Revanche (Götz Spielmann, 2008)

Modern Austrian cinema does not reflect well on the nation as a carefree place: there is a pervasive tendency for an existential malaise that outdoes even the excesses of Swedish directors, too often not tempered with hope or warmth. Revanche begins very much in this milieu, with a pimp's lackey dreaming of an escape to Spain with his Ukrainian prostitute girlfriend, and when the bank robbery that he ineptly attempts to give them the means to start a new life goes badly wrong it seems we're in it for the long haul, with no glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly though, and wholly unexpectedly given the tortured and ascetic character of the lead and the pared-down and hard-boiled nature of the plot and dialogue, a layer of emotional complexity is added and there is a glimmer after all. It feels oddly spiritual for coming so unforeseen.

6/10