My first experience with a Lars Von Trier film was Breaking the Waves in 1996.  So when I read that this film, Antichrist, was made by the same as well as starred one of my favorites, Willem Dafoe, I simply could not resist.  That information told me one thing for sure:  it would be interesting, one way or another.  And I expected good things.  I won't go so far as Von Trier, who has referred to himself as the greatest director out there, but I will admit that I expect to be entertained and come away thoughtful when his work rears its head. 

As He (Willem Dafoe) and She (Charlotte Gainsbourg) are having passionate sex, their young son, Nic, climbs from his crib and tragedy strikes.  She undergoes a month's stay at a hospital where He feels she is not getting the care she requires.  He is a therapist in his own right so he takes it upon himself to oversee her care.  Upon realizing that not much can be accomplished at home, the couple travels to a cabin in the woods, Eden, to continue.  It happens that She and Nic had spent time in the cabin while she was attempting to write her thesis the year before.  The film takes a bizarre turn at this point but I never found it confusing or hard to follow.  Of course it is open to interpretation, as is any piece of art, but I doubt many would turn away from boredom as sometimes befalls movies that fail to follow a particular pattern.  There is enough here to hold the attention, that is for certain.  But I would not recommend this film to the casual viewer.  I feel it requires a lot of its audience.

Critically, Antichrist has been all over the map.  Some rave about the visuals while others damn it for coming across as offensively misogynistic and cruel, with sexual violence to boot.  Do I find it misogynistic?  I can see how that can be interpreted, of course, but I fail to see that as the ultimate goal.  As for its themes, I could honestly see numerous at play for myself.  I feel that this film will allow you to take from it what you will.  It has confounded more aged critics than I.  Are women inherently evil?  Perhaps that is the question Von Trier poses.  There are certainly scenes which could lead the viewer in that direction. Personally, if asked to nail it down, I would say that I don't believe Von Trier is saying that women are evil at all.  I believe that he is saying that women have been perceived as evil throughout the years.  She is researching her thesis and consequently reads much material on this subject.  I believe that Von Trier is saying she has changed the perception of herself by being exposed to those opinions and therefore ends up becoming what men have accused us of being for centuries.  Or maybe he just enjoys his films to be mired in controversy.  But I don't get offended by the opinions of others (I fail to see how that does anyone any good) so even if that was his intended statement, it does not subtract from my personal enjoyment of the film.  The imagery is so striking that the subject matter honestly means very little in comparison.  I would even go so far to say that you could watch this film in silence and get just as much from the experience although then you would be missing out on the score.

Offended by the opinions of others (I fail to see how that does anyone any good), so even if that was his intended statement, it does not subtract from my personal enjoyment of the film.  The imagery is so striking that the subject matter honestly means very little in comparison.  I would even go so far to say that you could watch this film in silence and get just as much from the experience although then you would be missing out on the score.

Far and away, the visuals are what sets this film apart from many others that might explore similar topics or attempt to shock its audience as this movie has been accused of doing by critics worldwide.  The opening sequence, The Prologue, is a mesmerizing black and white slow-motion scene from which any moment could be stolen for a beautiful still photograph.  At one point I paused it just as His foot kicked over some water.  The droplets were frozen in air and I sat transfixed for a brief moment, unable to tear myself away from the beauty.  I then sat back down, forgetting why I paused it to begin with, and watched the remainder of the film without once looking away.  There were, of course, many times I wished to avert my eyes.  Antichrist contains many powerful images.  Some of those will be etched in my memory for ages, much to the alarm of my senses.  My nightmares, however, rejoice at the addition of fresh ammunition.

Incidentally, a Danish newspaper has reported that a video game called "Eden" is in the works that would "start where the film ends. It will be a self-therapeutic journey into your own darkest fears, and will break the boundaries of what you can and can't do in video games," says video game director Morten Iversen.  To that I reply simply, "hmmm."

begin with, and watched the remainder of the film without once looking away.  There were, of course, many times I wished to avert my eyes.  Antichrist contains many powerful images.  Some of those will be etched in my memory for ages, much to the alarm of my senses.  My nightmares, however, rejoice at the addition of fresh ammunition.

Incidentally, a Danish newspaper has reported that a video game called "Eden" is in the works that would "start where the film ends. It will be a self-therapeutic journey into your own darkest fears, and will break the boundaries of what you can and can't do in video games," says video game director Morten Iversen.  To that I reply simply, "hmmm."