When it came to this year’s Oscasrs, I was the only person on our Shouts From the Back Row podcast who enjoyed Michael Haneke’s Best Picture-nominated film Amour, and I stand by my opinion that the film was absolutely terrific. Its director, Michael Haneke, celebrates his birthday today, and it’s pretty amazing to think that only now is he really breaking into the mainstream, as Haneke has been making movies since the 1980s. Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Haneke worked as a film critic and editor at a German television station. He would make his film debut with 1989’s The Seventh Continent, and gained much attention for his follow-up film Benny’s Video. In 1997, he wrote and directed Funny Games, which earned him further acclaim and a U.S. remake of the film, which Haneke also wrote and directed. His films Cache and The White Ribbon further cemented his place as a prestigious director, and his career has culminated with Amour‘s nomination for Best Picture and its winning Best Foreign Film at the 85th Academy Awards. Michael Haneke turns 71 today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS4VVUYsK44