Posted in: Musicouching by Ricrob on August 9th, 2009 | 0 Comments
Thought-provoking Scandinavian filmmaker Lars Von Trier does not make films to please his audiences. Instead he shows us, what he believes to be, accurate representations of life’s untold truths…most of which are based on human relationships. As most critics have chosen to focus on the film’s explicit scenes and condemned them I, Richard Robinson, present my interpretation.
Lars Von Trier has always been interested in the more animalistic side of human behaviour and the stark reality of the evil which often lurks in something (or someone) which (who) appears innocent. In that sense, Antichrist has to be considered his masterpiece. Here he tells the tale of the deeply troubled relationship between married couple Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Defoe which is now on the brink of collapse due to the death of their young son. Therapist Defoe decides that they should take a break from their normal life and head to the woods in search of answers to their problems and confront their fears head on.
Lars Von Trier in the sunshine. Image via Wikipedia
It is possible that at some point during Von Trier’s life he was hurt badly by a woman. This would certainly explain much of the narrative’s slant. I’m sure you have already heard about some of the graphic scenes which this film possesses but they do not occur out of the blue. In fact, they serve to illustrate what one may suspect while watching, given the tone, tempo and environment in which key moments occur. Antichrist is a warning to all of us to spot the signs in our relationships, those little situations and problems which we brush off as we continue to hope for the best. A strong stomach is required but there are warnings within the film of what is to come. Like the characters on screen, the audience is in a position where we have chosen to be a part of something which we actually already know may be hazardous to our own health. The journeys of the viewer and the characters therefore run parallel to each other and to the same place, as though we too are a part of the story. That is the most powerful element of this film….it relates to the majority of us.
Charlotte Gainsbourg during the Air concert in Melkweg, Amsterdam (March 27th, 2007) Image via Wikipedia
In short, relationships, marriages and so on are a minefield. We know this before we even become part of one as we watch our parents or elder siblings go through the mill, so to speak, and show signs, sometimes unintentionally, of the strain they are under due to having chosen a partner who, for whatever reason, isn’t exactly the person they considered them to be. Not a great advertisement for love or marriage, this is quite the opposite. Be warned, it is graphic and strictly for adults (read the warning on the poster). More importantly though, the director/writer’s points are clearly made and, once one gets over the visual and starts to focus on the narrative itself, it will be up to the audience to decide whether they agree or not. Brave, and admittedly controversial, but justifiable. 6.5/10
