On Demand Weekly

VOD not only offers PPV Movies that screened in theaters, but cutting edge, independent films the SAME DAY AS THEATERS. Whether you want to see films made outside the Hollywood system or future stars in breakout performances, see the latest from the film festival circuit in the comfort of your own home.

IFC IN THEATERS ON DEMAND

Antichrist (109 min)

How do you spell disturbing, yet engrossing drama in the woods with scenes you can not un-see? Lars Von Trier of course.

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: PERSECUTION (Eurocinema).
Email Cynthia Kane

PERSECUTION is the latest by auteur Patrice Chéreau who’s made such brilliant films such as QUEEN MARGOT, INTIMACY, GABRIELLE.  Well-known in France as a director of theatre and opera, these influences play out in all of Chéreau’s work.  

But why “persecution” and not “suffering” or “self-torture” or “intense guilt” as a title?... except it’s true, it doesn’t sound as good.   Why “persecution”?   Is the central character so intensely self-analytical that he ends of being his own persecutor?  Does he have the power to stop himself?

We meet Daniel (Romain Duris) who is torturously plagued by guilt and self-doubt, in love with Sonia (Charlotte Gainsbourg), who in turn loves him, but cannot bear to be suffocated in a relationship. Daniel puts himself out there for damaged people, such as his friend, Michel, and regularly visits the elderly in a home where his father died alone.  Whether he does it because he’s a decent guys is doubtful; it’s obviously driven by his guilt of which we get very few clues.