Monday, August 02, 2021
The Vanishing
- Commentary: Under construction.
Roger Ebert wrote twice about this movie. He wrote, first, about the Dutch movie, the review of which is attached to the title of this post, above. He was much impressed with it, gave it 3.5 stars, and wrote enthusiastically about it.
Then, George Sluizer came to the United States to remake the film for an "American" audience. I'm not going to describe Ebert's disgust with the remake, I'm going to quote it, because it's succinct, appropriate and, well, thank you, Roger, for saying it: "... I do not want to reveal important plot details, but let me say that I sat with a sinking heart as the movie methodically rewrote all that was good in the earlier version, turning its cold logic into trashy commercialism. The first movie was existential in its merciless unfolding. This one turns into a slasher movie with a cheap joke at the end. ... What's the story here? Do Sluizer and his American producers believe the American movie audience is so witless it will not accept uncompromising fidelity to a story idea? Are Europeans deserving of smart, cynical filmmaking, but Americans have to be approached on a more elementary level? I don't know. I simply know that George Sluizer has directed two films named "The Vanishing," and one is a masterpiece and the other is laughable, stupid and crude."
I saw the "American" version on television years ago. Without knowing there was an original, much more elegant version of the film, or that Ebert had reviewed both, I felt exactly the same way Ebert did about the second version. Just like him, in the last third of the movie I had that "sinking" feeling that this was not going to end well, by which I mean, I was going to feel as though I'd been cheated, then spat upon for being a dupe. That's exactly how I felt.
I only recently acquired this film, the Dutch version. I haven't watched it, yet, but I'm looking forward to erasing any memories I have of the "American" version with this version. I'll be reporting back.
Roger, although we never knew each other, may I say, I feel closer to you than I do to many people, right now, after having read your review of the "American" version of this film.
Let me say, as well, to you, dear audience [Of one? Of none?]: if you are native to the United States, be aware that the rest of the world thinks of you, erroneously, I hope, as an "American", in quotes. There are many reasons, in the history of our country and within our national personality (I hesitate to use the word "character", I hope that is not true), why this is so, and it has been true for a long time (consider The Ugly American, published in 1958). If you want to refute this perception, and I do, start acting like a person of the earth, not a person of a belligerent, dying empire. The empire will die. You will die. But, maybe you can see to it that your personal death will bring sorrow to the world, not relief. I'm not one who often endorses "shoulds", but that's how it should be.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu Raymond Lemorne Gene Bervoets Rex Hofman Johanna ter Steege Saskia Wagter Gwen Eckhaus Lieneke Bernadette Le Saché Simone Lemorne Tania Latarjet Denise Lemorne Lucille Glenn Gabrielle Lemorne Roger Souza Manager
You can find the Wikipedia write-up for this movie here. You can find the Wikipedia write-up for it's remake here. The "Reception" sections are interesting to read, one after the other.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by George Sluizer.
Labels: §1, Criterion3, horror1
