Ok here we go!WTF F
So yesterday I had the oportunity to watch a very interesting movie called Caché (Hidden). It's a French/Austrian/German/Italian production, in french language, written and directed by Austrian artist Michael Haneke. I'll just start by saying it has mixed reviews, you may either like it or hate it, but if you have the time and trust this guy, he will definetly get you involved in this raather intriguing film. Now the whole situation revolves around the fact that people sometimes neither understand nor take full responsability of their acts and therefore never get to know the conscecuences or burdens they may discharge onto other people, or even how their acts may return to haunt them. There are other elements that I've found pretty interesting, the characters in the family react very realistically throught the film, unlike the American model of a sudden family closeness in order to better confront adverse situations. Of course this is what I've managed to understand, but you may see something different, as always the full intention of a good writter is camouflaged and is subject to the eye of the beholder.
The plot starts developing very simply, there is a stalker sending sureveilance videos that show the house of a family. After a certain amount of videos sent, the family reacts by taking the case to the local police. The police doesn't take it seriously since there has been no "aggresive" action taken by the stalker. Along with the videos, come childish drawings that evoke the childhood of Georges, the main character. The reason why this childish drawings are important, is the fact that they are a remembrance of a time when Georges's selfishness made a big difference in someone else's life. In this case, the son of an algerian couple, who used to work for Georges's father. He was left an orphan after the Paris masacre of 1961. Majid, son of the algerian couple was adopted by Georges's family. George didn't like Majid and so life in their house was very difficult.
Throughout the film, as certain events unfold, the director manages to bring up elements that add complexity to the story. He also addresses the subject of the algerian war and it's relation with the aujourdhui Paris. Be warned that this film doesn't offer the instant gratiffication that people go to movie theaters with, the ending is so opened you'll be surprised as you didn't expect it. Hopefully you share the idea that a film is not something you watch and totally forget about as you exit the theater, but is something that raises questions and doubts.
I wanted to talk a little bit about the Algerian war and the Paris massacre of 1961. The Algerian Independance war against French rule was a very complex conflict because of the guerrilla warfare, terrorist attacks against civilians, torture on both sides and counter terrorist actions from the French army. It all started during the 1 November 1954 (Tous saints rouge day) a day on which the foundations of the stablished French Fourth (constitutionnal) Republic where struck. After it's collapse, the French army initiated a "pacification campaign" in Algerian territories. At first, even after the conflict had escalated to a full scale war, Algeria seemed willing to call peace but a world opinion fueled by anti-imperialistic ideas and Arab support gave Algeria the advantage. Charles de Gaulle's return to power in 1958 would supposedly ensure the continuos occupation of algerian territories as well as the algerian integration to the French Community by founding the Fifth French Republic, but it didn't, since De Gaulle saw the Algerian independence inminent. In March 1962 De Gaulle enganged negotiations with Le Front de Liberation Nationel ( Algerian National Liberation Front) reaching an agreement and signing the Evian Accords resulting in Algeria's independence.
Nevertheless many violent actions had taken place, among which we find the 10/17/1961 events during wich Maurice Papon, head of the French Police, engaged a pacific and unarmed 30.000 Algerian demonstration as his target, resulting in the death of aproximately 200 Algerians, although only 70 reportedly held responsible by the French Police. Many were beat to unconsciousness and thrown to the Seine River, imagine that, the year 1961 and we have 200 dead bodies floating across Paris. Papon offered the police participants legal inmunity if ever prosecuted. In the year 1999 the historian Jean-Luc Einaudi showed Maurice Papon's responsability in trial, for the violent death of Algerian demonstrators, in an event classified as a crime against humanity. The resulting social wounds are yet to be healed in both countries.
Today's featured is an Algerian artist. He's a major R.A.P. artist in France, and mainly talks about what R.A.P. does (or at least started with)...politics. So here is his song 17 Octobre, in memory of this events.
Please post comments or suggestions. Rock hard!
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