The most striking thing about 'Revanche' is that the first half is so completely different than the second half. The story is set in modern-day Austria where the protagonist, Alex, is working maintenance in a brothel and is in a relationship with Tamara, one of the prostitutes there who hails from Ukraine. The opening scene between the 'couple' features a somewhat explicit sexual encounter (there are other such steamy sexual encounters later on in the film). Be forewarned—there are no subtitles in the first two minutes of the film as Tamara is presumably speaking in her native Ukrainian and we're not supposed to understand what she's saying.
Up to the midpoint of the film, we're treated to a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the Austrian underworld. Tamara owes her boss, Konecny, $30,000 (presumably for arranging her passage to Austria). Tamara is Konecny's 'favorite' at the brothel and wants her to move into one of his own apartments where she can service more upper-class VIP customers. Meanwhile Alex dreams of buying into a pal's business but is significantly short of the $80,000 needed as a start-up cost. When one of the customers roughs up Tamara, Alex intercedes and beats the man up. Realizing his days are numbered at the brothel, he spirits Tamara out of he house of ill repute to a seedy hotel where he decides his only solution to the financial mess they're both in, is to rob a bank.
The midpoint of the film is perhaps the strongest. Alex successfully sticks up the bank, but a police officer (Robert) just happens to come along and questions Tamara who's sitting in the getaway car. When Alex returns to the car and sees Robert, he pulls out his unloaded firearm and has the officer lie down on the ground. As Alex drives away with Tamara in the passenger seat, Robert violates police procedures and fires at the wheels of the car; unfortunately his aim isn't very good, and Tamara is hit by one of the bullets and is killed. Robert leaves Tamara's body inside the car and abandons it in a forest.
The second half of the movie is much more slow-paced than the first. After Alex takes refuge at grandfather Hausner's farm, he settles in performing various chores for the sickly old codger. He steams inside over Tamara's death and blames it on Robert. There are way too many repetitious scenes of Alex chopping wood, symbolizing his pent-up rage. Coincidentally, Robert's wife, Susanne, a cashier at the local supermarket, has befriended Alex's grandfather and often comes over to keep him company. Alex is extremely cold to Susanne (since she happens to be married to the man who killed his girlfriend). Susanne has had a recent miscarriage and has been having trouble getting pregnant; perhaps, this is one factor why she decides to have an affair with Alex. Another may be that she is attracted to 'bad boys'.
The climax of the film isn't very exciting but it's a relief. Alex learns that Robert takes a jog in the woods every morning and plans to shoot him. One day he aims his gun at Robert but presumably decides to talk to him first. When they do have their conversation, he realizes that Robert is extremely remorseful concerning what happened (it should be noted also that Robert was suspended by the police force as 'unfit for duty' and ordered to see a psychologist). Robert's parting words in which he asks why the bank robber decided to involve his girlfriend in the heist, makes Alex realize that it was he who really was responsible for his girlfriend's death. He redeems himself by throwing his gun into the lake and promises Susanne that he'll never tell anyone of their affair. In turn, he confesses to Susanne that he was the bank robber and presumably their secret is safe with him.
While I was disappointed that Revanche did not have a slam-bang twist ending, I was relieved at the same time that Alex did not resort to the ugly act of killing Robert. Certainly a story about an immoral person taking responsibility for his actions and thus redeeming himself in the end is admirable. However, director/writer Gotz Spiellman engages in a strategy of moral relativism to tell his story. In effect, Spiellman is saying that 'we're all human and we all make mistakes'. In Spiellman's world, people make bad decisions: Alex concocts the robbery, Tamara goes along with it, Robert fires at a vehicle moving away from him, in violation of procedures and Susanne commits adultery by having an affair. But Alex's actions are placed on the same level as Susanne despite the fact that he's committed a crime. Even though he robbed the bank without his gun being loaded, he still terrorized the bank teller and the customers inside the bank. He should be held accountable but the mere act of showing remorse is enough for Spiellman to forgive him. I am, however, not as forgiving of the character as its creator. Spiellman 'forgives' Susanne too for her 'transgression' and rewards her by having her get pregnant. But again, Susanne's indiscretion is just that—an indiscretion! Alex's 'misstep' is a crime! A better ending would have been to have Alex turn himself in.
There are some excellent performances here, particularly Ursula Strauss as Susanne, whose misguided attraction should be a cautionary tale to all those women attracted to 'bad boys'. If you're willing to put up with the slow-paced second half, Revanche is well worth watching. On the other hand, don't expect a masterpiece. Revanche gets a little too cozy with the idea that redemption is for just about everybody. Redemption is only acceptable when it's coupled with both remorse and accountability. By giving Alex a 'free pass' at the denouement, the film's scenarist misses an opportunity to make a true and impassioned moral stand.
Up to the midpoint of the film, we're treated to a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the Austrian underworld. Tamara owes her boss, Konecny, $30,000 (presumably for arranging her passage to Austria). Tamara is Konecny's 'favorite' at the brothel and wants her to move into one of his own apartments where she can service more upper-class VIP customers. Meanwhile Alex dreams of buying into a pal's business but is significantly short of the $80,000 needed as a start-up cost. When one of the customers roughs up Tamara, Alex intercedes and beats the man up. Realizing his days are numbered at the brothel, he spirits Tamara out of he house of ill repute to a seedy hotel where he decides his only solution to the financial mess they're both in, is to rob a bank.
The midpoint of the film is perhaps the strongest. Alex successfully sticks up the bank, but a police officer (Robert) just happens to come along and questions Tamara who's sitting in the getaway car. When Alex returns to the car and sees Robert, he pulls out his unloaded firearm and has the officer lie down on the ground. As Alex drives away with Tamara in the passenger seat, Robert violates police procedures and fires at the wheels of the car; unfortunately his aim isn't very good, and Tamara is hit by one of the bullets and is killed. Robert leaves Tamara's body inside the car and abandons it in a forest.
The second half of the movie is much more slow-paced than the first. After Alex takes refuge at grandfather Hausner's farm, he settles in performing various chores for the sickly old codger. He steams inside over Tamara's death and blames it on Robert. There are way too many repetitious scenes of Alex chopping wood, symbolizing his pent-up rage. Coincidentally, Robert's wife, Susanne, a cashier at the local supermarket, has befriended Alex's grandfather and often comes over to keep him company. Alex is extremely cold to Susanne (since she happens to be married to the man who killed his girlfriend). Susanne has had a recent miscarriage and has been having trouble getting pregnant; perhaps, this is one factor why she decides to have an affair with Alex. Another may be that she is attracted to 'bad boys'.
The climax of the film isn't very exciting but it's a relief. Alex learns that Robert takes a jog in the woods every morning and plans to shoot him. One day he aims his gun at Robert but presumably decides to talk to him first. When they do have their conversation, he realizes that Robert is extremely remorseful concerning what happened (it should be noted also that Robert was suspended by the police force as 'unfit for duty' and ordered to see a psychologist). Robert's parting words in which he asks why the bank robber decided to involve his girlfriend in the heist, makes Alex realize that it was he who really was responsible for his girlfriend's death. He redeems himself by throwing his gun into the lake and promises Susanne that he'll never tell anyone of their affair. In turn, he confesses to Susanne that he was the bank robber and presumably their secret is safe with him.
While I was disappointed that Revanche did not have a slam-bang twist ending, I was relieved at the same time that Alex did not resort to the ugly act of killing Robert. Certainly a story about an immoral person taking responsibility for his actions and thus redeeming himself in the end is admirable. However, director/writer Gotz Spiellman engages in a strategy of moral relativism to tell his story. In effect, Spiellman is saying that 'we're all human and we all make mistakes'. In Spiellman's world, people make bad decisions: Alex concocts the robbery, Tamara goes along with it, Robert fires at a vehicle moving away from him, in violation of procedures and Susanne commits adultery by having an affair. But Alex's actions are placed on the same level as Susanne despite the fact that he's committed a crime. Even though he robbed the bank without his gun being loaded, he still terrorized the bank teller and the customers inside the bank. He should be held accountable but the mere act of showing remorse is enough for Spiellman to forgive him. I am, however, not as forgiving of the character as its creator. Spiellman 'forgives' Susanne too for her 'transgression' and rewards her by having her get pregnant. But again, Susanne's indiscretion is just that—an indiscretion! Alex's 'misstep' is a crime! A better ending would have been to have Alex turn himself in.
There are some excellent performances here, particularly Ursula Strauss as Susanne, whose misguided attraction should be a cautionary tale to all those women attracted to 'bad boys'. If you're willing to put up with the slow-paced second half, Revanche is well worth watching. On the other hand, don't expect a masterpiece. Revanche gets a little too cozy with the idea that redemption is for just about everybody. Redemption is only acceptable when it's coupled with both remorse and accountability. By giving Alex a 'free pass' at the denouement, the film's scenarist misses an opportunity to make a true and impassioned moral stand.