Revanche (2008)

The bustling sounds of Vienna are soon drowned out by the lonely buzzing of streetlights, whose glow casts an uncanny warmth that wraps around figures coming and going into the night. “Another day, come and gone already,” a local prostitute mutters beneath their breath as they exhale a stream of smoke, whose wisps chase after passing cars of would-be clients. “Just a few more months, that’s all”. The screeching of brakes and illumination of red tail lights, the lone worker stamps out their cigarette and approaches the car. “Just a few more months, a few more months…”

 

In the words of Arthur Schopenhauer, hatred is an affair of the heart; contempt that of the head. These words not only ring true, but they become immersed in the dark murky waters of Götz Spielmann’s 2008 Austrian thriller, Revanche. With steady unflinching imagery and a minimal yet pensive soundscape, Revanche captures a unique and bittersweet take on the timeless act of revenge, while posing an alternative solution to the darker impulses of the heart.

 

Grief, shame, regret - all familiar yet almost indistinguishable when experienced in tandem. Through mundanity, we are exposed to the parts of ourselves that we hide away from in the hustle and bustle of day to day living; yet, it also provides the greatest opportunity for growth. Whether one is seeking justice, forgiveness, acceptance, or perhaps even redemption, Revanche posits that it is important to recognize that all of these wants are not the end-all be-all solutions to the grief we experience throughout life, but rather the byproducts of inner work and self discovery.

 

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