The Seventh Continent (1989)
"Der siebente Kontinent" (original title)

A European family who plan on escaping to Australia, seem caught up in their daily routine, only troubled by minor incidents. However, behind their apparent calm and repetitive existence, they are actually planning something sinister.

Director:

Michael Haneke

Writers:

Michael Haneke, Johanna Teicht (script)

Stars:

Birgit Doll, Dieter Berner, Leni Tanzer

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Birgit Doll	...	Anna Schober
Dieter Berner	...	Georg Schober
Leni Tanzer	...	Evi Schober
Udo Samel	...	Alexander
Silvia Fenz	...	Optiker Kundin
Robert Dietl
Elisabeth Rath	...	Lehrerin
Georges Kern
Georg Friedrich	...	Störungsdienst der Post

Storyline

A European family who plan on escaping to Australia, seem caught up in their daily routine, only troubled by minor incidents. However, behind their apparent calm and repetitive existence, they are actually planning something sinister.

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Plot Keywords:

knife | suicide note | writing on a wall | husband wife relationship | quitting a job | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Austria

Language:

German French English

Release Date:

14 April 1993 (France)

Also Known As:

The Seventh Continent

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wega Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First part of Michael Haneke's "Glaciation Trilogy" also including Benny's Video and 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance.

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Quotes

Anna Schober: Four days ago, at the beginning of the month, Georg started in his new position. It took him a lot to get there. You might remember that when he first started, his new boss didn't like him at all. But now he's made it. He brought new inspiration to the department. So when his boss fell ill with an intestinal problem and was off sick more than at work, Georg was asked to take over the department provisionally. His boss is retiring soon anyway. Georg's appointment as head of department is just a ...

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Connections

Referenced in 24 Realities per Second (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Send Me Roses"
(uncredited)
Written by Günter Mokesch and Karin Raab
Performed by Günter Mokesch and Karin Raab

User Reviews

What happens when people are dead from the inside?

I saw this movie recently and it blew my mind. The long shots, showing the mundane aspects of life. The camera aiming at the actions rather than the characters, symbolizing the every day ordeal of a conformist life. The eternal agony of a family, who slowly tears apart from everything that connects them with the world.

This is not a pleasant movie to watch. It's sad, bleak, disturbing and angry; and Haneke doesn't make it easier to the viewers. He presents life as it is, without any dramatization; and what it strikes me the most is the pace in which he presents it. The characters doesn't shout (they speak every once in a while), fight or cry their hearts out; they just keep on doing the same things they do every day. However, as you watch closer, you sense that something is completely wrong.

To me this is as an existential film as you can get. The world is there: raw, unsympathetic and indifferent. Everything happens without a reason, without hope; and the character's lack of desire to confront the nothingness of an empty life is the central theme of this movie.

"What happens when people are dead from the inside?" That's what I asked myself after watching this cold, cynical, gem of a movie. Can be someone dead from the inside and alive from the outside?. If so, could that person communicate with any other person? How can we avoid the meaningless things in life? Should we fight them back or surrender to them? Watch this movie and then you may find the answers to those questions..... or may be not. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!. Avoid watching it if you're a bit depressed. This movie is bleak and challenging as hell.