The Michael Haneke Trilogy

Representing a more or less straight port of an earlier French box set that was sans sous-titres anglais, this UK Region 2 box set presents the three films in anamorphic 1.78:1 transfers, thereby misrepresenting the films' original 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios.

While the differences would seem slight - by my calculation about seven per cent will be missing above and/or below what we see in Benny's Video and about four per cent to the left and/or right in the other two films - and the sort of thing that only the real perfectionist viewer would really bother about, there remains that nagging possibility that Haneke is precisely the kind of perfectionist filmmaker within whose work that little bit of detail at the margins of the frame might be more than peripheral in meaning.

Against this, however, one could also speculate that if any of Haneke's compositions were rendered slightly off by this that it could itself contribute, albeit unintentionally, an unheimlich effect.

Whatever the case here, all three films look and sound good, the quality of the sources, transfers and mastering being as good as one could hope for.

Extras are likewise impressive. Each film is accompanied by excerpts from a longer interview in which Haneke discusses his working methods and explains what he was trying to do - and equally importantly not do. While he never comes across as attempting to dissimulate or mystify, one thing I did feel was perhaps lacking was a more critical edge from interviewer Serge Toubiana who simply seems to accept what Haneke has to say rather than forcing him into more of a dialogue, with regard to - for instance - his views on and representations of mainstream cinema. Which should be the point, after all.

There are also around ten minutes of deleted scenes from Benny's Video, accompanied by commentary from Haneke.

All told, the trilogy is a must-see for anyone who has seen and appreciated - to reiterate, liked or enjoyed are not the words when it comes to Haneke - The Piano Teacher or Cache. Just don't expect beautiful French actresses...