2011 Cannes Critics’ Panel: Day 4 – Markus Schleinzer’s Michael

About half of our critics managed to see the unique screening for Michael earlier today — it was given less screenings perhaps because it is the other film in this year’s Main Competition from a newbie filmmaker. While Julia Leigh comes from a book author background, this import from Austria comes from a veteran casting director. Info was mum on the film beforehand, and there was a reason for it.

Most would agree that Markus Schleinzer’s debut will divide critics, probably infuriate the public and most likely, every single review you read will mention he was an understudy to the great Michael Haneke (which he cast several films for). The film is filled with malaise, Michael Fuith plays the lead character with such aplomb that each time life doesn’t go according to his plan, you secretly cheer. Most troubling nature of the film is the normality and the execution of an indoctrination and while Todd Solondz’ Happiness is still the champ in this subject’s sphere, the imprisonment and the long takes that plunge the viewer into the child psychology aspects should creep everyone out. Here’s how the critics felt.