Writers: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
DOP: Martin Gschlacht
Cast: Susanne Wuest, Elias Schwarz, Lukas Schwarz
Language: German
Twin boys move into a new home with their mother after she has a face changing cosmetic surgery, but under her bandages is someone whom they don't recognise.
The German title of the film translates as 'I see, I see' but they went with Goodnight Mommy for its overseas release. An obvious comparison to be made is with Michael Haneke's 'Funny Games', with it being an Austrian film and the nature of its genre. The trailer of the film, which I didn't watch prior and was proclaimed as quite scary, would leave you with an impression as to who is going to be the dangerous character in it but the film subverts that expectation by the midway point. There is something that could come across as a twist if you don't pay much attention to it but the filmmakers thankfully does not make any effort to hide it and it was obvious from the get go for me. It doesn't even qualify as a twist because you have to be pretty dim if you miss it.
It ends up as a quite straight forward film about grief and related struggles. Another subtext that could be read is regarding celebrity cosmetic surgeries and the reaction to it from the fandom if it doesn't quite work out. We had a recent experience of it in Kerala when Mohanlal decided to go plastic. The film really worked for me even though some had problems with the sudden turn it took around the hour mark. I really had to hide my eyes during some of the scenes.
PS: The director duo has an interesting backstory on how they met and eventually ended up working together. Severin used to babysit Veronika's kid as a 14 year old while she was working as a film journalist. Their English language film, The Lodge, will get released this year.
Rating: 4.5/5
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