The Vanishing (1988)
'The Vanishing' tells the story of the mysterious abduction and disappearance of Saskia, and the subsequent efforts of Rex, her lover, to trace her. His quest continues long after her disappearance, his tirelessness ultimately prompting Saskia's abductor to approach Rex with the promise of revealing to him exactly what happened to her...
We are shown the lead-up to the abduction, first from the perspective of the couple and then the abductor; his meticulous planning contrasts with the random and opportunistic way Saskia ultimately becomes his victim.
Much of the film focuses on Rex’s refusal to call off the search for his lost love. Early in the film, we see Rex abandon a hysterical Saskia in a road tunnel, after their car breaks down. Saskia makes him promise to never abandon her again and it is I think this incident and the promise he makes to her that informs Rex's obsession following her disappearance.
In one scene, where we see his current lover walking out on him, unable to deal with living in Saskia's shadow, we get the impression that this is not the first lover that Rex has sacrificed in his quest for the truth. It is this obsession that ultimately leads him...well, I wont say where, but its not the same place it led Kiefer Sutherland in the Hollywood remake thats for sure!
We were all in agreement at film club that this film was excellent. There are lots of plot twists right up the big one at the end and lots of red herrings along the way just to keep you on your toes. The assembled cast does a great job too. An understated, low-budget, European classic.
Posted by Corporal Tench
No comments:
Post a Comment