Closet land

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Movie
Original title Closet land
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1991
length 93 minutes
Age rating FSK 18
Rod
Director Radha Bharadwaj
script Radha Bharadwaj
production Brian Grazer ,
Karen Koch ,
Janet Meyers
music Richard Einhorn ,
Philip Glass
camera Bill Pope
cut Lisa Zeno Churgin
occupation

Closet Land is an independent film directed by Radha Bharadwaj in 1991 . This tells the story of a nameless young children's book author who is overwhelmed one night at home and, while still in her nightgown, is brought by car to a place unknown to her. Handlungland is an unknown police state .

action

The woman, played by Madeleine Stowe , is blindfolded and shackled and an interrogator whose name is unknown enters the unadorned room where the entire action takes place. A perfect game of cat and mouse begins between the two of them. The unscrupulous, sadistic officer portrayed by Alan Rickman aims to break the woman's will and get her to sign a confession stating that the children's book "Closet Land" she wrote is not about flying cows and a speaking domestic rooster ("the friendly rooster"), but in reality contains hints and agitation against the government on the part of an underground organization that it is allegedly close to.

With great steadfastness and strength of character, however, the author insists that her simple children's story, in which a girl is locked up in a closet by her mother as a punishment , and the time spent there alone by her imagination of friendly fantasy creatures, such as u. a. spends a rooster, does not convey any political message. The invented animals are only consolation for the frightened child, and it is just a story written for children.

In order to break her resistance and get her signature for the confession, the interrogator used physical and psychological torture. She is left in the dark about how long she has been detained. Furthermore, the man makes it clear to her that her actions and omissions have been carefully controlled and observed in the past. She can tell that this is actually true when the government henchman knows about the tense relationship with her deceased mother. He also exposes them to sexual embarrassment, including questions and derogatory hints about their sex life and their menses. Finally, he also plays through the well-known interrogation variant “ good cop, bad cop ”.

With a disguised voice, he finally pretends that two people are in the room, another, “not so nice” torture specialist, a real sadist , and a second tortured person, a man whimpering for mercy. In this way, the woman should be made to speak and confess, especially since the other "victim" states that she, like himself, is very much a member of an underground organization, and that she, allegedly left alone with her for a short time, the " Well-meaning advice “gives everything before she is tortured with the barbecue (a grill actually set up) like him .

She remains steadfast; she could not confess anything she had never said or done. The "returned" interrogator is now attempting electric shocks, while she is chained to an examination bed. Slogans are played to her on tapes , which are supposed to penetrate her subconscious in a hypnotizing way during sleep.

He pretends that he is only a victim of the regime himself , only obeys orders, actually believe her, be on her side and mine is well with her. She should sign it, then it would be all over and she would be free. It is only through their rejection of the demand that he is forced to act.

In between, the imaginary "Closet Land", the world of refuge for the locked up child, is shown in short cartoon scenes. This illustrates the panic and feelings of the detainees.

Finally it is revealed that the interrogator knows very well the background of this children's story. The young woman processed her own painful childhood memories. Nevertheless, he demands a confession from her, knowing full well that this would be a lie. Instead, he uses her childhood trauma to torture her even more psychologically and locks himself up with her in a small room, a closet, suggesting that he himself was the horror of her childhood, her mother's friend, who did so terrible things to her . However, she persistently tells herself: "You can break my body, but not my spirit".

Finally the torturer gives up and leads her out of the room, towards an uncertain end.

The human rights organization Amnesty International provided advice on the shooting of the film.

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