Holiday

//Revelation Film Festival Review//

If the six people that walked out during the screening are any indication, Holiday is going to provoke some polarising opinions. It's a tough watch, a film designed to get under your skin and features one of the most graphic rape sequences ever committed to screen. However, what's most shocking about the film is the realism in which everything is portrayed.

The story, in short, is about the terrible things men do to women and that women allow men to do to them. While the plot meanders and never provides any definitive answers, the frustration it elicits is part of the film's effect. It's not for the faint hearted and in the "me too" era, Holiday is definitely going to provoke some fierce conversation. I didn't like the film but it got the exact reaction that it wanted out of me and it's been crawling under my skin for days.

Summary: A tough watch designed to provoke audiences; Holiday has been crawling under my skin for days.

From the beginning of this film the technique and quietness with bold visuals really had a feel that was Von Trier esque. From the awkward car scene in the beginning I was really enthused about where this film seemed to be taking me. When I heard this flick was "Disturbing" I immediately took time to see it. Starring Victoria Carmen Sonne a multilingual mid twenties actress who seemed as though she was born for this role. The camera angles and music for the film is also marvelous so what's my problem about this film "LAZINESS" the film had potential to really dig deep into the disturbing area it grew amazing long legs and just refused to stand up. Yes theres an Unsimulated sex scene that I'm pretty sure her whole family will never get over after watching and I'm pretty sure the R-rating doesn't cover this extreme scene that even shows fluids but besides that and another lack luster 1 minute scene this film was as tame as they cum... No pun intended. The movie also speaks atleast 3 different languages and the subtitles were in Dutch and there accents were so thick it was very difficult to keep up with there broken english. There wasn't really mystery involved but when you show a scene and there isn't any follow up to why things happened it's just creating a scene for the sake of a scene, No backstory No revelations that come later what the heck was that about is what it leaves you thinking. I think if you put this much effort into creating a nerving storyline to make people uneasy those like myself who are disturbing movie fans feel like you destroyed a character who could of become memorable andwaste. wasted a perfect opportunity. Oh well the form on that shot looked perfect but your shot was an airball. Such a waste.

"Sunny but frigid" describes the feel that runs throughout this bleak character study of a young girl mixed up with unsavoury types. Overall I found it engrossing with plenty of subtle and creeping tension, quite disturbing at times but also a little redundant and oversimplified in its storytelling. Most of the characters are one dimensional almost to the point of being caricatures of gangsta tropes (the alpha male, the henchman and the women and children in the periphery). I sometimes found it hard to tell whether the shallow dialogue was down to lazy writing or whether it was intentionally lacking in depth, which I suppose did add to the cripplingly superficial tone of the film. Are they gangsters? Or just wealthy businessmen? Is there a difference? All very deep stuff. The bad side of patriarchy in general amongst wealthy Europeans, the ones that keep their family around like tokens of their power, holidaying lavishly in large groups and disturbing their surroundings.

I perfectly understand why the haters hate this movie. I love it for all the same reasons. Some of the scenes will haunt me for months. Thank you for providing me with no answers but simply showing me!

I kept waiting for something ANYTHING interesting to happen in this slow walking piece of cinematic dreck. Alas Nothing. Oh wait the heroine gets slapped three times! Not nearly enough for participating in this god awful mess of a film. Someone needs to shred everyones SAG card involved in this. Please don't waste your time here - I only wish I could have mine back. Life is far too short