Benny's Video

The video of a shocking incident has some even more shocking consequences in Michael Haneke’s award-winning film.

High school student Benny has a fascination with videos: filming, watching and surveilling. His distant parents have decked him out with the latest audio-visual equipment, but aside from that, they largely leave him to his own privileged devices.

When his parents leave him alone at home for the weekend, a friendly encounter turns into a shocking incident. The camera is recording. The incident is captured – and soon Benny’s video will bring about some serious consequences.

Curator’s Note

The second part of Michael Haneke’s trilogy (beginning with The Seventh Continent) continues to shed light on unfathomable human behaviours, responses and choices.

On one hand, the film might be exploring the dehumanising effects of on-screen violence on audiences, but there is a heart to the film which is more likely begging the question: why do we do unexplainable things and how can we understand each other more?

Benny’s Video screened at the 45th Cannes Film Festival marking Michael Haneke’s return to the Directors’ Fortnight section.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)

Viewers are advised that Benny's Video contains footage of animal slaughter which some viewers might find confronting.