Love
Amour
Haneke explodes the myth of death as a public event, something to share, something around which to weep and emote. Here, death creates a fortress, and it feels piercingly true. He faces the realities of sickness – washing, mobility, going to the toilet – but his mission is not simply to present a realistic portrait of the end, even though that's part of the process. More than that, he wants to explore the emotions and instincts felt on both sides by this couple – pride, despair, impending loss, empathy and its limits. There are strong emotions at play, but also an intense pragmatism. Georges has made a promise to Anne: 'Please never take me back to the hospital... Promise... Promise me.' Among so many other things, this is a film about loyalty and being true to your word right to the very end. 'Amour' is a devastating, highly intelligent and astonishingly performed work. It's a masterpiece.