In a Glass Cage (Tras el cristal) poster & wallpaper
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Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes, Gisela Echevarria, Imma Colomer ... see more see more... , Josue Gausch , Alberto Manzano , Ricart Carcelero , David Cuspinera

Stylistically compelling, morally ambiguous, and profoundly unsettling, this Spanish psychodrama from writer-director Agustin Villaronga stands beside Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salo as one of cinema's mos... read more read more...t unflinching depictions of human depravity. The story opens in post-WWII Catalonia as former Nazi death camp "doctor" Klaus (Gunter Meisner) consummates his torture-murder of a young man by hurling himself from the roof of his house; this act, motivated either by a sudden attack of conscience or by some form of sexual mania, leaves him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own. We soon find Klaus lying prone in an archaic iron lung, attended by his stern wife Griselda (Marisa Paredes) and young daughter Rena (Gisela Echevarria). When they become unable (or, in his wife's case, unwilling) to look after him, Griselda hires handsome young nurse Angelo (David Sust), unaware that the young man is one of Klaus' former victims, who has maintained a detailed dossier on the "doctor" and his countless unspeakable atrocities. Thus begins a perverse and surreal manipulation of master/servant roles between the immobile Klaus and his equally demented attendant, as the young man attempts to recreate the nightmare world of the camps, even procuring more young victims for his former tormentor's amusement. Though it could be asserted that the stylistically accomplished Villaronga has made a passionate artistic statement about mankind's capacity for unspeakable atrocities, his film may be construed as being one of those horrors in itself. At any rate, Tras el Cristal is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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76% liked it

1,066 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

8 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Agustí Villaronga

Release Date: March 24, 1989

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DVD Release Date: March 29, 2005

Stats: 99 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (99)

  • SuperHotNerd
    July 5, 2008
    SuperHotNerd
    Very disturbing, and thought-provoking film about an ex-nazi doctor & pedophile who finds pleasure in killing young boys.
  • mpghoul1973
    June 10, 2007
    mpghoul1973
    There have only been a handful of films that have turned my stomach the first time i saw them...Pier Paolo Pasolini's SALO, Men Behind the Sun, Cannibal Holocaust and what i saw of it William Friedkins Cruisin. All sick films. Well in A Glass Cage joins those ranks. And its possi... read morebly the most fucked up of them all. Its brutaly honest in its depiction of peodophiliac killers.
    Klaus is a ex-nazi doctor who found sexual pleasure in killing young boys in a concentration camp. After the war he goes into exile in Spain. Continuing on with his crimes against little boys. Until he feels the guilt and shame of his acts. With an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Klaus ends up "living" in an Iron Lung. Paralyzed and unable to breath on his own. Enter Angelo, a male nurse with a secret. He takes care of Klaus and relives Klaus's henious acts with the guidance of Klaus's secret diary. Forcing Klaus to watch.
    This film is sooo fucked up. The last hour of In A Glass Cage is goddamn intense! And sick. And its not the blood or gore cause there little of it. Its the fucking content of this film! My stomach is still turning. It definatly makes me want to take a long hot shower and scrub every bit of filth off that is now residing in my brain with sandpaper. This is strong stuff folks! Fuck that Stephen King cluncker Apt Pupil...this is the real thing! Apt Pupil doesnt even come close to what this film delivers!
    But beneath the sleazy exterior of this film lies a magnificent art film. Its a well crafted, beautifuly shot film. There is definatly a real pro behind this film. A true artist. Only those with a strong constitution should see this.

View All In a Glass Cage (Tras el cristal) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Sam Adams
July 10, 2011
Sam Adams, Los Angeles Times

As creepy as they come, leaving a lingering chill that only time can warm Full Review

Elliott Stein
February 7, 2006
Elliott Stein, Village Voice

Villaronga's unsettling lyrical nightmare hasn't aged a bit; it stays in the mind long after more bloodthirsty recent horror flicks have faded away. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 16, 2001
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

May not be for everyone, but it is certainly disturbing, powerful, and accomplished in what it sets out to do. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Call it a critical prejudice, but I say slap an outboard motor on that baby and you've got yourself a movie. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Not all movies need to be warm portraits of the best in humanity. But when the subject is the psychological dark side in man (or woman), there ought to be something insightful to mull over. Full Review

Adam Lippe
July 1, 2011
Adam Lippe, Examiner.com

It's actually worse that Villaronga is such a terrific filmmaker, as he's able to hold our throats that much tighter, not allowing us to even sip from our inner iron lungs. Full Review

Stephen Holden
August 30, 2004
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 31, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Matt Bailey
January 19, 2005
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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