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.
42 Reviews
Strange and disturbing art-shocker film with original but slow direction by Agusti Villaronga
ma-cortes1 August 2015
Spanish ¨cult movie¨ with astonishing images and deliberately paced . This moving as well as strong story is an emotive recounting and an intense horror drama , including tragedy , deaths and bloody executions by hanging , stabbing and other means . After torturing and murdering his latest victim , a Nazi doctor named Klaus (Gunter Meisner) throws himself off a roof , all of it has been secretly witnessed by a little boy . Some years later, his suicide failed attempt , his wife Griselda (Marisa Paredes, Almodovar's ordinary) decides to contract a worker to care him . As Klaus is forced to be confined to an artifact contains an iron lung and to accept a mysterious boy called Angelo (David Sust) as his nurse under threat of blackmail . Meanwhile , Angelo befriends Klaus' daughter (Echevarria) , and the rare teenager possesses the Klaus's diary, which details his wartime experiments in concentration camps and his ulteriorly descent into pedophilia and killing .
The picture is full of suspense , mystery , screechy bursts of violence and lots of blood and gore . As this terror as well as claustrophobic flick shown to the audience gets more and more violent . This slick horror feast is a triumph of style over movie logic . It's packed with overwhelming as well as upsetting images , excessive violence and grotesque killings . Here is treated some disturbing issues such as fetish for young boys , pedophilia , sodomy , eerie tortures and grisly killings . Good acting by Gunter Meisner as former Nazi doctor-turned-pedophile , paralyzed from the neck down and who subsequently feels guilt . Günter Meisner originally turned down the role , horrified by the story . According to Villaronga , Meisner called him a few weeks later to accept the part, arguing he couldn't stop thinking about it . Gunter was a character actor who worked continuously in movies due to his aristocratic style , making him ideal for typecasting in British and later American films as Nazis and other vile , despicable roles , what was ironic about his typecasting as a Nazi is that he stayed in a Nazi death camp during World War II . Although well-known for playing Hitler and various others warlike movies , Meisner was a fine actor who played several support roles , being specially known for his secondaries in ¨The Boys from Brazil¨ , ¨Night crossing¨, ¨Ace of Aces¨ , ¨Avalanche Express¨ and his character as Mr Slugworth in ¨Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ¨ . Furthermore , disturbing acting by David Sust as a boy secretly witnessed the doctor's torture , displaying his ambition to follow in the older man's footsteps and finally unleashes his own criminal spree .
Director/writer Agustí Villaronga said that the origin of the story came when he read about Giles De Rais (1404-1440), a devoutly religious follower of Joan of Arc who fought valiantly on her side and was later trialed and executed by the Catholic Church for heresy and sexual crimes committed against children . As Rais served as a commander in the Royal Army, distinguishing himself by displaying reckless bravery on the battlefield during the renewal of the Hundred Years War . He killed, or ordered to be killed , a great but uncertain number of children after he committed sodomy upon them . In fact , forty bodies were discovered in Machecoul , France , in 1437 . Gilles' body-servant Étienne Corrillaut , known as Poitou, was an accomplice in many of the crimes and testified that his master hung his victims with ropes from a hook . The victims were killed by decapitation, cutting of their throats, dismemberment, or breaking of their necks with a stick . Rais's prosecution would be on charges which included murder , sodomy, and heresy. The precise number of Gilles' victims is not known, as most of the bodies were burned or buried. The number of murders is generally placed between 80 and 200; a few have conjectured numbers upwards of 600 . The victims ranged in age from six to eighteen and included both sexes.
Downbeat and frightening musical score by Javier Navarrete . Dark as well colorful cinematography by Jaume Peracaula . This motion picture titled ¨In a glass cage¨ or ¨Tras el Cristal¨ was compellingly directed by Agusti Villaronga . Agusti was born in 1953 in Majorca, Balearic Islands ; he uses to make films including genuine chills , suspense , mystery and dark atmospheres . His movies pack excellent creation of taut , thriller , emotions and rare atmospheres such as ¨Aro Tolbukhin¨ , ¨El mar¨ , ¨El Niño De la Luna¨ also starred by Gunter Meisner and especially ¨Black bread¨ or ¨Pan Negro¨ , or Pa Negre¨ , this was his greatest success , winning several Goyas .
The picture is full of suspense , mystery , screechy bursts of violence and lots of blood and gore . As this terror as well as claustrophobic flick shown to the audience gets more and more violent . This slick horror feast is a triumph of style over movie logic . It's packed with overwhelming as well as upsetting images , excessive violence and grotesque killings . Here is treated some disturbing issues such as fetish for young boys , pedophilia , sodomy , eerie tortures and grisly killings . Good acting by Gunter Meisner as former Nazi doctor-turned-pedophile , paralyzed from the neck down and who subsequently feels guilt . Günter Meisner originally turned down the role , horrified by the story . According to Villaronga , Meisner called him a few weeks later to accept the part, arguing he couldn't stop thinking about it . Gunter was a character actor who worked continuously in movies due to his aristocratic style , making him ideal for typecasting in British and later American films as Nazis and other vile , despicable roles , what was ironic about his typecasting as a Nazi is that he stayed in a Nazi death camp during World War II . Although well-known for playing Hitler and various others warlike movies , Meisner was a fine actor who played several support roles , being specially known for his secondaries in ¨The Boys from Brazil¨ , ¨Night crossing¨, ¨Ace of Aces¨ , ¨Avalanche Express¨ and his character as Mr Slugworth in ¨Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ¨ . Furthermore , disturbing acting by David Sust as a boy secretly witnessed the doctor's torture , displaying his ambition to follow in the older man's footsteps and finally unleashes his own criminal spree .
Director/writer Agustí Villaronga said that the origin of the story came when he read about Giles De Rais (1404-1440), a devoutly religious follower of Joan of Arc who fought valiantly on her side and was later trialed and executed by the Catholic Church for heresy and sexual crimes committed against children . As Rais served as a commander in the Royal Army, distinguishing himself by displaying reckless bravery on the battlefield during the renewal of the Hundred Years War . He killed, or ordered to be killed , a great but uncertain number of children after he committed sodomy upon them . In fact , forty bodies were discovered in Machecoul , France , in 1437 . Gilles' body-servant Étienne Corrillaut , known as Poitou, was an accomplice in many of the crimes and testified that his master hung his victims with ropes from a hook . The victims were killed by decapitation, cutting of their throats, dismemberment, or breaking of their necks with a stick . Rais's prosecution would be on charges which included murder , sodomy, and heresy. The precise number of Gilles' victims is not known, as most of the bodies were burned or buried. The number of murders is generally placed between 80 and 200; a few have conjectured numbers upwards of 600 . The victims ranged in age from six to eighteen and included both sexes.
Downbeat and frightening musical score by Javier Navarrete . Dark as well colorful cinematography by Jaume Peracaula . This motion picture titled ¨In a glass cage¨ or ¨Tras el Cristal¨ was compellingly directed by Agusti Villaronga . Agusti was born in 1953 in Majorca, Balearic Islands ; he uses to make films including genuine chills , suspense , mystery and dark atmospheres . His movies pack excellent creation of taut , thriller , emotions and rare atmospheres such as ¨Aro Tolbukhin¨ , ¨El mar¨ , ¨El Niño De la Luna¨ also starred by Gunter Meisner and especially ¨Black bread¨ or ¨Pan Negro¨ , or Pa Negre¨ , this was his greatest success , winning several Goyas .
Dark, Bizarre and Disturbing
claudio_carvalho7 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
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")
"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")
Intensily disturbing film
Camera-Obscura5 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
dismal, dreary, and too long
Jonny_Numb29 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Well, if you're looking for a film more apt than "Apt Pupil," feel free to knock yourself out with "In a Glass Cage." A Nazi doctor confined to an Iron Lung is tormented by a former victim who poses as a housekeeper (but is even more mentally unbalanced than the good doctor himself) in order to learn the tricks of torture he used during the war. Despite the good performances, the psychological bond between these two is rather half-baked and unbelievable (partly because it's so weakly written), even more so when the kid starts performing his own murders in the doctor's witness. The script is much more content to wallow in its own outre subject matter than approach it with a fresh, absorbing insight--basically, we hear the same rants on molestation and murder over and over again, but the film isn't curious about exploring these themes on anything other than a very basic level. The mood of the film (and that is one thing it DOES have, in abundance) is often broken by elements that seem lifted from a slasher film (the wife's hanging is a prime example), and it simply goes on too long, playing the same repetitious notes over and over again. If you want to see a truly disturbing film that is a masterpiece of both depravity and intelligence, try Pasolini's "Salo"; "In a Glass Cage" only has the depravity.
5.5/10.
5.5/10.
Definitely not a film to watch with the family at Christmas
fluff-bomb22 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
First and foremost, this film is not an easy one to watch and comes with a trigger warning for anyone sensitive to themes of rape and child molestation. -Spoilers-
This film is centered around the character of Klaus, an ex Nazi doctor who has presumably escaped Germany after the war. We learn from the offset that Klaus has an animal-like lust for sexually torturing and killing young children. Eventually the mental strain of this becomes too much and he attempts suicide, jumping from the rooftop of his home. Unsuccessful, Klaus is confined to a giant iron and glass lung which serves as his life support as well as his prison, as he is paralysed from the neck down.
His wife, Griselda, employs a young man, Angelo, to help care for Klaus. Unbeknown to her that Angelo was previously groomed by Klaus.
We learn that Angelo has taken on the role of Klaus, sexually assaulting and murdering young children to appease him. He does this whilst also grooming Rena, Klaus' 7 year old daughter.
-All in all when reviewing this film you need to remove your thoughts of the content and focus on how it was executed. The heavy use of blue tinting and poor lighting makes the scene feel cold and surgical in appearance. This, coupled with the portrayal of Angelo's almost emotionless character makes the film feel so much more intoxicating to watch and leaves you also speechless and cold inside as we are forced to sympathise with a paedophile. It's a film that reminds oneself of just how primal and horrific human nature can be.
The ending of Rena climbing on top of the glass cage that Angelo now inhabits gives a chilling feeling of how the cycle of abuse continues, yet creating an ending that could still be argued as ambiguous.
7/10
This film is centered around the character of Klaus, an ex Nazi doctor who has presumably escaped Germany after the war. We learn from the offset that Klaus has an animal-like lust for sexually torturing and killing young children. Eventually the mental strain of this becomes too much and he attempts suicide, jumping from the rooftop of his home. Unsuccessful, Klaus is confined to a giant iron and glass lung which serves as his life support as well as his prison, as he is paralysed from the neck down.
His wife, Griselda, employs a young man, Angelo, to help care for Klaus. Unbeknown to her that Angelo was previously groomed by Klaus.
We learn that Angelo has taken on the role of Klaus, sexually assaulting and murdering young children to appease him. He does this whilst also grooming Rena, Klaus' 7 year old daughter.
-All in all when reviewing this film you need to remove your thoughts of the content and focus on how it was executed. The heavy use of blue tinting and poor lighting makes the scene feel cold and surgical in appearance. This, coupled with the portrayal of Angelo's almost emotionless character makes the film feel so much more intoxicating to watch and leaves you also speechless and cold inside as we are forced to sympathise with a paedophile. It's a film that reminds oneself of just how primal and horrific human nature can be.
The ending of Rena climbing on top of the glass cage that Angelo now inhabits gives a chilling feeling of how the cycle of abuse continues, yet creating an ending that could still be argued as ambiguous.
7/10
An unflinching gaze into the abyss of human corruption
Libretio12 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
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)
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)
Uneven, but interesting film
cinemaofdreams23 March 2002
John Waters described this film as more intense than Pasolini's Salo. I must say I disagree. This film starts out intensely, and contains some nerve wracking suspense but fades into mediocrity as the graphic murders begin. It does contain a couple of very disturbing scenes of the murder of young boys but is by far less gory, or brutal than say Wes Craven's Nightmare On Elm Street (which is considered entertainment),this film was made as a statement but not as entertainment. Even Salo is not as violent as a Freddie Krueger film, and that character is an icon to some. Neither Salo, nor this film in any way titillates and though I in no way blame anyone for being offended by either film, accusing the filmmakers of promoting sadism or pedophilia makes me wonder if those who accuse have really watched these films (at least seriously). If you want to see a disturbing, exploitative film - watch Cannibal Holocaust. That film is trash. This film, as it is, is interesting (and yes, disturbing) but it is only a partially successful meditation upon the depths of human depravity.
Supremely dark and disturbing horror film.
HumanoidOfFlesh10 November 2004
"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.
Great masturbation scene but not much else
the_cinesexual29 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Although I've watched this movie three times the only thing that's stuck with me is the scene in which the male protagonist masturbates and ejaculates on the face of his former abuser. It's pretty much the only suggestive and psychologically rich moment in the whole film. There's no penis shown and no "money shot" but, besides "pleasuring himself," the handsome and talented lead also delivers, during that onanistic act, a wrenching monologue simultaneously condemning and rewarding his tormentor, as well as a focused and powerful performance. That intensity is never achieved again. I can't help but think that the film exists solely to deliver that scene and that insight. Since I can't think of another film quite that honest in its exploration of abuse maybe watching the rest of the movie, whose eventual plot machinations are strictly rote, may be worth it.
Just not for me.
Just not for me.
Dull
horizon200811 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Slow, and at many times boring,In a glass cage really doesn't deserve much of the notoriety it has. It's basically a revenge flick which you can work out almost from the beginning what is about to take place.
There are actually no real graphic scenes at all, which is strange as many seem to have stated here that there are. Sure, the subject matter may be a little off-putting for some, but the two kills are bland - basically just an injection and an (off camera) throat cutting. I really didn't see the big shock in that. It's a quite dark movie, with heavy use of blues, black, and green, and a chase scene has some music straight out of an Argento flick ending in something that also looks like the Italian horror maestros work. But due to the boredom factor I wouldn't watch In a glass cage again.. This could easily be a 15 rated movie in my opinion. I'd avoid it if your time is limited.
There are actually no real graphic scenes at all, which is strange as many seem to have stated here that there are. Sure, the subject matter may be a little off-putting for some, but the two kills are bland - basically just an injection and an (off camera) throat cutting. I really didn't see the big shock in that. It's a quite dark movie, with heavy use of blues, black, and green, and a chase scene has some music straight out of an Argento flick ending in something that also looks like the Italian horror maestros work. But due to the boredom factor I wouldn't watch In a glass cage again.. This could easily be a 15 rated movie in my opinion. I'd avoid it if your time is limited.
My God this one is Disturbing!
Shaza12323 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
It took me a long time to finish this movie. It's one of those films that is so well made, but so utterly disturbing, it's a truly difficult film to watch. Even the very opening scene should be enough to rattle your skin.
So here's the story;
We see a Nazi pedophile doctor named Klaus holding a young boy captive, who is naked and hanging from the wall, severely abused. Klaus kills the poor boy but unbeknownst to him, another boy happens to witness this. Klaus later seems to feel remorse, you see this is not the first boy he has tortured and killed, and attempts to kill himself, but fails. He is now paralysed and needs an iron lung to survive, he is totally dependent on his wife. Eventually, a male nurse named Angelo is hired to take care of him, little is known that Angelo has some sick plans for Klaus.
Why should you see this film?
This is a very intense and depressing movie, the plot alone should be an indicator in this, but what's surprising is how well made it is. The film itself is very dark and its use of colour is magnificent, especially the ending. The acting is great, real top notch here, the actors playing Klaus and Angelo really knocked it out of the park. The message of this film runs deeply, the sad cycle of abuse really hits close to home, and you'll find yourself unsure of who you should be sympathising with. These characters are not just two dimensional, they are layered and offer a real interesting insight into the horror's of abuse. Most of the physical violence in this one is off screen, but it's the psychological violence that really makes the viewers uncomfortable, this is a disturbing movie for sure!
However, as with most extreme movies, it's hard to recommend this one. The themes are just so hard to handle, it's enough to make even jaded viewers uneasy. I wasn't lying when I said it took me a long time to watch this movie. I watched the first half last year and only finished it a few weeks ago. I really struggled with it, but I'm glad I saw it ultimately and encourage those interested to check it out. Thankyou.
So here's the story;
We see a Nazi pedophile doctor named Klaus holding a young boy captive, who is naked and hanging from the wall, severely abused. Klaus kills the poor boy but unbeknownst to him, another boy happens to witness this. Klaus later seems to feel remorse, you see this is not the first boy he has tortured and killed, and attempts to kill himself, but fails. He is now paralysed and needs an iron lung to survive, he is totally dependent on his wife. Eventually, a male nurse named Angelo is hired to take care of him, little is known that Angelo has some sick plans for Klaus.
Why should you see this film?
This is a very intense and depressing movie, the plot alone should be an indicator in this, but what's surprising is how well made it is. The film itself is very dark and its use of colour is magnificent, especially the ending. The acting is great, real top notch here, the actors playing Klaus and Angelo really knocked it out of the park. The message of this film runs deeply, the sad cycle of abuse really hits close to home, and you'll find yourself unsure of who you should be sympathising with. These characters are not just two dimensional, they are layered and offer a real interesting insight into the horror's of abuse. Most of the physical violence in this one is off screen, but it's the psychological violence that really makes the viewers uncomfortable, this is a disturbing movie for sure!
However, as with most extreme movies, it's hard to recommend this one. The themes are just so hard to handle, it's enough to make even jaded viewers uneasy. I wasn't lying when I said it took me a long time to watch this movie. I watched the first half last year and only finished it a few weeks ago. I really struggled with it, but I'm glad I saw it ultimately and encourage those interested to check it out. Thankyou.
It's a horror film alright. No doubts
veganflimgeek21 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
In a glass cage.
Some plot spoilers
The review I read started with Vile and disturbing. Yet fascinating. Could not say it any better. This film is a masterpiece of Shock art. Moody and unflinching this movie tells the story of a nazi pedophile who after failing to end his f***ed up life is tortured when a young male nurse intends to carry out his perversion in front of him as a paralyzed witness.
That is what I call a horror film. The kind of horror film many even horror fans would not be able to sit through. This film not just exploitive crap though. It is well made with attention to detail and well acted through out.
Big thumbs up. I am not sure however how many people I would recommend this movie to.
Some plot spoilers
The review I read started with Vile and disturbing. Yet fascinating. Could not say it any better. This film is a masterpiece of Shock art. Moody and unflinching this movie tells the story of a nazi pedophile who after failing to end his f***ed up life is tortured when a young male nurse intends to carry out his perversion in front of him as a paralyzed witness.
That is what I call a horror film. The kind of horror film many even horror fans would not be able to sit through. This film not just exploitive crap though. It is well made with attention to detail and well acted through out.
Big thumbs up. I am not sure however how many people I would recommend this movie to.
hard to sit through, even harder to forget
mjneu5928 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Discriminating viewers might be excused for wishing this disturbing Spanish feature weren't so well made, because then it could be dismissed as merely gratuitous exploitation. The story concerns an aging, exiled Nazi prison camp doctor confined in a mechanical lung while his male 'nurse' tortures them both by recreating, with a mounting sense of dread and claustrophobia, the atrocities his invalid patient once performed, slowly turning their villa into his own private death camp. The style of the film is not unlike an old-fashioned monster movie, but sensitive patrons should be strongly cautioned: it confronts us with depravity in much the same way as the disturbed young Angelo confronts the helpless doctor with the crimes of his past, putting the viewer in the uncomfortable position of being a willing participant in crimes against humanity.
Repulsive, distinctive film to rot your soul's core.
Mattydee7429 May 2001
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.
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.
haunting!
jeek31 January 1999
"In A Glass Cage" is one of the most disturbing film i have ever seen ( and i have seen A LOT of movies). But, unlike "Caligula" or "Salo: 120 days of Sodom", this movie has meaning and importance. a story about a nazi sexual deviant in hiding, left helpless in an iron lung, being confronted by one of his victims is not for all tastes, but for those willing to take a peek, it will be an experience that will forever remain tattooed in the viewers memory. (***) out of 4.
Freaky Dark Disturbing
americafirstly28 June 2022
This movie definitely belongs in the horror genre. Despite not having tons of Gore, nudity, body count etc. The film definitely leaves you with a uneasy feeling while you watch.
To imagine yourself as any single character in the film portrayed is terrifying for sure.
Trigger Warning: movie involves abuse of young boys by men.
Basically years after being involved in Nazi style sex experimentation, a young man attempts to pick up the very torch of those who tortured him...
To imagine yourself as any single character in the film portrayed is terrifying for sure.
Trigger Warning: movie involves abuse of young boys by men.
Basically years after being involved in Nazi style sex experimentation, a young man attempts to pick up the very torch of those who tortured him...
A Daring And Fearless Film...
EVOL6661 March 2006
Warning: 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
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
a superbly beautiful film...that still underachieves...
verbumctf23 October 2009
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.
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.
Disturbing
znegative1 July 2016
This is a twisted film.
If you're set on putting yourself in a bad mood, watch 'In a Glass Cage'.
The story centers on a Nazi War Criminal/Paedophile/Child-Killer named 'Klaus' who after having fled into exile, has an accident and has to be put in an iron lung. His wife sends away for a nurse, and when a young boy named Angelo shows up, Klaus eagerly hires him, a decision he soon regrets, once it becomes clear that Angelo is just as sick, if not sicker then he is.
If you enjoy this movie, you're probably a pervert, so it's better to just say you appreciate it. Great sound effects and atmosphere here.
If you're set on putting yourself in a bad mood, watch 'In a Glass Cage'.
The story centers on a Nazi War Criminal/Paedophile/Child-Killer named 'Klaus' who after having fled into exile, has an accident and has to be put in an iron lung. His wife sends away for a nurse, and when a young boy named Angelo shows up, Klaus eagerly hires him, a decision he soon regrets, once it becomes clear that Angelo is just as sick, if not sicker then he is.
If you enjoy this movie, you're probably a pervert, so it's better to just say you appreciate it. Great sound effects and atmosphere here.
disturbing
dflorcyk16 November 2018
I like to think that i'm a fairly open minded person, I'm also an artist(painter). But I feel compelled to write this about this film. There are a lot of evil things that have gone on throughout humankind's history , some warrant being made into movies or paintings or other forms of art. Not all things warrant this. I can't begin to imagine the type of human being that would derive any sort of satisfaction from viewing this particular attempt at art. The actors were amazing and i'm by no means trying to take away from their performances , but my god.
Ultra disturbing. Good as a film. Can't recommend to anyone, though.
xqkqc27 March 2024
First, I'll just mention that this movie was good as a movie. The acting and cinematography were quite good. That said, I'm shocked that such a film was allowed to exist back when it was released. I would be shocked to see this released even today. The graphic depictions of child sexual abuse and torture is just nauseating. It cannot be overstated how graphic this film is. It leaves almost nothing to the imagination which already is too much to bear. Again, this completely and entirely revolves around children.
I could have perhaps handled this story as a book but on film, it's crossed a boundary for me. Which I didn't actually think existed until now. It feels illegal.
I just can't recommend watching this. The film's message was crystal clear but instead of letting you find it for yourself, it shoves it down your throat and tamps it down further with a broom handle.
While I can recognize some of this film's merits, I won't ever watch it again and I would feel like a legitimately sick individual if I were to recommend it to anyone. This film makes Martyrs look like The Sound of Music.
I could have perhaps handled this story as a book but on film, it's crossed a boundary for me. Which I didn't actually think existed until now. It feels illegal.
I just can't recommend watching this. The film's message was crystal clear but instead of letting you find it for yourself, it shoves it down your throat and tamps it down further with a broom handle.
While I can recognize some of this film's merits, I won't ever watch it again and I would feel like a legitimately sick individual if I were to recommend it to anyone. This film makes Martyrs look like The Sound of Music.
Aristic, but THE darkest thing I've ever seen ...
daniel_vasilaky14 November 2020
This one scarred me for life.
So why did I watch this? I was curious and in a really bad mood.
"Tras el Cristal" doesn't glorify evil but it doesn't condemn it either. Morally ambiguous, it's a bold move on the director's part, And I believe it is art, albeit nightmarish and haunting. The acting is superb; the cast give intense, realistic performances. The cinematography is mesmerizing, shot in a light of pale, blue drabness. The music is amazing, grim in the desperate realization that evil will always persist in man.
My caveat: This is NOT a "feel a good movie," to say the least. It shocked me, and I am pretty open-minded. But in the end I do think it's edifying.
So why did I watch this? I was curious and in a really bad mood.
"Tras el Cristal" doesn't glorify evil but it doesn't condemn it either. Morally ambiguous, it's a bold move on the director's part, And I believe it is art, albeit nightmarish and haunting. The acting is superb; the cast give intense, realistic performances. The cinematography is mesmerizing, shot in a light of pale, blue drabness. The music is amazing, grim in the desperate realization that evil will always persist in man.
My caveat: This is NOT a "feel a good movie," to say the least. It shocked me, and I am pretty open-minded. But in the end I do think it's edifying.
Extremely intense, only for the adventurous
EYEboy14 September 1998
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.
Weighty film, and as dark as they come
The_Void28 August 2006
In a Glass Cage isn't an easy film to get on with, as despite the fact that it doesn't contain a lot of blood and gore, the film is horrifying thanks to the power of suggestion and the implications of its characters actions. The film takes in themes of the horrors of war as well the implications of child molestation, and puts these two heinous ideas into one character; Klaus. Klaus is a former Nazi doctor turned paedophile who has found himself paralysed from the neck down after attempting to commit suicide. He now lives in a house with his wife and daughter, but must reside at all times inside a glass tube, which is referred to as his 'glass cage'. After breaking into the house, a young man named Angelo blackmails Klaus into taking him on as a nurse, despite the wishes of Klaus' wife who doesn't warm to the young man. However, it soon transpires that Angelo harbours a wish to become like Klaus, and begins to torture the former Nazi by instigating events to reflect what he used to enjoy, and by reading him passages from a diary detailing the man's obsession.
While In a Glass Cage may not be a very enjoyable film, it has to be said that it does give its viewer a lot to think about, and writer-director Agustí Villaronga ensures that his film packs a lot of emotional weight. The way that the director keeps everything bathed in darkness helps to ensure that the look of the film is dark as its subject matter, and this helps to convey the horrific themes on display. The relationship between the doctor and his nurse always makes up the backbone of the movie, and it's also the most interesting aspect as subplots involving the wife and the daughter never reach the same dark highs. The tone of the movie is very serious, and this helped by excellent performances from all concerned. Günter Meisner's performance takes in both evil and regret, as while he doesn't get to do much physical acting; he plays his part well. The main acting plaudits go to David Sust, however, who continually impresses with his role as the nurse; also the meatiest role in the film. It has to be said that this isn't a movie for the feint of heart, as scenes involving young boys are not nice to watch and the nihilistic tone of the movie doesn't make it much fun. Still, if you can stomach unpleasantness; this movie is a treat.
While In a Glass Cage may not be a very enjoyable film, it has to be said that it does give its viewer a lot to think about, and writer-director Agustí Villaronga ensures that his film packs a lot of emotional weight. The way that the director keeps everything bathed in darkness helps to ensure that the look of the film is dark as its subject matter, and this helps to convey the horrific themes on display. The relationship between the doctor and his nurse always makes up the backbone of the movie, and it's also the most interesting aspect as subplots involving the wife and the daughter never reach the same dark highs. The tone of the movie is very serious, and this helped by excellent performances from all concerned. Günter Meisner's performance takes in both evil and regret, as while he doesn't get to do much physical acting; he plays his part well. The main acting plaudits go to David Sust, however, who continually impresses with his role as the nurse; also the meatiest role in the film. It has to be said that this isn't a movie for the feint of heart, as scenes involving young boys are not nice to watch and the nihilistic tone of the movie doesn't make it much fun. Still, if you can stomach unpleasantness; this movie is a treat.
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