Antichrist

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When i heard of Lars von Trier’s new film, I couldn’t wait to see it. Before it even came to the cinemas, a whole lot of opinions have been published. The reactions basically ranged from shock over horror to indignation. They were talking about pornography, about misogyny, claiming censorship. Other voices stated, that he just wanted to be provocative, to draw attention to himself, that he just did a “horror film”.

As usually I tried to ignore all this classification attempts and went to see the film on my birthday. It was a special day, so I really wanted to enjoy it. And I did. I was overwhelmed by the cinematographic quality, the way he used black and white, the slow motion, the amazing actors. I just stuck in my seat, unable to move. Just a few incoherent moments, like the speaking animals, interrupted my paralysis. During most of the film I kept thinking, that it doesn’t seem to be that shocking. But then towards the end, I actually wasn’t able to watch it anymore. My hands went automatically in front of my eyes. Remarkably I couldn’t turn my eyes of it, nor close them, so I still could see this little bit between my fingers. And I certainly didn’t stand up and leave like other spectators did. The film nailed me down.

Once outside the cinema, when everybody started to exchange opinions, I couldn’t really say anything, as I was still wrapped in this special atmosphere. But now, two months after, I can (which certainly wouldn’t be very helpful, if I would have had to write a review the following day). Like in his previous work Von Trier presented an apparently very individual vision. There is no need to agree, to like the film. He just admits the audience to his world. I still can remember the exact feelings, this film provoked in me. It touched me both positively and negatively. I stopped thinking, just followed the film and let me force into my seat. It was a total experience. That is, why I could enjoy it.