Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		5.0

Hidden Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 2, 2008

Provocative and impeccably acted, Michael Haneke’s “Caché” (2005) tells an intimate story with a universal message. Bending old perceptions about class, morality, and responsibility, pic is undoubtedly amongst the best European cinema has produced during the last twenty years. Courtesy of Artificial Eye.

Someone is taping the Laurent family, Georges (Daniel Auteuil, Une femme française) and Anne (Juliette Binoche, Code inconnu), as they wak in and out of their flat. Packed in orange envelopes and delivered at their door, the tapes would show how Georges and Anne go to work, come back from work, and then leave again. They would also show from afar the façade of the building where the Laurent family resides.

Upset and clueless as to who is taping their lives and why, Georges informs the police. After a short investigation and plenty of formalities, he and Anne are told that a crime hasn’t been committed, and though it is understandable why they are upset, there isn’t much the police could do to help them with their dilemma.

In the meantime, the tapes keep piling up. Instead of their flat, however, now the tapes would show Georges’ old house, the one he used to share with his parents. With Anne barely able to handle the pressure, and his life collapsing in front of his eyes, Georges embarks on a treacherous journey with plenty of unknowns.

We have been taped

I have decided to keep this review as vague as possible so those of you who have not yet seen Caché could enjoy the wild rollercoaster of emotions it offers just as I did. I only wish to warn you that it really pays off if you follow closely how the story progresses, what type of information the main protagonists share and how. Cache isn’t a traditional suspense story, so there aren’t right and wrong ways of deconstructing its enigma, however, there is a proper way of reading its protagonists.

All things considered, Caché is a film about human manipulation. Not surprisingly, no matter what angle you choose to view its story from, you will discover that the effect(s) it will have on you will be surprisingly powerful. As such, the film is also a brilliantly constructed enigma where everything is as illusive and impossible to comprehend as one makes it out to be. You simply have to decide whether you wish to be manipulated, or be the manipulator.

I am sure that some of you are now quite confused, trying to figure out what exactly the above description attempts to reveal. Is Caché a game of some sort, a test? Or both? Suffice to say, confusion is part of the reason why this film works. You have to trust me.

A lot of the critics who saw Caché during its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 did not like the fact that the film was so inconclusive. In fact, even though Caché went on to win three major awards, Best Director included, its open ending apparently rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. I tend to believe that this is precisely the effect Michael Haneke intended – forcing people out of their comfort zones, frustrating them in their efforts to locate a logical explanation for his story.

The film’s greatest strength, however, something that both critics and admirers appear united on, is its uncanny ability to capture human paranoia. There is something profoundly visceral in the manner in which fear slowly replaces curiosity here. It is almost as if Michael Haneke has found and filmed the formula that effectively strips human beings from their humanity and, encouraged by fear, transforms them into animals.

The closing shot, as addressed by so many critics in countless reviews, remains one of the most challenging and incomprehensible tests the Austrian director has given us during the years. Yes, it is frustrating, but it is also incredibly effective as it puts into perspective everything you think is clear, everything you’ve learned through the course of the film about Georges and Anna. So, prepare yourself, Caché isn’t over when the end credits roll!

Hidden Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, and granted a 1080p transfer Michael Hanake's Caché (Hidden) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors Artificial Eye.

Shot with a 35mm HD camera Caché looks absolutely stunning in 1080p.This should not really be a surprising announcement for anyone, because even the SDVD release SONY offered on the US market in 2006 was amongst the most impressive arthouse titles to be released in years. What Artificial Eye bring, however, is undoubtedly a far more superior presentation. On this Blu-ray disc contrast is perfect, clarity stunning, and the color gradation outstanding. Furthermore, the image is so detailed that it literally feels as if the actors are acting right in front of you, in your very own room. I know that there are a lot of critics who, for a variety of different reasons, aren't always honest with their readers, so I would like to make this as clear as possible – the Blu-ray transfer for Caché is simply breathtaking. As far as the master source is concerned, and the manner in which it was transferred to Blu-ray, I can only echo what I've already noted above – I watched very closely to see whether or not there might be any imperfections, or external factors affecting the presentation, but I could not spot any dirt, specks, or debris. To sum it all up, this is rock-solid presentation of a fantastic film. (Note: This is a Region-Free disc which you will be able to play perfectly on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Hidden Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two tracks on this Blu-ray disc – French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 5.1. Those of you familiar with the work of Michael Haneke probably know well that he rarely uses music in his work, if ever. Caché isn't an exception. This being said, the inclusion of a DTS-HD Master mix, while welcomed and applauded by me, isn't really crucial to one's viewing experience. Caché is a dialog-driven feature, with large blocks of silence, where the camera acts as a neutral observer. The parts of the film where you would hear the actors speak, however, sound terrific. Indeed, the dialog is crystal clear and very easy to follow. I personally could not detect a sizable difference between the DTS-HD Master mix and the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. The two sounded very strong and convincing and, as far as I am concerned, do justice to the film without detracting anything from the original master. Finally, I did not detect any hissing, cracks, or pops. Optional English subtitles, in white, are provided for the main feature.

Hidden Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray disc gets the exact same extras found on the corresponding SDVD release, all in standard-def PAL. First is the large interview with Michael Haneke where he talks about guilt, how guilt is perceived by human beings, and its corrosive effect on morality. This interview has been offered on practically every release Caché has seen thus far so I assume a lot of you are familiar with it. Next is "The Making of Cache" where you will see how the "taping" was done by a team of supporting tech specialists. Finally, there is the theatrical trailer for Caché as well as a section with filmographies for Daniel Auteuil, Michael Haneke, and Juliet Binoche. (Note: Please keep in mind that if you TV does not support PAL you will not be able to access the extras).

Hidden Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A few years ago I wrote a tiny review for another site where I noted that Caché clearly solidifies Michael Haneke's status as the most innovative director in contemporary World Cinema. I have not changed my mind. Highly-provocative, unconventional, and intelligent Cache is everything I like about cinema. The Blu-ray disc subject of this review, the first from British distributors Artificial Eye to reach my desk, is arguably the best import I have in my collection now, right next to Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert. I am so excited to see Artificial Eye join BFI, Masters of Cinema, and the rest of the UK distributors, that I could hardly wait to read what they have planned for 2009. This is great folks!! Very Highly Recommended.