This is in response of Keith Cameron’s “How does torture entertain?” column.
He said that the film “Funny Games” lacks an intellect, and questions its entertainment value, and its point as a remake, all without seeing the film, of course.

Well, I saw the film last week, fully knowing that it was going to be a difficult experience, and it was, but it was not unnecessary. The writer and director Michael Haneke made the film as a statement on how brutal violence really is, and how movies have made audiences desensitized to it, and root to see violence happen on screen, usually when the bad guys get it. You still are watching violence happen, and responding to it in a positive way.

With this film, Haneke wanted to create an experience to make an audience uncomfortable and disgusted with what they were seeing. Yes, it is a difficult film to watch, but he did not make the film for simple shock and terror value.

This is not just another Hollywood remake of a foreign film, but this is an ambitious filmmaker trying to expose his piece to more audiences. Haneke remade his own film, shot by shot, but how does that devalue the message, as it is certainly a theme or message not expressed in American cinema all that much, and undoubtedly many Americans have not seen or heard of the original 1997 film.

In response to Keith Cameron’s “How does torture entertain?” column, he claims that foreign language films do well in the United States. Sadly, that is not true. Yes, once in a while we will get a success like “Pan’s Labyrinth” or “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” but nearly all struggle and fail to find an substantial audience. Those two particular films have an action or fantasy hook to attract an audience.

Many foreign films that can actually get a release in the U.S. have an enormous uphill battle. 2006’s comedy/drama “Volver” was universally acclaimed and starred Penélope Cruz, and made only $12 million. Even the 2007 release “Black Book,” a film filled with action, suspense, romance and twists aplenty, could not make more than $5 million at the box office. The big budget French war romance “A Very Long Engagement,” and China’s action romance “House of Flying Daggers,” made about $7 million each in the U.S. In relation to other foreign films released in any given year, that is considered a good amount; if those were American-produced films, they would be considered flops. Clearly, foreign films do not do well in the U.S, and it’s not fair to judge that they do on one or two films that can overcome the language barrier.

Steven Schwarz
Junior, communication

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