The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael

Not everyone can cope with this film. This becomes apparent time after time. Critics look for words to express their feeling of unease. Audience members leave the cinema before the film is over. It may be that the diversity of reactions – people shout bravo to vie with the booing – show that this is a special film. And a powerful film by an obviously talented first-time film maker. The Robert Carmichael of the title is a rather gangling and quiet secondary-school pupil. He lives with his mother in a boring coastal town. Together with his mother, he also obediently practices on the cello. He plays very well. He doesn’t really have any friends and no one knows he sometimes surreptitiously reads a book by the cruel Marquis de Sade. He doesn’t seem to realise what slumbering powers can be awoken in him by this. At a certain moment, Robert seeks contact with a bunch of street-corner kids. Kids who use pills and also try to deal a bit. And then things soon go from bad to worse. And when the really criminal cousin of one of the kids gets out of jail, everything gets even heavier. The crime. The drugs. The consequences. In the shy Robert, a manic monster awakes. (GjZ)