Paradise: Love (2012)
Can there be mutual trust and love when the economic difference is massive? Siedl paints a pessimistic view on that question at least. The style reminds me of Haneke with a very passive and “neutral” view of sex-tourism in Africa. We just see it, absolute no filter. Full frontal nudity and sort of explicit sex scenes. I had to close my blinds, because I was afraid my neighbors would think I was watching some weird ass pornography. Add a massive amount of colonial thinking and outright racist ridicule and dehumanization, and you get a very unconformable watch. I couldn’t look away.
That said, I do think Siedl is level a bit below something like Haneke with this type of film. While Margarethe Tiesel is doing a fantastic job as Teresa seeking validation and “love” in this bizarre transactional setting, I never really felt her state of mind. She is clearly not happy and she is lying to herself seeking genuine emotions she cannot get here. She knows that, but keeps coming back. All of this is there on screen, but I never really felt it. There are several scenes that sort of communicate the same thematic point and doesn’t add much new. But those are also only minor thing that makes this film slightly below greatness.
Rating: 4