Movie review: Cache

Let's get some of the major critiques of Cache out of the way:

1. It's too slow
2. What's the point?
3. The ending sucks!!!11 (as quoted from an IMDb poster)

Well, no one said Michael Haneke's films were easy. Anyone who has seen The Piano Teacher should know what to expect. Haneke is known for showing complex characters in simple light. It's up to the viewer to decipher what to do with these characters and intelligently analyze their actions. Haneke is known for pulling out of his films too early and letting the subtleties speak for itself. This will naturally upset some people, but perhaps viewers should stop expecting the director to hold their hand and guide them along.


Cache begins with a long shot of a front of a random house. The shot turns out to be an anonymous video sent to the owners of the home, Georges (Daniel Auteuil), his wife (Juliette Binoche) and his son (Lester Makedonsky). Not knowing what to make of the video, they ignore it. When the tapes keep coming (and accompanied with strange childish drawings), they go to the police, but have little success. Gradually, Georges begins to have an idea who the culprit might be. This opens a door of secrets, guilt, and a past Georges wish he could forget.

The not-so-subtle commentary of Cache.

Although Cache is marketed as a thriller, it has no thrills and instead relies on long, quiet shots to build tension. Cache shouldn't be seen as a "whodunit" and is unfortunately marketed as one. The mystery of the tapes isn't what's important, but the drama between Georges and his past. Not to give anything away, but the current relations between French and Algerian immigrants is important. It seems appropriate that Cache was made so close to the Paris riots. It only seems to magnify the current racial problems currently in France.

Now the biggest complaint about Cache is its ending. There's lots of questions left unanswered and this might be frustrating for many viewers. Once again, not to give anything away, but anyone who has seen Lost in Translation will understand. Cache doesn't pull out as some kind of cheap way to end a movie that's hard to end. Yes, some thinking is required, but all the important themes that needed to be said were already said. What's leftover is actually secondary and, for the realists, it is the perfect ending.

DVD Features:

Besides the usual, there's an outstanding interview with Haneke as he answers many of the questions people wanted answered, including the infamous ending. Definitely recommended.