Good luck watching old films, let me know what your feelings are!

Cheers!

More important things left aside, I agree with the notion that being familiar with Haneke’s work will only help you appreciate this film. After seeing much of his works I couldn’t help but feel that it was a natural progression for the director.

As for deterministic approach, it is less “decided” than Funny Games, but what film set in an outset of WWI won’t feel a bit deterministic? The film “breathes” with the idea that something is wrong with the town and in this regard it has strange connection with Lars Von Trier’s Dogville which is also about evil breeding among strict and austere small town community.

I have to agree with the distancing effect he uses and how that sets a distinct tone in the film. I both loved that and was frustrated by it, to the point where I think I come out of this with a very similar reaction to yours.

Of course, this was my first experience with Haneke, so I’m guessing if I see a few more of his films, it may put this in a different light.

I notice you don’t mention Haneke’s notorious inclination towards messing with his audience. From my perspective, the tricks he plays (the push/pull nature of the narrative and the purposeful teasing of violence) in some ways overshadow the points he may be trying to make. In other words, the more I became convinced Haneke was using the movie to serve as a metatextual way to play a game with the viewer, the less impact his themes on fascism had.

Again, I’m torn on if this is good or bad, but if nothing else, it makes it all that much more interesting.