Did you people see the same film I saw?

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

By the end of the opening scene of Revanche something falls (maybe it was thrown) in the quite water of a lake. Then we can see the idyllic landscape of a lawn with warm colors like from a Renoir painting being molded. We can guess that all this quietness is apparent, and that it will be troubled soon by violent events. This is what eventually happens, but it happens at its own pace and is told in a clear and distinct voice in this film by Austrian director Gotz Spielmann. An unexpected suspense drama coming from a school of cinema that proves that Michael Haneke is not the only remarkable Austrian director. There is actually something from the Haneke style in this film, with a story where chance may lead to tragedy and with the world of dark secrets hidden under the appearances of quite and banal lives.Two distinct worlds are presented in Revanche. One is the world of the brothels in Vienna where most of the working girls come from Eastern Europe, a world of sin and violence. The best characters who can populate this world are a couple of lovers (he's some kind of bodyguard and driver, she is a hooker) who try the coup which would arrange their lives - more like in an American movie with roles like Nicolas Cage used once to play. This world is the back door of the other world, the 'normal' Austrian society, with pastoral country-side, devoted policemen who jog and have wives who go to church. When the two worlds meet the collision can be tragic, even if tragedy is caused only by human mistake. The ensuing drama one of these eternal stories of love, death and revenge, but a revenge which is obtained in a very unexpected manner. Eventually the balance is re-established but at a huge price.There are a lot of surprising turns in this film and I will avoid telling anything about the story in order to leave the pleasure of following it to those who are interested. I will just recommend it for the quality of acting, of cinematography and story telling. It also fits several categories of viewers - people who like dramas and thrillers as well. The film got a nomination for the Academy Awards for the Foreign Language Film, but did not win. Its place among the nominees seems to have been however well deserved.

Revanche in German means revenge. This is a revenge story of Ex-con Alex who is in love with a prostitute Tamara, and wants to escape with her after robbing a bank. But, something terrible happens which leaves Alex shattered and he seeks revenge on Policeman Robert.This is not the usual revenge flick. In the beginning the story seems different but it takes an unusual turn. My discontent with the film is that, the film becomes too slow after the second half, and I think the film could have easily been of 20 minutes short. It would have made the film even better and fast paced.Alex figures out that, Robert is the neighbor of his grandfather after he comes to live with his father. It makes Alex more and more anxious after he figures out. But, the way things turn out in the end is very different from the usual revenge movies I've seen. I do not have a problem with slow paced movies, but it may be a problem with some viewers.Good film but it could have been great, had it been a bit fast.paced. There are some scenes in the second half which could have been omitted. So, I give it 6.5/10.

Revanche is an Austrian crime thriller that really works. Alex is employed at a brothel where he falls for one of the girls, Tamara. He wants to get away and leave for a better life. He tells his Ukrainian girlfriend that he has the perfect plan to rob a local bank. She protests at first, but eventually agrees to be his getaway driver. All goes smoothly until they are shot at by Robert, the policeman responding to the crime. He aims at the tires but shoots through the rear window, killing Tamara. Alex escapes and buries his dead partner in the woods. The first in a series of coincidences as Alex hides out at his grandfather Hausner's isolated house in a rural area. The neighbor happens to be Robert, the cop, and his wife, Susanne, who is good friends with Hausner.Robert is bothered by the death of Tamara, and is suspended from the police force. His wife, meanwhile, has sex with Alex because of her husband's coldness. The conclusion is very unexpected and I highly recommend Revanche.

Wanna see exactly that kind of movie, that would lead to suicide of a totally broken Hollywood producer? So take this flop called Revanche! Wanna see lousy stereotype acting of boring no names, cause you like college-style staging? So take Revanche! Wanna see no plot at all or that one you've seen 100 times before (but then much better)? So take Revanche! Wanna see what it means, when a movie's bill is sent to the tax payer, just as it was in good old soviet union? So take Revanche! But don't say you weren't warned: at the eve I trapped into this small town bullsh*t, no less than a fifth of the audience left early. Damn, they were right!