Innocence
2004 ‘L'Ecole’ Directed by Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Synopsis
The end of innocence...the beginning of life.
A look inside an offbeat boarding school for young girls.
Cast
Popular reviews
More-
Oh dear, this film seems to have been gladly scandalized by those folks who want a bit of paedophillia drama. Whilst this film is hugely ambiguous (the coffins are never explained for one) I would say coming to the conclusion that the girls are being groomed for life outside the boarding school is completely skewered and the effects of living in today's society. The film is exactly what the title suggests. It's about a time of innocence, and the film ends with the end of innocence and the introduction of money and sex (which is what all corruption is based upon, non?). It's quite a melancholy and depressing film actually: the teachers seem throughly demoralized with "the outside world" and…
-
Innocence actually sadly earned a spot at Gunaxin.com's list of 100 most disturbing movies. Not that I don't see why, but Innocence is, unlike most movies at that list, disturbing in a way most people should experience it. Hopefully you won't be scared away, for Hadzihalilovic's movie is truly a hidden gem of great cinematic value.
In some ways the experience of Innocence is like the most beautiful doomsday you can imagine. While being uncomfortable to deal with, you just can't take your eyes away. It's slow paced and deliberate in its ways, it's hauntingly beautiful, it's demanding and it's most definitely not everybody's cup of tea. However, the reward for people who actually enjoys this kind of tea is magnificent.
Innocence is a movie-experience unlike anything else I've ever seen, and its originality, cinematography and soundtrack adds up to a modern hidden gem of thought-provoking magnitude you shouldn't overlook.
-
Fantasy films are very rare. They are almost never made. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - these could all be called works of fantasy, but they aren't. They play within set mythologies, with pre-established laws. This doesn't make them bad - it doesn't even make them unoriginal. It just bars them from being fantasy in the purest sense.
Innocence is a fantasy film. It's magical, other-worldly, surreal. Its forestry and its hallways cannot be real. A bold atmosphere of oneirism filters whatever story exists within its frames. Every shot is metaphorical, every close up candid, and it makes every effort to dodge subtlety and effuse an innocent lens.
I won't make any friends by giving… -
I saw this years ago and I'm still trying to figure it out.
Recent reviews
More-
Innocence is a beautiful, subtle, unsettling and slow paced film with an other worldly feel to it. It engages the viewer from the start of the film, leaving us to figure out the mysteries of the place we find our self in, while we follow the characters different outlooks on the place, and how they're dealing with their situations.
The cinematography and the soundtrack is beautiful, making some scenes almost magical. This is a film that might not be for everyone, but it's a very nice experience if you're willing to try something a little different.
-
This was exquisite. Sad, uncomfortable, haunting, dreamy, unsettling, beautiful, thought-provoking, intriguing. Extraordinarily shot. Very similar to Picnic at Hanging Rock/Sleeping Beauty/Never Let Me Go.
-
This film is beautiful. It's also one of those films that a lot of people will hate and not actually even try and sit through. It probably brings up more questions than it answers, yet I don't feel puzzled at all, but that's the great thing about it.
-
a very different movie i dont know how could they make this movie without trouble
-
Oh dear, this film seems to have been gladly scandalized by those folks who want a bit of paedophillia drama. Whilst this film is hugely ambiguous (the coffins are never explained for one) I would say coming to the conclusion that the girls are being groomed for life outside the boarding school is completely skewered and the effects of living in today's society. The film is exactly what the title suggests. It's about a time of innocence, and the film ends with the end of innocence and the introduction of money and sex (which is what all corruption is based upon, non?). It's quite a melancholy and depressing film actually: the teachers seem throughly demoralized with "the outside world" and…
-
+ A bunch of French girls being delicate. Chilled out
- I wish it wasn't ambiguous. It's basically a peadophillia version of LOST
- School play level acting, including Marion Cotillard. I wish she would stop. -
Innocence actually sadly earned a spot at Gunaxin.com's list of 100 most disturbing movies. Not that I don't see why, but Innocence is, unlike most movies at that list, disturbing in a way most people should experience it. Hopefully you won't be scared away, for Hadzihalilovic's movie is truly a hidden gem of great cinematic value.
In some ways the experience of Innocence is like the most beautiful doomsday you can imagine. While being uncomfortable to deal with, you just can't take your eyes away. It's slow paced and deliberate in its ways, it's hauntingly beautiful, it's demanding and it's most definitely not everybody's cup of tea. However, the reward for people who actually enjoys this kind of tea is magnificent.
Innocence is a movie-experience unlike anything else I've ever seen, and its originality, cinematography and soundtrack adds up to a modern hidden gem of thought-provoking magnitude you shouldn't overlook.
-
Fantasy films are very rare. They are almost never made. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - these could all be called works of fantasy, but they aren't. They play within set mythologies, with pre-established laws. This doesn't make them bad - it doesn't even make them unoriginal. It just bars them from being fantasy in the purest sense.
Innocence is a fantasy film. It's magical, other-worldly, surreal. Its forestry and its hallways cannot be real. A bold atmosphere of oneirism filters whatever story exists within its frames. Every shot is metaphorical, every close up candid, and it makes every effort to dodge subtlety and effuse an innocent lens.
I won't make any friends by giving… -
Sehr mysteriös aufgezogen. Fühlte sich lange Zeit wie ein ruhiger, subtiler „Horror“-Film an - Anführungszeichen, weil es keine Schreckmomente gibt, aber man sich trotzdem fragt: „Was passiert hier? Wie wird das aufgelöst?“ - und ich hatte keine positive Wendung erwartet. Jetzt im Rückblick zeigt sich mir erst, dass man die Handlung metaphorisch betrachten muss, und auch wenn ein paar Fragen offen bleiben, ergibt es auch einen Sinn.
Ein sehr ruhiger, mysteriöser, von Kindern dominierter Film, der mich trotz seiner Länge von 2 Stunden bis zum Schluß hat durchhalten lassen. Wer das Buch kennt, auf dem der Film basiert („Mine-Haha or the corporeal education of girls“ ), hat da evtl. weniger Sitzfleisch, aber ich wollte eben die ganze Zeit wissen, wie es ausgeht Ausserdem fand ich die Kinder durchweg gut besetzt und auch die Bildsprache hat was für sich.