a twinkle in Haneke's eye and he wears a wry grin throughout various points of the film. It's quite clear he is a heavyweight intellectual who is chilly and austere when in intellectual mode contrasted with the vigour and wit when in director mode. Having seen this I would love to see a film on the documentary maker, Yves Montmayer (?) making the documentary with his thoughts on the process of filming the documentary!
The documentary works backwards through Haneke's filmography starting with Amour and ending at The 7th Continent. There's lots of interesting footage on the sets of various films which serve to show Haneke as a hard and exacting task master but also as someone with a good sense of fun whose enthusiasm for the task is limitless. It came as no surprise to learn that Haneke had first wanted to be an actor because he is so involved, some might say 'hands on', others controlling, when running the actors through their scenes.
The brief interviews with the actors that Haneke has worked with were interesting; as much about them as him. Huppert (what a beautiful face that woman has!) shares the same language as Haneke in that they understand one another intuitively. Haneke admires Huppert's power of concentration. Binoche wishes there was more hope and light in his work, which suggested she's not entirely comfortable with his films despite featuring in two. Dalle loves Haneke unreservedly, in a very Dalle way! Trintignant says that when filming the actors and crew are tense whilst Michael has fun!
Haneke makes lots of interesting remarks about his film and the filming/directing process. He compares the couple in Amour, which he says is his most personal film to date, with the couple in The 7th Continent; the latter are leading unliveable lives which is why they die. In Amour the couple have led very liveable lives that they are forced to give up through illness. I found this distinction interesting because Amour is the more relatable and sympathetic film for the viewer. Haneke says he doesn't wish to make things easy for his viewers because he likes and respects them. There's a lot more I would like to write but I don't want to spoil too much of the documentary for those who might read having yet to see it themselves.
A colleague of Haneke's quotes Lenin who said trust is good, control is better and says that he quotes this remark to others as having been said by Haneke as trust is good, verification is better! Haneke enjoys this. I enjoyed watching Haneke. He is interesting to listen to and has a nice voice with the sort of tone that I find reassuring. There's a precision and definiteness to what he says. He has a wonderful face too. Age has brought white hair and beard so that some of the heavy austerity has been removed but his eyes betray his feelings whether austere or playful.
In short: 9/10 from me.
Away with the manners of withered virginsshare