Looking outside the Frame: what Errol Morris and Michael Haneke might have in common

What do Michael Haneke’s Funny Games and Errol Morris’ Standard Operating Procedure have in common? Both films pose the same question and perform the same exercise.

First they situate the viewer, remove the viewer and then they challenege the viewer to think outside the box or frame. In an era where society is too quick to condemn, where fact-checking is second to the rapidity of facts, news, and the truth, Morris’ Berlin Film Festival submitted doc (which I am anxiously awaiting) appears to look at many sides of the same coin.

I’ve done the exercise before – taken old photographs from my grandparent’s shoe box and tried imagining the context of the picture – of course none of them contained naked civilians, menacing guard dogs, and military brats. Sony Pictures Classics are getting ready to promote the release Morris’ cross examination of the infamous Abu Ghraib pictures – asking the questions that not too many bothered asking. With a one sheet coming to us any time soon…in the mean time we have the trailer in various formats.

QUICKTIME
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/SOP_300.mov
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/SOP_56.mov

WINDOWS
MEDIA
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/sop_high.asx
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/sop_low.asx

REAL
PLAYER
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/sop_high.ram
www.sonyclassics.com/syndication/trailers/sop/sop_low.ram