Watch The Seventh Continent

The Seventh Continent is a 1989 Austrian film directed by Michael Haneke. The movie is an unsettling portrayal of the existential crisis of a seemingly normal family. It is a slow-paced, bleak, and minimalist portrayal of life, complete with an ominous soundtrack and long takes of mundane domestic activities. The film opens with the family at the supermarket, buying groceries for their seemingly normal life. The father, Georg, sits in his office, surrounded by pictures of African tribes and artifacts, while his wife Anna takes the kids, Eva and Alex, to school. The camera lingers on the faces of the family members, who seem somewhat disconnected from one another. From the beginning, there is a sense of expectation that something is wrong.

As the movie progresses, the family's routine becomes more and more routine. The father organizes a birthday party for Anna, but there is no sense of joy in the celebration. Instead, it feels like a mechanical ritual, devoid of any real meaning. The family embarks on a spree of destroying all their possessions, one by one, destroying their TV, their furniture, and their phone.

The film takes its name from a continent that is said to exist under the Antarctic ice shelf. It is an elusive, mythical place that no one has ever visited. The Seventh Continent is a metaphor for the emotional emptiness of the family's existence. They are living, but they are not truly alive. They have everything they need materially, but they lack a purpose and a sense of meaning.

The film's bleakness reaches a climax in the final twenty minutes, which are both distressing and devastating. The family prepares for their final act, which is a silent and methodical destruction of their home. They systematically dismantle everything they own, stack it up against the wall, and set the piles on fire. They watch as their once comfortable home burns to the ground.

The film is disturbing not only for its content but also for its form. Haneke employs long takes and exacting pacing to increase the feeling of ennui and despair. The camera lingers on the family's faces and captures every detail of their routine. There is no relief from the oppressive atmosphere, and the shots' duration only emphasizes the family's disconnectedness.

The Seventh Continent is a challenging film, dealing with difficult themes of isolation, nihilism, and despair. It is stylized, but not in a flashy way, and it is cinematographically striking, but not in a conventional sense. Its slow pace and minimalism won't be for everyone, but for those who are willing to engage with it, it is a haunting and unforgettable experience.

The film is anchored by the performances of the three main actors, each of whom conveys something different about the family dynamic. Berner, as the father, is distant and dispassionate, consumed by his own inner world. Doll, as the mother, is more emotive but equally lost, unable to connect with her family in any meaningful way. Tanzer, as the daughter, is a mute observer, taking it all in but never speaking.

In conclusion, The Seventh Continent is a daring piece of cinema that deals with heavy subject matter. Its portrayal of a family's existential crisis is unrelenting, and its minimalism and slow pacing won't be for everyone. But for those who engage with it, it is a powerful and haunting experience that will linger long after the credits have rolled.