Michael H. Profession: Director DVD Review

Director: Yves Montmayeur

Starring: Michael Haneke, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert, Beatrice Dalle, Susanne Lothar, Emmanuelle Riva, Jean-Louis Trintignant,,

Running Time: 92 Minutes

Certificate: 18

Michael Haneke, you either love him or hate him. In fact, some people downright despise him, well his films at least, as Haneke is a directors that constantly challenges the audience and forces them to confront their greatest fears. MICHAEL H. – PROFESSION DIRECTOR is an in-depth portrait of the German director responsible for such cinematic classics as FUNNY GAMES, THE WHITE RIBBON, CACHE, and AMOUR.

The film is playfully structured, running from Haneke’s most recent project (AMOUR) and working its way backwards through his filmography. In many ways it shows Haneke’s evolution in reverse, but it’s an incredible watch as the film starts with Haneke stating that he doesn’t like to discuss his films too much, but then shows him being a lot more receptive to the idea. Coming across as a time capsule of talent, the audience is shown key moments from Haneke’s career and also how the man works on set, which is both intriguing and terrifying.

Director Montmayeur keeps the focus on Haneke, and uses each film to explore the man himself. Because of this, the audience is treated to an emotional and psychological evaluation of a man that has shunned Hollywood in favour of tackling difficult subjects. As an emotional portrayal of an artist, this isn’t simply a biased celebratory piece, but a well balanced look at the craft that Haneke has perfected. The legend isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and we see some actors face his wrath during complex and stressful shoots. It’s these moments that elevate the piece past ‘making of’ documentaries, as each individual moment in time consists of its own stringent narrative.

MICHAEL H. – PROFESSION: DIRECTOR isn’t going to win any new fans for Michael Haneke, nor will it provide his dedicated followers with information they were unaware of. What it will do is put you straight into the centre of Haneke’s mind and work process, which is a fascinating world that should hold some worth for even the most stubborn of naysayers.

MICHAEL H. – PROFESSION: DIRECTOR is released on DVD on 10th June via Artificial Eye.