Mainstream cinema raises questions only to immediately provide an answer to them, so they can send the spectator home reassured. If we actually had those answers, then society would appear very different from what it is.
Michael HanekeRead
I make my films because I'm affected by a situation, by something that makes me want to reflect on it, that lends itself to an artistic reflection. I always aim to look directly at what I'm dealing with. I think it's a task of dramatic art to confront us with things that in the entertainment industry are usually swept under the rug.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Michael Haneke emphasizes the importance of confronting uncomfortable realities through film as a form of artistic expression.
In this quote, Michael Haneke articulates his artistic philosophy, where he uses film as a medium to reflect on and address societal issues that are often ignored in mainstream entertainment. He believes that true dramatic art challenges audiences to confront difficult or overlooked subjects, thereby provoking thought and reflection, rather than simply offering entertainment that avoids these critical themes.
Themes
ArtFilmReflectionSocietyDrama
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a film class to discuss the role of filmmakers in addressing social issues.
More from Michael Haneke
All quotes →All movies assault the viewer in one way or another.
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An artist is someone who should raise questions rather than give answers. I have no message.
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It's the duty of art to ask questions, not to provide answers. And if you want a clearer answer, I'll have to pass.
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At its best, film should be like a ski jump. It should give the viewer the option of taking flight, while the act of jumping is left up to him.
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When I first envisioned 'Funny Games' in the mid-1990s, it was my intention to have an American audience watch the movie. It is a reaction to a certain American cinema, its violence, its naivety, the way American cinema toys with human beings. In many American films, violence is made consumable.
Michael HanekeRead
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