About Stefan Halley
Location: Malmo, Sweden
Occupation: Editor-in-Chief
Bio: Stefan has been writing reviews for seven years and started Pop Syndicate out of need to voice his mis-guided opinion.
Posts: 812
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Benny’s Video is an uncompromising commentary on society’s obsession with violence in the media.
With the upcoming release of his U.S. version of Funny Games, Michael Haneke’s film catalogue is being redistributed. Haneke isn’t like most director’s working today. He doesn’t go for the hyper-edited pacing of and flashy special effects that permeate films today. Haneke does the opposite. He lets his camera linger for uncomfortably long periods of time often with not much happening. Benny’s Video is a prime example of that.
From the opening scene of a pig being slaughtered, rewound and then played again over and over, it’s a graphic disturbing scene but nowhere near as disturbing as what’s to come. Benny leads a relatively sheltered life in his upper middle class home. His parents provide for him and have blessed him with a ton of high end video editing equipment. Benny spends his time secluded in his bedroom watching videos and editing footage. On one of his trips to the video store, Benny befriends a neighborhood girl. He persuades her to come home with him. They have some pizza and watch a few movies before Benny shows her the footage of the pig being killed with an electroshock-pistol. Then Benny shows her the electroshock-pistol he stole from the local butcher and tries it out on the young girl over and over again, while filming the whole ordeal.
Benny hides the body and then goes on like nothing has ever happened. He’s cold and removed from the murder much the way the butchers are in the video of the pig slaughter he’s watched countless times. Eventually, Benny’s parents find the video of the young girls murder and take measures to make sure no one ever finds out.
Benny’s Video was released back in 1992. It was equally praised and condemned. It won the Grand Prize at the Vienna Film Festival and soon Michael Haneke became a director to watch. Over the years, Haneke has created some truly remarkable films including last year’s Cache. His remake of his 1997 film Funny Games should turn a few heads provided studios don’t get too involved.
Haneke’s films are not for everyone and those willing to put in the effort will be surprised at how effective they are. His style is brutal, uncompromising and uncomfortable. He photographs people the way no one else does and it’s often not a pretty picture. Haneke is a very loud critic of Hollywood and his films often seem to be made to mock everything for which Hollywood stands. Benny’s Video is no exception. It’s raw, uncompromising and incredibly disturbing.
Benny’s Video is released by Tartan in Europe and is an interesting interview with the director. It covers his feelings about the film, how feels about current cinema and how the film was received. It takes the place of a commentary.
Benny’s Video is not for everyone. Most people will find Haneke’s style too slow and plodding. They wouldn’t be far off. He does take his time and often lingers on subjects uncomfortably long. Haneke is one of the few true artist working today. It will be interesting to see how he fairs once he makes his U.S. debut.
