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 In a Glass Cage More at IMDbPro »Tras el cristal (original title)

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41 out of 53 people found the following review useful:
An unflinching gaze into the abyss of human corruption, 12 January 2005
10/10
Author: Libretio

IN A GLASS CAGE (Tras el Cristal)

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Mono

Confined to an iron lung following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, a former Nazi doctor (Gunter Meisner) is visited in his isolated country home by a mysterious young man (David Sust) who professes knowledge of Meisner's 'work' with adolescent boys in the concentration camps, where the doctor had cultivated an appetite for sadistic sexual abuse. Harboring terrible secrets of his own, Sust begins to undermine Meisner's terrified family, culminating in a resumption of the doctor's hideous 'experiments'...

Agustín Villaronga's magnificent feature debut premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986, where it was alternately cheered and denounced for its unflinching gaze into the abyss of human corruption, and the movie's extreme subject matter prompted its subsequent lapse into obscurity. However, Villaronga's subsequent works - including MOON CHILD (1989) and EL MAR (1999) - have travelled the international festival circuit to great acclaim, leading to a belated reappraisal of IN A GLASS CAGE, his darkest, most harrowing movie to date. Ostensibly a slow-burning melodrama punctuated by a series of Hitchcockian/Argentoesque set-pieces (most notably a nerve-shredding sequence in which Almodóvar favorite Marisa Paredes - here playing Meisner's harried wife - is stalked through the house by Sust when she becomes surplus to his requirements), the film asks profound questions about the monsters which lurk inside each and every one of us, and illustrates with startling clarity the cyclical nature of sexual abuse. Some viewers, especially parents of young children, will undoubtedly be horrified by some of the confrontational material included here, as Villaronga refuses to soft-peddle the horrors conjured by his nightmare scenario (the movie's second murder is especially shocking, though there's very little on-screen gore). In a brief interview published in 2003, the director explained how some of the more unpleasant scenes involving children were created by having them play a series of innocent 'games' which were then edited into the finished product, and there's a disclaimer in the closing credits which offers an unequivocal reassurance that none of the young actors were exposed to anything inappropriate during filming, and that a child psychologist was present during the recording of those sequences.

Beautifully played by a fearless cast (veterans Meisner and Paredes are appropriately subdued, whilst newcomer Sust makes a startling transition from handsome, fresh-faced innocent to strident Nazi demi-god, rampaging through Meisner's increasingly devastated home with newfound sexual maturity) and filmed with genuine skill by a top-notch production team, Villaronga's extraordinary film explores the wartime ghosts which continue to haunt the collective European consciousness. To his eternal credit, the director approaches his subject with deadly seriousness: Using numerous cutaways to photographs of children taken in concentration camps at the end of the Second World War, he deflects any suggestion of 'exploitation' by constantly reminding viewers of the historical truth which underpins his fictional drama. By turns haunting, horrific and deeply disturbing, IN A GLASS CAGE is an authentic masterpiece, arguably one of the finest - and most difficult - movies to emerge from Spain during the 20th century. However, be warned: Not everyone will be swayed by the film's courage and audacity, and some viewers will be genuinely shocked by Villaronga's uncompromising approach to the material.

(Spanish dialogue)

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22 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
Intensily disturbing film, 5 December 2006
Author: Camera Obscura from The Dutch Mountains

IN A GLASS CAGE (Agustí Villaronga - Spain 1987).

This Spanish shocker certainly offers us no warm portrait of humanity, tackling some extreme material involving Nazis and child abuse, that will undoubtedly shock many. It caused massive walk-outs on its initial release in 1987 and, mainly because of the controversial subject material, it quickly vanished into obscurity.

Klaus (Gunter Meisner) is a former Nazi medical experimenter, a job that enabled him to commit the most appalling sex-crimes against young boys. Now, not long after the war, he lives incognito somewhere in Catalonia, still sought after by the authorities, but relatively safe for the time being in Franco's Spain. But soon, he again gives in to his depraved desires, until shame and despair drive him to jump off the roof in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Because of his jump, he is paralyzed from the neck down, kept alive on an iron lung in the enclosed surroundings of his own home, where he is ministered by his resentful wife Griselda (Marisa Paredes) and her young daughter Rena (Gisela Echevarria). Soon Angelo (David Sust) enters his environment who offers his services as a nurse. Against Griselda's judgement, Klaus insists that the visitor be allowed to take the post. Soon a perverse relationship develops between Angelo and Klaus, becoming ever more macabre as Angelo reveals he has found diaries detailing Klaus' wartime activities.

Director Villaronga manages to built up the tension and suspense in an exceptionally effective manner. Very little violence is shown on screen, but it makes the film all the more disturbing. After it becomes clear Angelo is losing his mind and grows more insane (and murderous), the film grows more intense every minute.

The film was carefully designed by director Agustí Villaronga who uses basically one set, a large Mediterranean villa. There's an ice-cold blue look, blueish lighting, blue clothes, everything has the same tone, right till the unforgettable closing image in the last scene. The masterfully orchestrated score and the universally supreme performances (the young David Sust is especially impressive in his screen debut) make this a near perfect film.

A tough recommendation and not for all tastes, but frankly, any adult who's not able to cope with material like this, shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets at night. Unrightfully dismissed by many as as just a gruesome shocker, there's much more on offer here. An exceptional achievement, clearly deserving wider exposure.

Camera Obscura --- 9/10

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24 out of 34 people found the following review useful:
Supremely dark and disturbing horror film., 10 November 2004
10/10
Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

"In a Glass Cage" has to be one of the most disturbing horror films ever made.The film is extremely intense and so incredibly depressing and powerful in its honest depiction of mankind's failure and instincts towards violence and sadism.The soundtrack is outstanding and the music alone will make the viewer speechless,not to speak the sound of an iron lung that has to be among the most disgusting sounds I've ever heard.The acting is excellent,but there are several truly disturbing scenes of pedophilia and child murder."In a Glass Cage" is a very difficult movie to watch,however you'll also walk away mesmerized by the disgusting beauty of this film itself.Nazi doctor Meisner abused and killed many young boys during war.After a suicide attempt he is now paralyzed and confined to an iron lung.One day,his former victim Angelo comes to work for him as a nurse.However,the revenge he has planned for the cripple is dominated by traumatic perversion.Give this overlooked masterpiece a look.10 out of 10.

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15 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Repulsive, distinctive film to rot your soul's core., 29 May 2001
Author: Mattydee74 from Sydney, Australia

There are few films as utterly repulsive - but nonetheless distinctive and well-made - as Tras el cristal. This Spanish assault on the senses is the terrible tale of a nazi torturer whose cruel desires for murdering and abusing young boys leads him to attempt suicide. His failure leaves him imprisoned in an iron lung - and us viewers in his grotesque and dirty nightmare. Attended by an assortment of ghoulish figures he deliberates his history. A new nurse is employed, however, who has a special interest in "caring" for this impotent nightmare of an individual. From there the film becomes a black vision of the psychological and physical scars which can destroy individuals and the violent force of tainted memories and shredded, wasted lives. Its a graphic film but doesn't dwell or portray the reprehensible acts of the lead character. It does contain some horrific violence and torture though spares the audience representation of the sexual abuse and more extreme details which the script skirts over.

Marisa Paredes - a familiar face from numerous Pedro Almodovar films - is suitably creepy in a small role. This film will get under your skin like a mite and disturb you for quite a while. Its nonetheless memorable and well-constructed but an endurance text for audiences used to much more "clean" treatments of these issues in American films. The film plays like a nightmare and is continuously and utterly bereft of emotion - one of its most disturbing elements amongst many, many others. But this very lack of emotion goes some way to interrogating the consciousness of the terrifyingly blank lead character. It remains banned in Australia and other territories in the early part of the 21st century. While not deserving this fate, it is not a film many will be able to bear I imagine. Its not certain the point and vision of this film goes anywhere but deep inside, rotting the soul's core. In any case, its reputation has assured it will be seen in the wrong context and for the sake of shock. Not that there's anything wrong with that... except this film begs for a more considered approach even if it goes all grand guignol and over the top in its closing 1/3.

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14 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
The most deeply disturbing film I have ever seen, 16 September 1999
8/10
Author: Dave Godin (Dave G) from Sheffield, England

No distributor has been foolish enough to try and get this film past the British film censors, (you have to pay, even if your movie is rejected), but it was shown at two local festivals, and at the London screening, an initial audience of about 150 was reduced to a mere 12 by the end. It is unremittingly grim, harrowing and disturbing, and yet it probes the darkest depths to which humankind can sink, and demands that we confront "the unspeakable" which is so often avoided precisely because it is to painful to even speak about. My only moral reservation about this film is the use of very young actors in it. Although on the end credits there is a disclaimer stating that the highest standards of probity were employed during the film's production with regard to minors, I cannot see how some scenes were filmed without the youngsters having some idea of their sado-sexual context. Under British law, the public exhibition of such a film would be illegal unless it could be proven that clever editing etc., avoided these minors being aware of the scene's context. That said however, it is a film I would defend since it goes to the very heart of humankind's propensity for cruelty and barbarism, using the metaphors of authoritarian politics and authoritarian sexuality. And, after all, the film only shows being done to humans what society daily visits upon the animal kingdom - it is just a question of degree. To describe it as a "horror" film is wrong; it is unique and beyond categorization, although "horrendous" is certainly apt.

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Dark, Bizarre and Disturbing, 7 January 2012
8/10
Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Spain, the former Nazi doctor Klaus (Günter Meisner) tries to commit suicide jumping off the roof of his manor. However, he survives with the entire body paralyzed and dependable of an iron lung with glass sides. His wife Griselda (Marisa Paredes) decides to hire a nurse since she does not bear the situation. Klaus asks Griselda to hire Angelo (David Sust), a mysterious teenager that appears in their house. Angelo befriends Klaus' daughter Rena (Gisèla Echevarría) and sooner it is shown that Klaus was a pedophile that loved to feel the fear of death in young boys before abusing and killing them. Further, Angelo is a disturbed and totally insane victim of his experiments that intends to follow the insanities described in Klaus' diary and incorporate his personality.

"Tras el Cristal", a.k.a "In the Glass Cage". Is one of the most dark, bizarre and disturbing films that I have recently seen. The cruelty of Klaus with the boys described in his diary is unthinkable and so sick that it is hard to believe that a normal person may have written this story.

The performances are top-notch and the conclusion is open to the most different interpretations. I understand that Angelo has followed the footsteps of Klaus and ended in the iron lung like his mentor. Rena is so disturbed with the revelations about her father that she is insane and will follow the footsteps of Angelo.

In the Extras in the Bonus Disc, the director Agustí Villaronga provides additional information about "In the Glass Cage", "Black Bread" and "The Sea" very interesting. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Prisão de Cristal" ("Cristal Prison")

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9 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
A Daring And Fearless Film..., 1 March 2006
9/10
Author: EVOL666 from St. John's Abortion Clinic

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

First off - IN A GLASS CAGE is not a film for the "mainstream" film-goer. The subject matter of this film is very dark, and although it's not especially "gory", the abuse and torture featured is displayed unflinchingly and unapologetically.

Klaus is an ex-Nazi doctor and a pedophile, who after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, is confined to an iron-lung in order to keep him alive. His wife, Griselda, is beginning to feel the stress of caring for someone who is absolutely dependent on her for even the most basic needs - and decides it's time to hire a proper nurse. Right about this time, Angelo - a young man who claims to be a nurse - shows up to offer his assistance. Despite the fact that Angelo is obviously pretty inexperienced in terms of nursing skills, Klaus convinces Griselda to let the boy stay. But Angelo seems to have alterior motives for his interest in Klaus - and we soon begin to realize that Angelo's "interest" in Klaus is not in his care and well-being - but much the opposite...

IN A GLASS CAGE is a strong and confrontational film, exploring subjects of pedophilia, madness, and revenge head-on. With inferior films such as SALO: 120 DAYS OF SODOM exploring much of the same territory (and doing a much poorer job of it...) - I'm surprised that IN A GLASS CAGE hasn't received more notoriety or recognition than it has. It's hard to rate or "enjoy" a film like this...but it IS a film to be appreciated for it's stark honesty in dealing with objectionable subject matter. Never quite falling into the "sleazy" category (as the aforementioned SALO does...), IN A GLASS CAGE is really a very primal tale of lost innocence and revenge. Not to be outshadowed by the subject matter of the film, are the absolutely exceptional performances by all involved. The characters of Klaus, Griselda, Rena (their daughter), and most notably, Angelo - are all played with incredible realism and commitment - not an easy thing to do given the extremely challenging content. There are also a few brief scenes by some young supporting actors that are absolutely harrowing. Also of note is the strong and competent cinematography, with a very conscious awareness of color (or lack thereof...) and certain tense scenes that to me recalled moments of Argento's SUSPIRIA - and are as tense as any horror film I've ever seen.

Overall, I can't say that I "enjoyed" IN A GLASS CAGE in terms of sheer "entertainment" value, because there is really nothing to enjoy about child abuse and pedophilia - but I respect Agusti Villaronga's fearless direction and integrity. I would not recommend this film to those that do not actively seek out challenging, disturbing, thought-provoking cinema - and "gorehounds" and "sleaze-addicts" (of which I admittedly AM one also...) will probably be disappointed if they go into this film looking for a blood-bath or a sleazy trash-fest. But the more daring and open-minded viewers will probably appreciate - if not necessarily enjoy - this incredibly ballsy film. 9/10

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6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Dark themed thriller, 19 January 2009
8/10
Author: Prof-Hieronymos-Grost from Ireland

Klaus, a crippled former Nazi doctor is now living out his days in an iron lung, with his wife Griselda caring for him on a full time basis. She resents this fact as she has no time for herself or their daughter Rena. So when Angelo, a young man comes calling claiming to be a nurse she employs him, but soon becomes suspicious of his credentials and she's right to be as he has ulterior motives for taking the position. As a child he had spied on Klaus's killing spree and had in fact taken his notes on killing and hid the body of his last victim, as Klaus in grief had tried to kill himself, which just resulted in him being paralysed. Angelo wants to become just like him and teases Klaus, urging him to give in to his lustful murderous cravings one more time, Klaus denies him but eventually gives in as he is scared his real past will be revealed to his family. Uber disturbing incite into the minds of a dying Nazi killer and a killer in the making, Villaraonga's film explores the dark realms of paedophilia, torture and child killing in a very open way, but without resorting to sensationalism. A hard film to watch, it remains riveting but not for all tastes. The ending is also likely to confuse many.

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9 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Extremely intense, only for the adventurous, 14 September 1998
Author: EYEboy from Greensboro, NC

Talk about a movie that lives up to its reputation -- In a Glass Cage is relentlessly intense from start to finish. The story of a Nazi doctor /pedophile in hiding and the strange young man who comes to work as his "nurse," this film explores taboos with relish. Unfortunately, it devolves into horror movie shtick toward its end (thereby obfuscating the very real horrors it has developed to that point), but In a Glass Cage packs a wallop , earning its reputation as one of the more disturbing movies ever made. It 's very much a European movie, and, given its horrifying subject matter -- pedophilia, the torture and murder of children, the relationship between monsters and their victims -- it could never have been made in the U.S. Strongly recommended for viewers who have strong stomachs and are not otherwise easily offended; all others are urged to avoid it at all costs.

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5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
a superbly beautiful film...that still underachieves..., 23 October 2009
8/10
Author: verbumctf from Lower Normandy, France

but I hasten to add, what the director aims to achieve is neigh unattainable.

In the DVD interview, the director says he was inspired by Georges Bataille and that author's study of Gilles de Rais, the French lord who helped Joan of Arc's campaigns, apparently with exemplary Christian zeal, and who later in life became the world's most notorious torturer and killer of children.

Bataille examines human passion with surgical precision. And he doesn't just analyse: his writings evoke the power chords of 'love' that draw their separate ways sinner and saint.

Villaronga's film falls into 'horror' genre mode at key moments in the story's development. If the director could have depicted his characters' behaviour with sustained realism, his film would , like Bataille's work, tell us more about the nature of evil and be indeed a masterpiece of cinema.

As it is, 'In a Glass Cage' is most beautifully realised with remarkable actors and isn't, finally, altogether a 'horror' film: there's enough realism to give us cause for thought.

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