----------Warning: This article may contain spoilers!

Michael Haneke, the Austrian director who has won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film once and the Palme d'Or twice, began the well-known part of his career at the age of 47 with he directed his first feature film. Haneke, whose roots lie in an artistic family, studied philosophy, psychology, and drama at the University of Vienna—fields that have influenced his work. Before embarking on his journey as a feature filmmaker, Haneke worked as an editor, dramaturge, television film director, and critic. Notably, one of his most famous TV films is The Castle (Das Schloß), a 1997 Kafka adaptation. An obsessive reader throughout his life, Haneke's films reflect his profound understanding of communication, which he uses to craft a unique cinematic language. The term Haneke film has come to signify a style that is unsettling, narratively static, yet compelling in its thematic and subtextual intensity.

Haneke's films tackle a broad spectrum of social issues, including migration, miscommunication, perpetual senseless wars, class, race, violence, guilt, and gender. Despite being born in 1942, he has produced some of his most significant work in the later stages of his career, earning critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Influenced a lot by the legendary Robert Bresson, Haneke has always strived to maintain his artistic independence. Throughout his career, his films have featured remarkable acting and quite consistent casting choices, though the spotlight often remains on Haneke's directorial prowess rather than individual performances. Noteworthy exceptions will surely be highlighted, emphasizing the synergy between his vision and the actors' craft. Let's delve into the filmography and distinctive characteristics of a director who is proudly embraced not only by his native Austria but also by German and French cinema.

The Seventh Continent (Der siebente Kontinent) is his debut feature film from 1989. It subjects the alienation and existential crises of modern society through the mundane and monotonous daily life of an Austrian family by using a pretty veiled story. On the surface, this family—comprising a mother, father, and children—appears to lead a perfect life, with their quality of life improving (such as the father's promotion). However, as the film progresses, we gradually feel and finally understand their inner emptiness and unhappiness, particularly through the film's powerful conclusion.The story examines the family's journey to escape their meaningless existence and embark on a new and eternal chapter in their lives, encapsulated by the meticulous and impactful portrayal of their preparation for this irreversible journey, including the dramatic destruction of their home, which both symbolizes and realizes their unlivable life ending in death.

This film, which is the first in Haneke's Glaciation Trilogy, is characterized by its calm exterior and slow pace, yet it harbors intense internal turmoil. The depiction of a collective suicide makes it a bold beginning to Haneke's feature film career and introduces his signature fragmented storytelling style. The film offers a striking spectator experience, making viewers feel closely involved with the family's plight. This immersive quality is undoubtedly one of the elements that make the film not only successful but also unique.

His second feature film, Benny's Video (1992), explores the disturbing obsession of a teenage boy, Benny, with video cameras and violent imagery. The film takes an early dark turn when Benny records himself killing a young girl at his family's home. His parents attempt to cover up the crime, but Benny's cold-blooded murder and the ensuing events offer a profound critique of modern society's relationship with violence. As the second film in Haneke's “Glaciation Trilogy”, it is powerful and compelling, with the narrative revolving around Benny’s parents trying to conceal his crime, only to be betrayed by Benny himself at the end. This serves as a metaphor for the inescapable truth of societal violence, regardless of how much it is denied.

Unlike the first film in the trilogy, "Benny's Video" presents a strong conflict between the boy and his parents, marking a critical turning point in the story. Neglected by his family, 14-year-old Benny spends most of his time watching footage he has shot with his camera, blurring his perception of reality. The situation escalates to the point where crossing the fine line between life and death becomes as simple for him as pressing the play and rewind buttons on a remote control. This film is also the first in Haneke’s repertoire to feature scenes that are not easy to watch, directly unsettling the audience. Unlike his many other works, which critiques the portrayal of news in the media and the state of the world, "Benny's Video" focuses on the protagonist's own media, emphasizing the critique of an alternative, subjective reality disconnected from the real world.

The third and final film of the trilogy from 1994, 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance (71 Fragmente einer Chronologie des Zufalls), presents the daily lives and challenges of seemingly unrelated individuals through 71 short scenes. These scenes feature various characters, including a university student, a refugee child, a couple seeking to adopt, and a bank employee. The film focuses on the social and personal crises that lead to the unexpected intersection of these individuals' lives, highlighting the alienation and violence in modern society.

The film's unique narrative structure, with sequences that appear disconnected yet are interwoven with black pauses, creates a distinctive storytelling style. Throughout the movie, news broadcasts relay conflicts occurring in different parts of the world, ensuring that the film's message extends beyond its immediate setting and characters, resulting in a powerful narrative. While this film shares themes of societal disconnection with Haneke's first film, it parallels the second film in its depiction of conflict. As the most original film in Haneke's "Glaciation Trilogy," it does not follow a single main character. Despite the fragmented narrative and limited character development, the film is remarkably successful in conveying its themes.

Haneke’s first international sensation Funny Games (1997), is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Anna, Georg, and their son Georgie, a wealthy family on vacation at their summer home. Their peaceful getaway is shattered when they are taken hostage by two young men, Peter and Paul, whom they meet through their neighbors. The intruders force the family to participate in a series of sadistic games, turning their struggle for survival into a horrifying ordeal.

One of the film's most revolutionary and iconic moments is the breaking of the fourth wall followed by the rewind scene. During one particularly brutal game, Anna manages to grab a shotgun and kills Peter. However, Paul finds a remote control and rewinds the film, effectively reversing the events and preventing Peter's death. This technique allows Paul to engage the audience more directly and personally, making viewers feel complicit in his actions when the scene is rewound. Haneke uses this rewind scene also to subvert traditional thriller and horror conventions, such as who lives and who dies, and whether justice is served by the end of the film. The characters delivering the violence also exhibit a comedic demeanor, emphasizing the absurdity and even strengthening horror of the situation. That particular scene boldly declares Haneke's omnipotence as the director, underscoring his control over the narrative which I believe is the strongest aspect of this work.

Haneke's focus on critiquing the European (upper) middle class is also evident once again, particularly in how they handle violence, both as perpetrators and as those insensitively unable (and also incapable) to prevent it. This film led to his first Palme d’Or nomination and laid the groundwork for his later films featuring superstar leads. Despite the film's impeccable tension, Haneke faced criticism for what some viewed as his mistreatment of the audience due to the scenes that include pure violence. Nevertheless, "Funny Games" was a pivotal step in Haneke's international recognition, also leading to the creation of an American version. Arno Frisch’s remarkable performance is noteworthy as well; having first appeared as the main character in "Benny's Video," Frisch delivers an unforgettable performance in this film too.

Code Unknown (Code inconnu: Récit incomplet de divers voyages) (2000), predominantly set in Paris, weaves a narrative where the lives of people from different social classes intersect. The story begins with a young man named Jean throwing a piece of paper in the face of a beggar woman named Maria. This seemingly trivial act sets off a chain of events affecting the lives of various characters. Anne, an actress, faces challenges in her career while her boyfriend Georges works as a war correspondent. Maria, who is an immigrant, is forced to return to Romania after all. Amadou is arrested temporarily by the police while forcing Jean to apologize to Maria, and Anne believes that Amadou attacked Jean without any cause. The film explores the interconnected lives of these characters, highlighting social discrimination and the impact of miscommunication at all levels.

This film marks Juliette Binoche's entry into the Haneke universe and represents Haneke's own introduction to French cinema. Utilizing the fragmented narrative style that has become popular in world cinema, Haneke delivers strong social messages, diving that much deeper into the issue of immigration for the first time. Although set in a new geographical context, Haneke focuses on issues that disturb him, based on both his direct observations and the experiences of the people he encounters. Despite some similarities, unlike "71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance", this film contains several missing pieces, requiring viewers to actively engage in understanding and internalizing the story. Scenes are abruptly cut and shifted to others, with underlying themes more subtly presented compared to his previous films, which may be more challenging for some viewers.

Haneke’s first film in the 21st century, The Piano Teacher (La Pianiste) (2001) is a psychological drama centers on Erika Kohut, a piano teacher living in Vienna with her oppressive mother. Erika, emotionally and sexually repressed, enters a complex and destructive relationship with her young and talented student, Walter Klemmer. This relationship, which allows her to release suppressed desires, reveals some extreme tendencies and deep psychological issues. Thus, as Walter uncovers Erika's dark desires, their relationship becomes increasingly disturbing and dangerous. The film's atmosphere is incredibly unsettling, with toxic relationships playing a central role. Erika is not young, having stayed at home, and her mother is also old. She even brings the younger Walter home despite her mother's presence, and her sadomasochistic inclinations make their relationship extraordinarily chaotic as well. The film masterfully portrays the transformation of the aforementioned repressed sexuality into a wounding neurosis, with Erika representing the middle class.

This film marks Isabelle Huppert's entry into the Haneke universe, delivering an exceptional performance that explores the fundamental issue of problematic parental relationships. I believe Huppert's performance in this film is the best in all of Haneke's works, leading to her appearance in three more of his films and earning her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival (with co-star Benoît Magimel winning Best Actor). The film also earned Haneke a Palme d’Or nomination and won the Grand Prix, the second-most prestigious prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Additionally,  Haneke's profound interest in music is evident, considering it the art form closest to cinema and the element nearest to heaven. The presence of classical music, especially Schubert, in the film underscores this passion. Thus, the film's setting in the world of music adds an aesthetic dimension to its narrative.

Haneke’s most unusual film, Time of the Wolf (Le Temps du Loup) (2003) tells the story of a family struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic environment. Anne, Georges, and their children flee the city in search of safety but are confronted by intruders in their summer home, forcing them out. This incident intensifies their survival struggle. The film starkly portrays the darker aspects of human nature and how moral values deteriorate during crises. The narrative unfolds through the challenges the family faces and their interactions with other survivors.

Isabelle Huppert stars in another lead role, delivering a commendable performance. However, compared to Haneke's overall filmography, this might be considered one of his weaker films. The dystopian world he creates is incredibly realistic, but the story and its execution, aiming to convey an evident subtextual message, might not be entirely convincing to viewers. Despite this, the film is worth watching for its atmosphere anyway. Although not successful at the box office, the film's distinctive feature lies in its focus on behavior, setting it apart from typical sci-fi/disaster films. Haneke aimed to depict events as banal as possible, ensuring viewers could relate and not dismiss the events as improbable.

Caché, also known as "Hidden," is a 2005 thriller centered around the life of Georges Laurent, a television host in Paris, and his wife, Anne. One day, the Laurent family starts receiving anonymous video tapes recording the exterior of their home and their daily lives. These tapes reveal dark secrets from Georges' past, plunging the family into increasing fear and paranoia. As they attempt to uncover the source and purpose of the videos, Georges' childhood memories and his relationship with an old friend resurface. The film explores hidden guilt (as well as the efforts to suppress it) and the evolving impact of collective memory over the years. 

This is my favorite Haneke film, both for the gripping and mysterious treatment of the main storyline and for how it deftly shifts the focus to the underlying themes of class struggle without disrupting the narrative flow. The casting of the lead couple is superb, with extraordinary performances by Daniel Auteuil (Georges Laurent) and Juliette Binoche (Anne Laurent). The film powerfully addresses issues of immigration and Europe's exploitation of Africa, highlighting both the guilt felt by some Europeans and the indifferent consciences of others. In terms of the accolades, the movie garnered numerous awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including Best Director, solidifying its status as a critical masterpiece. Two scenes from the movie also became extremely well-known, the chicken scene which stems from Haneke’s childhood trauma and the shocking suicide scene that is designed to jolt the audience, both can currently be counted among the symbols of the director’s art. 

The following one, Funny Games (US) (2007) is the shot-for-shot remake of Haneke's 1997 film, created for the American audience. Starring Tim Roth and Naomi Watts as middle-class parents, the film closely mirrors the original. Despite its high-profile cast, the remake did not achieve significant success in the market. Given the success, uniqueness, and artistic beauty of the original, discussing the US adaptation here does not seem very necessary in my opinion.

In 2009, Haneke made The White Ribbon (Das weiße Band), a 2009 film, set in a small Protestant village in Germany during 1913-1914, just before World War I. The story revolves around a series of mysterious and violent events that disturb the village's strict social structure and moral values. The village children become involved in a string of brutal and unexplained crimes, shaking the foundations of their community. The narrative is told from the perspective of the village schoolteacher and examines the influence of authority figures like the pastor, doctor, and baron (mostly) on the children.

While many interpret the film as a critique of the origins of fascism or Nazism, the director himself stated during the Cannes Film Festival: "I wanted to show that any ideal is corrupted as soon as you take it to the absolute extreme." The film transcends national or ideological boundaries, illustrating how oppression breeds authoritarianism. Although set in a historical context, the film includes sequences inspired by the director's personal experiences, focusing not on creating a historical film but on highlighting the individual and cumulative societal impacts of these themes over time (until today). The film's narrative style and art direction achieve this flawlessly. "The White Ribbon" also features a notable milestone for a Haneke film as it led to his first Palme d'Or win and garnered his first Academy Awards nomination for Best International Feature Film.

Amour (2012), perhaps his most renowned film, is a poignant drama that tells the touching story of Georges and Anne, an elderly couple living in Paris. Both retired music teachers, they lead their lives with a deep love for each other and for music. However, their lives are irrevocably changed when Anne suffers a stroke. As her condition deteriorates, Georges cares for her with immense patience and love. Throughout this ordeal, Georges faces significant physical and emotional challenges but remains steadfast in his devotion to his wife. In essence, their once livable lives end in suffering which embodies one of Haneke’s greatest fears.

"Amour" is one of the most starkly realistic films about love, aging, and death. The performances by Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva (supported by Isabelle Huppert) are monumental, making it difficult to single out which actor—or character—deserves more praise. Haneke manages to depict an intense love story without any conventional romanticism, causing viewers to feel the depth of emotion so profoundly that it can be dizzying. This ability to evoke discomfort without overtly disturbing elements is a hallmark of Haneke’s work. The film, drawing from Haneke's observations of bitter experiences similar to those portrayed, starts from a deeply personal place. The characters' snobbishness is well portrayed in specific scenes, yet they are also open to communication when necessary, striking a delicate balance.

The movie stands as Haneke’s most recognized work, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The legendary actors, Trintignant and Riva, deliver performances that serve as a glorious highlight in their illustrious, albeit nearing-end, careers.

After “Amour”, Haneke made Happy End (2017), a film that delves into the lives and conflicts of the wealthy Laurent family living in Calais, France. Georges Laurent, the elderly patriarch, is depressed due to dementia and old age and is highly inclined towards suicide. His daughter, Anne Laurent, manages the family business while dealing with her irresponsible and rebellious son, Pierre. Anne's brother, Thomas Laurent, grapples with past mistakes and a new relationship while taking responsibility for his young daughter, Eve. Eve moves in with her father's family due to her mother's severe health issues, which brings hidden conflicts and secrets within the family to the surface at some level.

This film features Haneke's most all-star cast and serves as a continuation of "Amour," so it's beneficial to consider the intersecting characters from the previous film. "Happy End" is intriguing, portraying a wealthy yet incredibly depressed, deceitful, and hypocritical family. The film borders on dark comedy, addressing class differences and harshly criticizing society through everyday events. It also marks Haneke’s first film to include Generation Z to those who are subjected to criticism, but especially, the ending is particularly striking, reinforcing the theme of emotional glaciation as powerfully as in his "Glaciation Trilogy." Relevant to that apathy seen so many times throughout the movie, one symbolic and significant scene involves the two wealthy siblings, separately and unknowingly, warning their Moroccan maid's family that if they’re not careful, the family dog that bit the maid’s daughter could bite them too. They deliver these warnings right after spending only a few seconds with the girl and also almost near her.

While "Happy End" is a strong sequel, it feels as if Haneke has grown weary of humanity, tired of warning and displaying its flaws, and this sentiment is palpable in the film. Despite its important messages, the story and emotional depth might feel somewhat lacking. The film’s title, of course, is deeply ironic, highlighting the disparity between the characters' outward affluence and their inner turmoil.

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In this article, I will discuss Gaspar Noé, who is often seen as a contributor of the New French Extremity (a variety of provocative transgressive films produced around the turn of the 21st century stirred controversy and generated substantial debate as well as discussion) movement, but goes beyond that and, actually stands as a unique auteur in his own right, in a league with legendary French cinema figures such as Godard, Resnais, Rohmer, Truffaut, Bresson, and Varda. Born in 1963 in Buenos Aires, the Argentine-born director’s background is quite significant, particularly due to his father, painter, writer, and intellectual Luis Felipe Noé. Additionally, (Gaspar) Noé also has collaborated with his spouse Lucile Hadžihalilović on multiple film projects. He operated the camera and functioned as cinematographer for two short films directed by her, while she produced and edited his early short film “Carne” and his first feature film “Seul contre tous (I Stand Alone)”and continued to contribute with “Enter the Void”, and so on. Despite the argument that his close circle facilitated his entry and progress in the art world, his works, except “Irréversible (Irreversible)”, have not been particularly successful at the box office. So why is he still such an important director? This article will explore his distinctive characteristics and delve into each of his feature films in detail.

Noé addresses subjects that can be considered taboo or dark, such as violence, sexuality, morality, drugs, incest, rape, and death. These are mostly the core elements of life but are generally and quite naturally connected to the darker side of humanity. His films, therefore, appeal to a very small portion of the general audience but have an impact that extends far beyond this. "I want to make movies out of blood, sperm, and tears," he says in his film "Love," summarizing his approach. However, he is much more than that. Deeply embedded in France’s underground culture, nightlife, and drugs play a significant role in his life, to the point of obsession. Well, it is actually quite rare to find a good director who isn't obsessively attached to something as their creative signatures are often formed by those and Gaspar Noé is one of those who can translate his obsessions onto the screen effectively. He is incredibly consistent and determined, ignoring the reactions and conveying his message uncensored, pushing boundaries as he pleases. He is a man who says, "I want to make a film about X" and does precisely that. The disturbing nature of his films stems from presenting events with all their realism, without resorting to moralizing in a populist way or pandering to mainstream sentiments. This means that, while it might appear that his work aligns with the interests of the mainstream industry, in certain reality, it surely does not. His distinct thought process and worldview are evident, and it’s easy to assert that he has a unique cinematic language, full of provocative images that challenge the audience's experience.

Gaspar Noé's 1998 film Seul contre tous (I Stand Alone) marks his first feature-length project, evolving the story from his earlier short film Carne, which also won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. Noé maintained the core cast from Carne and expanded the narrative. The film tells the story of a butcher, who, after mistaking menstrual blood on his daughter's dress for evidence of rape, stabs the man he believes responsible, resulting in his imprisonment and the subsequent need to sell his shop. Now released, he attempts to start over, with his daughter in an institution and his new partner pregnant. His sole focus is to reopen his shop, rebuild his life and fight against the world.

The film stars Philippe Nahon and is considered Noé's most normal work, reflecting fewer of his later characteristics, especially in terms of visuals. The scenes are more static compared to his subsequent films, indicating an innovative effort within classic cinema, and motivating viewers to focus on the story and its messages. The protagonist, portrayed by Nahon, is a reflection of societal ills: a lower-class, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and obsessively sexual man. The character embodies the negative aspects of male societal norms and critiques issues like unemployment and nationalism of the time. The butcher's incestuous desire for his daughter also is a recurring theme, culminating in the film's shocking finale. Thus, it can be said that Noé uses the butcher to question the foundations of masculinity and, in a broader perspective, to critique the average Frenchman. "I Stand Alone" seems like it is designed as a Dostoyevskian dark comedy, but the pain and turmoil within the character’s mind deeply engage the viewer. The protagonist's sparse dialogue is offset by a continuous inner monologue, exposing his unfiltered thoughts, which keeps the film gripping and enables a striking beginning for Noé’s feature-length career.

Then, Gaspar Noé’s paths crossed with Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci as he initially couldn't get the script for "Love" accepted by them. However, their desire to work with Noé led them to accept a new script he prepared, resulting in the creation of the sensational, controversial, and most likely the most popular (and successful in terms of box office) film, Irréversible (Irreversible) (2002). The film begins by showing the aftermath of the character from "I Stand Alone" and then shifts to its main characters. The story, told in reverse chronological order, is a tale of love and revenge. It follows the aftermath of a woman’s rape and her boyfriend and ex-boyfriend’s search for the rapist, unfolding from end to beginning.The subject is incredibly simple, even cliché, but the film received intense backlash, even among the French audience, who are accustomed to daring cinema, particularly due to its graphic scenes, including a 10-minute long single-shot rape scene and a face-smashing with a fire extinguisher. These scenes, especially at the Cannes Film Festival, caused a significant uproar.

The film's revolutionary reverse narrative structure intentionally disrupts the viewer’s ability to connect with the story and prevents the comfort of a linear progression, drawing more attention to the themes and also technique. Additionally, having star actors surely contributed to Noé's international recognition. With this film, Noé began to break away from classical storytelling, exploring new narrative approaches.The cinematography, which literally and figuratively breaks boundaries, and the use of red and flickering lights foreshadow the psychedelic color palettes in his future films. The soundtrack by Thomas Bangalter, featuring memorable dance tracks in the nightclub and later (or actually earlier) sequences, is unforgettable. In 2019, Noé even submitted a linear cut version of the film to the Venice Film Festival, which was shown in countries such as France, Germany, Russia, and Japan, offering a different perspective where everything is more evident. However, I prefer not to comment beyond the original version.

The next film, Enter the Void (2009), is a project Noé wanted to make early on but was delayed due to budget constraints. It narrates a day in the life and the subsequent death of the main character, Oscar, in Tokyo, offering viewers a visual feast illuminated by the city's bright lights. Additionally, it aims to take the audience on a spiritual journey by depicting the experiences of the protagonist, a drug addict, both through its narrative and visual style. Though it might seem like a typical drug trip film, it stands out in many ways. The film is told from a first-person viewpoint, with the protagonist only visible in a scene where he looks in a mirror. After his death, the narrative shifts to a more bird's-eye perspective, following the protagonist's floating spirit, providing a unique viewing experience.

Noé wrote the film during a period when he was highly interested in astral projection and religions, particularly their views on the afterlife. He chose to shoot the film in Japan due to his deep admiration for its culture, arts, and especially its cinema. The story, art direction, and colors could be discussed extensively, but what sets this work apart from the rest of Noé's filmography is its originality as a cinematic experience, which he describes as a psychedelic melodrama. The camera technique immerses the viewer in the protagonist's psyche, blinking along with him, achieved through a visually stunning use of colors that resemble a music video aesthetic. Until "Enter the Void," the elements Noé wanted to portray in cinema—"blood, sperm, and tears"—were more content-driven. By 2009, with "Enter the Void," Noé's aesthetic began to assert itself most strongly through various camera techniques, art direction and visual styles.

Gaspar Noé's next film, Love (2015), is notable for its unsimulated sex scenes, making it quite pornographic by cinema standards despite not being particularly unconventional in France. The film follows Murphy, an American film student living in Paris, who secretly continues seeing Omi after including her to a no-strings-attached threesome with his girlfriend, Electra. When Omi becomes pregnant and decides to keep the child due to her anti-abortion stance, Electra leaves Murphy, later leading to Murphy and Omi raising the child together with an emotional purgatory. The film can be seen as highly personal, with many references to Noé himself. While the depiction of sexuality is striking, the portrayal of love is even more profound and impactful. The film explores jealousy, a harsh companion of love, and the inescapable path to becoming a family, capturing the feeling of being trapped.

Examining Gaspar Noé’s filmography reveals that he critiques the crises of contemporary society, focusing on existential struggles, psychological collapse, alienation, and exhaustion. In "Love," he approaches these themes through the simplest storyline in his filmography, stating, "I show you what is yours as if it were not." While the film includes artistic pornography, it is so deeply embedded with emotions that it is more likely to leave you filled with emotional disappointment rather than lust by the end. Murphy's desperation, lostness, and entrapment reflect the hunger and fragile nature of youth. Noé views the film as erotic rather than pornographic, comparing the frequent and explicit portrayal of the male genitalia to the necessity of a gun in a Western film. Additionally, it's worth noting that the film was released in 3D, aiming to make the viewer's sexual experience more liberating by breaking the barrier with other viewers through the use of glasses.

My favorite film of the director as the one I found the most enjoyable, aesthetically enriching, yet incredibly tense, is Climax (2018). The film is set in 1996 and follows a dance group from various parts of the world as they rehearse their choreography in an abandoned rural school. During the after-party celebrating the successful end of their rehearsals, they drink sangria without knowing it is laced with LSD, leading to catastrophic chaos. They neither know who spiked the drink nor why, unfolding a "bad trip" that reveals the deepest, darkest aspects of their psyche. The film is loosely based on a true story, but the adaptation is seamless without any exaggeration or pseudo-fantastic elements. As in many group dynamics, individuals harbor hidden tendencies and fantasies of expressing their true emotions (e.g., lust, violence, jealousy), the film successfully portrays the realization and consequences of these tendencies. It would also be remiss not to mention the large French flag behind the dance floor when discussing the film, as it is possible to infer that the film is actually and essentially a representation, depiction, and critique of the country. Very multicultural yet sociologically tense, where prejudices remain fixed, and hatred begets hatred, the film's single setting is presented as an isolated one, with the snowy exterior indicating that there is no escape from this situation.

"Climax'' features a lot of improvisation, with the cast consisting almost entirely of dancers that Noé evidently put significant effort into finding the best. The LSD trip sequences are inspired by sources like YouTube, and the choreographies are, in general, stunning. Most of the cast was found online and through dance battles, with the exception of Sofia Boutella, who has both professional dance and acting careers. The film was shot chronologically in just 15 days, giving the illusion of one continuous shot. The production and set designs of the film are exceptionally well-handled, utilizing a single large location with various sub-areas, such as a large hall and several corridors and rooms, reminiscent of but smaller than Kubrick’s 'The Shining.' This compact and controlled setting ensures continuity and greatly enhances the thriller aspect of the film. As expected from its premise, the film showcases excellent art direction and an extraordinary soundtrack including Thomas Bangalter, again. Notably, the opening credits appear mid-film, just before the chaos ensues, effectively saying, "Welcome to the madness, take your seats."

Gaspar Noé’s 2019 film Lux Æterna is arguably his most experimental work. The film by making the audience feel like a space for improvisation was given to Charlotte Gainsbourg and Béatrice Dalle, focusing on the production process of a film called "God's Craft" and simultaneously depicting the experiences, conflicts, and clashes the two lead actresses had during the shoot. While the premise is intriguing, the film’s distinctive feature is not its plot. "Lux Æterna" heavily employs epileptic imagery through gray and color strobe lights, as well as split-screen techniques, which Noé also uses in his subsequent work, and thus, due to its experimental nature, I prefer not to be overly critical. The viewing experience is challenging, primarily for technical aforementioned reasons, but remains as a unique one nevertheless. The narrative behind the scenes is deliberately chosen by the director, and combined with stellar performances, it serves as an exposé and commentary on the industry. Moreover, Noé pays homage to legends like Luis Buñuel, Carl Theodor Dreyer, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder by including their quotations, showing his respect for these influential filmmakers. Surely not his best work, but still leaves a strong mark.

Now, it is the turn of Gaspar Noé's latest film, Vortex (2021), dedicated to all those who lose their minds before their hearts. Starring Françoise Lebrun and Dario Argento, the film invites us into the home of an elderly couple, witnessing the vortex they are drawn into as one of them suffers from dementia. Set in a Paris apartment, the film focuses on the couple living out their final days among the remnants of their shared years and allows many viewers to find traumatic pieces from their own lives. Instead of themes like love, revenge, or pornography, Noé tackles the more helpless period of old age, where everything has been lived and is slowly fading away. The film continues Noé's overarching theme of confrontation, effectively depicting the merciless and incurable nature of aging, the undeniable reality of death, and the unbearable agony of the brain dying before everything else.

Throughout the film, tension and discomfort are maintained above a certain standard by raising questions such as whether the spouse with dementia will wander off, take the wrong medication, or be given the wrong medication by her partner on purpose, or leave the gas stove on. The emotional impact is strong, but technically, the film is equally impressive. The use of split-screen is particularly well-executed, with no sequences that disrupt the flow and allows viewers to follow both main characters simultaneously without continuity or spatial errors. Even when they occasionally appear in the same frame, the split-screen still continues, which I found to be a bold and impressive choice.

---------- This review may contain spoilers!

Il Cinema Italiano has produced many phenomenal directors throughout the history, especially since the Italian Neorealist era, these directors have reached wide audiences both in Europe and beyond. Rossellini, De Sica, Antonioni, Fellini, Argento, Bertolucci, Pasolini, Tornatore, Moretti... and for the recent period, Paolo Sorrentino, who is subjected in this very article. With visually stylish and intense art direction, postmodern storytelling inspired by life itself, dynamic and striking camera use, magnificent use of music, short choreographies reminiscent of music videos, the harmony of beauty and absurdity in his scenes, and picturesque landscape choices, let us get to know this man and his cinema, from which art flows from his veins, more closely.

Born in Naples in 1970, Sorrentino, as one might guess from his place and year of birth, spent his youth years like most of the city's inhabitants, watching and idolizing the legendary Argentine football player Diego Armando Maradona. So much so that when he won the Best Foreign Language Film award at the Academy Awards in 2014 for “La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty)”, Maradona was among those he thanked during his speech. His work in series and films also bears the mark of Maradona and his team, showing his deep admiration. Most importantly, he plays a crucial role at a turning point in Sorrentino’s life. While young Paolo, at the age of 16, a fanatical supporter of his local team, SSC Napoli, went to watch them in a game during a time when Maradona was the superstar of the team, both his parents were poisoned in their bed by carbon monoxide fumes from a faulty heater and passed away. Thus, he does not hesitate to say “Maradona saved my life” while defining that tragedy that made him grow up much earlier than he should have. Afterwards, he chose to embrace a parallel reality to overcome the indescribable pain brought on by the tragedy, and his cinema journey began, inspired by Sergio Leone, Martin Scorsese, Bernardo Bertolucci, Michelangelo Antonioni, Giuseppe Tornatore, and perhaps most of all, Federico Fellini, along with his homie Massimo Troisi.

Actively involved in the writing process of his feature films and TV series, Sorrentino's first full-length film, L'uomo in più (One Man Up), made in 2001, stars Toni Servillo, who would become the actor most frequently cast in leading roles by the director and even accompanied him on stage at the aforementioned Academy Awards. The film, belonging to the comedy-drama genre, tells the story of two men with completely different lives, yet sharing the same name and a similar fate, one a singer and the other a footballer. It is also notable as his first film to be honored with a growing number of national and international nominations and awards.

The film that significantly elevated Sorrentino in the eyes of critics and audiences was his second film, made in 2004, the crime-drama Le conseguenze dell'amore (The Consequences of Love). It narrates the story through the interactions of the extremely cold, mysterious, and reticent main character, Titta Di Girolamo (Toni Servillo), who finds himself in service to the mafia and also develops a relationship with a waitress at the hotel where he stays. The contribution and impact of the film’s geographical setting (Lugano, Switzerland) to the story from an art direction perspective, the meticulously prepared lonely main character with his background and dialogues, and the innovative and artistic filming tricks (like the famous 180 degrees camera flip), indicate that this film is the first to feature the distinctive qualities we will encounter frequently in the director's later works, in such a strong and successful manner. Therefore, it's possible to say that one of the strongest works in his filmography was accomplished at the very beginning of his career.

Following that, in 2006, Sorrentino directed L'amico di famiglia (The Family Friend), which tells the story through a socially-awkward character who develops an obsession with the young bride-to-be daughter of a family he lends money to, embracing the absurdity he loves to include in his cinema. Then, in 2008, he made the controversial biopic Il Divo, subjects Giulio Andreotti, a figure who was elected prime minister of Italy multiple times and whose career was marred by numerous allegations. Reuniting with Servillo for this film, Sorrentino won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Sorrentino's first purely international film was This Must Be The Place (2011), working with Hollywood actors like Sean Penn and Frances McDormand. This film follows the journey of a retired rock star, who, without compromising his gothic style, seeks to complete the unfinished story of his father, with whom he hadn't spoken for years, following his death. This journey rekindles his excitement for pursuing the meaning he has long been missing. While the film might not have brought him the international recognition he desired, his next film, which is a modern classic, would secure his place in Italian, European, and world cinema, even beginning comparisons with Fellini.

In addition to many awards in his country and Europe, the 2013 film La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty) also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film delves into the life of 65-year-old Jep Gambardella, who, after receiving the news of the death of his first and perhaps only love—who was also his youthful love—faces life anew. Jep, unable to continue his writing career due to a creative block since decades, has become a sought-after figure in journalism and an art critic within high society. This masterpiece is not just a melancholic journey through (post-)middle age; it also hosts one of the best party scenes in cinema history, features the magnificent city of Rome as a splendid supporting character, pays a postmodern tribute to Fellini, and includes surprising mise-en-scènes, a wide range of striking music choices, impressive dialogues, a truly visually stylish direction, and hosts one of Toni Servillo, Sorrentino's favorite actor's, best performance. Death and related themes, as in many of the director's previous and subsequent films, represent the breaking point of the story and script in this film, much like in his own life.

Following his participation in the 2014 Brazilian anthology Rio, Eu Te Amo (Rio, I Love You), where 10 directors from various nationalities each directed a short story, Sorrentino's next major international work came with the 2015 film La giovinezza (Youth). In this work, which carries many of the characteristics of his cinema, Sorrentino collaborated with Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Jane Fonda, and Paul Dano. The film confronts various opposites such as death and life, youth and wisdom, past experiences and future possibilities, productivity and satiation, through the story of two elderly friends -one a retired composer and conductor, the other a film director- spending a luxury resort vacation together in the Swiss Alps. Just like its main characters, the film mentally and emotionally provokes the viewer, delving into themes of youth and the past, as well as the future and old age. In this aspect, it boasts strong imagery, dialogue, and distinct sequences. However, some might say the film falls short in terms of having a cohesive and strong narrative; it feels somewhat disjointed, especially by the end. Thus, it is a very beautiful work, but still, it gives the impression that it added numerous thought-provoking and artistically inspiring sequences it found, yet forgot to connect them all.

In 2016, Sorrentino directed The Young Pope, a series co-produced by Sky Atlantic, HBO, and Canal+. The show features the fictional story of the first American Pope, Pius XIII, and his rise to leadership within the Vatican. The cast includes international stars such as Jude Law, Silvio Orlando, Diane Keaton, and James Cromwell. Watching the series, it becomes apparent that Sorrentino, as a non-believer, takes a critical and bold perspective on religion and its clergy's influence and controversial aspects on society. Yet, it's interestingly anecdotal that he still finds the Catholic Church inspiring from a theatrical standpoint. Thus, the series' strongest aspect is undoubtedly its unapologetic satire - even showcasing the Pope's God dilemma - along with its art direction. The series, released under different names for its different seasons, saw its follow-up season shot three years later.

Before moving to the second season of the series, in the intervening years, Sorrentino directed Loro in 2018. This film, another of Sorrentino's political biopics, this time delves into a segment of the life of Silvio Berlusconi, one of the most famous as well as sensational politicians and businessmen in modern Italian and European history. Berlusconi, portrayed by Toni Servillo, has been accused throughout his life of being corrupt and hedonistic, yet remains immensely popular among certain segments of the populace. In this work, Berlusconi is subjected to an intentionally grotesque biography, securing the film a unique place due to its originality, which serves to strongly imprint the director's critical points in the viewer's mind. However, despite its success in cinematography and art direction, the film’s overemphasis on its unique style and artistic qualities may have led to a loss of narrative momentum.

In 2019, Sorrentino directed the second season of the international series titled The New Pope. This season retained most of the cast from the first season, with John Malkovich joining as the lead role and delivering a remarkable performance. Additionally, Cecile de France, who was also part of the first season, played a prominent role. Following the coma of the character Pius XIII, the series explores the chaos within the Church, power struggles, and the extraordinary ascension of the British Pope John Paul III, portrayed by Malkovich. It delves into the dynamics between the Church and the state and culminates in the chaotic process following Pius XIII's awakening from the coma. Visually and audibly, this series is just as fulfilling as its prequel. Despite potential gaps in the storyline, it successfully distinguishes itself from the shadow of its predecessor. Furthermore, it delves into the clash between human emotions, logic, and dogmatic connections through its main character, adding depth and complexity to the thematic exploration.