Line #15 Film/Cache


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cache25.jpg]]
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3	''Caché'' (English: ''Hidden'') is a 2005 French language PsychologicalThriller written and directed by Creator/MichaelHaneke.
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5	Starring Creator/DanielAuteuil as Georges and Creator/JulietteBinoche as his wife Anne, the film follows an upper class French couple who are terrorized by anonymous tapes that appear on their front porch and hint at childhood memories of the husband.
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9	!! This film provides examples of:
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11	* AmbiguousEnding: The film ends [[spoiler:with a camera shot of Pierrot's school with Pierrot having a private conversation with Majid's son. It is uncertain whether or not the Laurents still receive anonymous videotapes as there is no real evidence Majid was the cameraman in question.]]
12	* AmbiguousSituation:
13	** At one point, Anne meets with Pierre to vent her frustration about Georges's secretive nature and comes home late that night with Georges noting that Anne turned off her cellphone and failed to inform him. Pierrot believes that Anne is actually cheating on Georges, but the film never states whether or not Pierrot's suspicion was correct.
14	** [[spoiler:The movie ends with Pierrot meeting Majid's son. Due to their implied familiarity with each other, it is unknown if this was their first meeting.]]
15	* BloodFromTheMouth: The family receives drawings of a figure with blood pouring out of its mouth.
16	* CentralTheme: The Algerian War is an important part of the story [[spoiler:with the 1961 Paris massacre claiming the lives of multiple Algerian civilians, which includes Majid's parents. This leads to Georges's French family adopting Majid for some time until Georges's conflict with him drives Majid out. Years later, Georges rekindles the conflict when he suspects Majid is the perpetrator behind the tapes.]]
17	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Unpleasant events of Georges's childhood catch up with him.
18	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Majid blames Georges for his miserable life which he ends right in front of him.]]
19	* HighPressureBlood: The fountain of blood coming from [[spoiler: Majid's throat.]]
20	* InstantDeathBullet: Not a bullet, but [[spoiler: Majid drops dead instantly after slitting his throat.]]
21	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The tapes that the Laurents receive record their house from a specific angle, and occasionally the movie's camera would film the Laurent's home from the same angle.
22	* LeaveTheCameraRunning: Many shots, most notably the videos sent to the main character, show nothing more than the exterior of Georges's house for long periods of time. Other choice shots include three minutes of Pierrot and two other kids swimming laps and the closing scene of [[spoiler:Majid's son and Pierrot]] talking without audible dialogue.
23	* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: In the final scene, the camera has a wide shot of the school's front doors. Due to the camera angle and the numerous people standing or walking around the school, it is very easy to miss [[spoiler:Majid's son enter the frame from the right and walk up the school steps to greet Pierrot before they both walk down the steps to the camera's left to have a private conversation .]]
24	* MocksteryTale: [[spoiler:It is never revealed who sent the tapes and drawings to the family, and it is heavily implied to be a metaphor for Georges's subconscious guilt complex.]]
25	* NeverMyFault: Georges refuses to accept any real responsibility for Majid's situation [[spoiler:and later suicide]], even when Majid's son directly confronts him about it. The son even remarks how surprising it is to see how little [[spoiler:a man's life]] weighs upon him. However, this is possibly a SubvertedTrope, as Georges' repeated dreams about Majid imply that he feels more guilt than he's letting on.
26	* ProsceniumReveal: The opening scene is a video the Laurents are watching on their TV. The audience only realizes this when the tape is being rewound.
27	* RealityHasNoSoundtrack: There is no music, save for the theme on George's show, and background music at Anne's publishing party.
28	* RedHerring: Played with. There are multiple suspects, but [[spoiler:the film never reveals who actually sent the tapes.]]
29	** [[spoiler:Majid]] is the main suspect, at least for Georges, who continually hounds [[spoiler:Majid]] until [[spoiler:Majid commits suicde]]. Given that Georges was responsible for [[spoiler:ousting Majid from his family]], [[spoiler:Majid]] as the perpetrator would possibly want to take some revenge for Georges's past wrongdoing.
30	** Extrapolating from above, [[spoiler:Majid's son]] would have a similar motive and may have had help.
31	** [[spoiler:Pierrot]] believes that [[spoiler:his mother]] is having a secret affair and thus would have a good motive to record Georges's house. Also, [[spoiler:Pierrot]] is frequently missing for most of the film, which would allow him to place hidden cameras without getting caught, and [[spoiler:his familiarity with Majid's son]] may suggest that TwoDunIt for their own reasons.
32	** When Georges and Anne have dinner with their friends, they have a conversation about their absentee friend [[spoiler:Frederic]], a director who is writing a film. When Georges asks Pierre for more details, Pierre admits that he has no idea what [[spoiler:Frederic's]] film is about. [[spoiler:Frederic remains absent for the rest of the film.]]
33	* SilentCredits: The opening credits are a big block of text over a still scene and the end credits roll over a silent shot of [[spoiler:Pierrot meeting Majid's son.]]
34	* SlashedThroat: [[spoiler:Self-inflicted by Majid.]]
35	* SurprisinglySuddenDeath: [[spoiler: Majid invites Georges into his home, casually produces a knife from his pocket and slits his own throat. Then he drops dead instantly without moving a limb.]]
36	* TheUnsolvedMystery: [[spoiler:Who sent the tapes and drawings to the family?]]
37	* UntranslatedTitle: The title ''Caché'' was not translated for Foreign releases except for the UK/Ireland.
38	* YouBastard: The family is disturbed that someone is spying on them. Obviously, the audience is subject to this criticism.

Context Film / Cache