Revanche (2008)
Revanche(DAN) Directed by Gotz Spielman Written by Gotz Spielman Starring Johannes Krisch; Irina Potapenko; Johannes Thanheiser; Ursula Strauss; Andreas Lust
Austrian Gotz Spielman writes and directs this compelling, multi-faceted drama. Set in urban Vienna and the outlying countryside, this modern cinematic tale focuses on Alex (Johannes Krisch), an ex-con thief who works as an assistant in a local brothel, Cindarella. One of the prostitutes is a beautiful, drug addicted Ukranian immigrant, Tamara (Irina Potapenko). $30,000 in debt to unctuous brothel boss Konecny (Hanno Proscl), she is being pressured by him to move into an apartment to service VIP customers. Alex (who also drives for the gangster/pimp) and Tamara are in love, however, and Alex wants them to escape to Ibiza, where he claims his friend is looking for a partner to invest in a new bar. Alex dreams of making some fast money to finance his and Tamara’s future, while immediately bettering their miserable existence. Though she clearly cares for Alex, Tamara is more fatalistic, surmising that their current existence is simply the hand they’ve been dealt and that everything is “normal”. As the story progresses, complications and tragedy ensue, and the film’s tone takes a decided shift, evolving into a meditation on loss, regret, and redemption. Therefore, although the usual genre plot conventions are initially firmly entrenched, what surprisingly emerges is an evolving character study, a change that helps subvert the more obvious course normally associated with thriller/suspense. Excellent support from actors Ursula Strauss; Andreas Lust; and Johnannes Thanheiser. There are similarities with the work of German Fatih Akin and Danish directors like Nicolas Winding Refn and Susanne Bier.