MovieChat Forums > Der siebente Kontinent (1992) Discussion > Is it *that* bad...?

Is it that bad...?

posted 18 years ago by DVDAddict79
15 replies | jump to latest

*possible spoilers*

I thought 'Funny Games' was an excellent film, but I've only ever been able to stomach watching it once. I was tempted to try this one too but just wondered how disturbing it really is? How would you rate it?

I've enjoyed other typically depressing foreign films before, like Requiem for a Dream, Dancer in the Dark, Lilya-4-Ever etc., but if this is genuinely that bad, then I'm not sure I want to go through the hassle of finding it, ordering it and waiting for it to arrive - only to turn it off before it gets to the end! I assume they commit suicide at the finale - is it particularly horrific then? Any worse than other films?

[–] Bitter_Almonds 18 years ago

I think of all the depressing films you mentioned, this one looks the best: better cinematography, editing, score, and acting.

Do The Mussolini! Headkick!

[–] DVDAddict79 18 years ago

Thanks NuWav - I might brave giving it a go once I can find it then. I'm no prude, but I didn't want to waste the effort on something which turned out to be nothing but some bloody gore-fest, but it sounds as though it's well directed. Finally managed to get hold of a copy of Spoorloos the other day, wondering if it's 'shocking ending' was as bad as everyone said, and got to say I was a little disappointed - surprised (a bit) maybe, but not that horrified.

[–] chibilute 18 years ago

it's very disturbing, but not in the way you're thinking, really.. i think you'll be able to handle it. it's definitely worth seeing. i'm not sure how it compares to funny games in any sense, cause i haven't seen that yet. you won't be so disturbed that you'll shut it off, though.

[–] vixtadot 18 years ago

possible spoiler - there is no gore in this film at all, but I think that the ending is ten times more devastating than all the blood and guts in the world could ever make it.

[–] przgzr 18 years ago

I guess my reply is late and you have watched it already. But I'll write anyway...

Lilja4ever can be compared to this one, but I still don't find it so depressing. Lilja's destiny is tragic due to circumstances in her family, society, country. Might be compared more to Iphigenia than to Antigone.

However, I wouldn't really consider puting Dancer in the Dark into this cathegory at all. Seventh Continent's effect on viewer is equally depressing and disturbing, and Dancer in the Dark is just a sad story. Everyone would surely make a different list of movies that are both depressing and distutbing, I'd mention Little Criminals (1995) and Testament (1983). But neither of them is halfway to Seventh Continent according both to depressive and disturbing side of it.

[–] Rurik_Snorri 18 years ago

Man is the only species who creates art out of misery and pain. Few people do it better than Michael H.

[–] Sanjuro-15 17 years ago

Is that a quote from some famous guy or did you make it up?

'cos I was thinking about other species and if anything else really makes 'art' and I figured spider webs come pretty close, and ya know, they're made for the entrapment and very slow death of bugs. Now I dunno if bugs get miserable or feel pain but it's worth considering.

So anyhow, one of my movie channels thinks it's viewers are emotional solid rocks and are showing ALL of Haneke's movies this month. Just watched Seventh Continent, what an excellent, powerful film. Haneke really is amazing. Although now I feel really bad. Gonna watch Benny's Video again to cheer myself up...

[–] spartacus-15 15 years ago

Er...Man is the only species that creates art. Any art.

I got it,I got it,I got it...I ain`t got it

[–] withnail69 15 years ago

don't worry nothing is as depressing as lilya 4 ever

[–] zarathustra2k1 15 years ago

"...Zi-ety!"

(Lovin' your quote there, spartacus-15. =] )

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit shooting smack...

[–] elizabethbennet135 17 years ago

I realize that this is very late and you're probably not reading this board anymore, but... I had to compliment the Iphigenia and Antigone references. It is a perfect analogy of the differences between Lilya 4-ever and Seventh Continent. In the former, the heroine is an innocent victim who is betrayed by her family and the world she lives in; in the latter, the protagonists are trapped in a world which is crushing them, and start down a path which leads to their deaths. Lilya and Iphigenia are more passive and are innocent of any crimes, while the family in Seventh Continent and Antigone are rule-breakers who are much more active.

Anyway, I had to comment because the analogy is just so perfect.

[–] przgzr 17 years ago

Thank you, I appreciate your addition to my comment, it perfectly rounds what I wanted to say.

Some people on IMDb don't like this kind of adding up the former comments, because they are allegedly unimportant, boring, too long etc. However, not only that I don't mind but I find it useful (and I myself do it more than only now and then) because sometimes the former poster wrote a bit too short, used phrases not clear enough or presumed some things obvious for everyone ignoring the fact that the average visitor doesn't always have enough knowledge or information about certain subject, so the next poster corrects and explains what might be not clear enough. And sometimes the second post, though basically compatible to original, contains an interesting new point of view.

Finally, sometimes it is a pleasant and satisfying feeling simply to find that someone agrees with you.

[–] moviepimpdj 17 years ago

Since this is on the teasers page of the message boards, I guess I'll put in a comparison of Seventh Continent vs Funny Games.

Seventh Continent is completely, totally, devastatingly depressing. It leaves you with a feeling of hopelessness. However, it is mostly self-inflicted by the family so there's less of a feeling of randomness. It's more like... "This was an inevitable product of modern life, and I can totally understand that."

Funny Games (1997) caused everyone in the theater to stare at the screen for a really long time before they could move. Its emotional impact is just as heavy as Seventh Continent -- you won't be able to think normally for days afterwards -- but it is /disturbing/, not depressing.

Does this make sense? I can't think of how else to explain it except that, yes, this film will leave you in an aftermath -- but a different kind.

[–] zorak_77 13 years ago

its not depressing, but it is disturbing, but not that much in a gory way

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]