Generational Conflict in the Film "caché"

Generational Conflict in the film "Caché"

The movie "Caché" is a film about a middle class white family in present day France dealing with the guilt of Georges Laurent's actions as a young boy. Throughout the film we are introduced to characters that help with the understanding of the films hidden meanings. "Caché" is a great representation of how present day Parisians mentality has changed towards acceptance of the Algerian War and how they are dealing with the guilt of the 1961 Massacre. As we watch the film we catch a glimpse of three generations of Laurent's and the struggles they deal with during and after; the aftermath of the Algerian war from 1954 to 1962. Algeria and France fought a complex war of decolonization from France; much of this was accomplished with guerrilla warfare, terrorism, torture, and counter-terrorism. Celik, Ipek writes an essay about contemporary racism in France while, exploring the connection of colonial violence, and guilt in today's France. In this paper I will be giving examples of how the Laurent family actions mirror that of the French during the aftermath of the Algerian war.

As the film begins you are watching a wide shot of Georges home; seemingly we are waiting for someone or something but as time passes you realize this is only a video, George and his wife Anne are watching this trying to understand why they have this film, who sent it, and what it means. Soon thereafter we are introduced to George's son Pierrot. Pierrot is a young modern day Parisian that is open to new ideas and willing to come to grips with the wrong doings of his forefathers. When we first see Pierrot in the film he is coming in at dinner and is met with a stern correction and questions from his father. This could be taken as a show of care or interest by George but is quickly seen that George does not have a very good relationship with his son and understanding of Pierrot daily life. We see George asking Pierrot where he goes after school on a regular basis and what his school schedule is. This shows that George not only does not pay attention to Pierrot but that he is consumed by his own life. Rather that he is not making a conscious effort to be a part of Pierrot's life instead of his TV show. In the next scene we find Pierrot practicing his flip turns in a pool. After he pushes off the pool's wall, we hear an authoritative male voice sternly and condescendingly explaining how his turns are not correct. Pierrot is being told to do something without being shown a good example; this is a lot like his relationship with his father. Like the modern day France Pierrot is at a point in when he choosing his own way and like young France wants to be able to flip or turn against the way things have been done in the past.

Later in the film George dreams about Majid the son of servants working for his family when he was a child. The dream was about Majid cutting the head off the roster, a disturbing image of a young boy chopping the head off and throwing the flailing body to the ground, where it jumps and flaps until dead. George had told Majid that his father wanted the bird dead because it was always pestering and chasing the two boys; George made this up to get Majid in trouble with his parents, and this was his only means of protecting what was his. Majid was Algerian, older, stronger and going to get his own room George could not let that happen this was his only way. You can almost thing of the rooster as being sacrificed to prevent Majid from becoming a part of George's family or for George to continue living on as the only son. During George's visit with his sick mother and asks her if she remembers Majid; she doesn't know who Majid is at first; seeming to have blocked the memory so as to not feel guilt. George's mother wants to know why he is asking about Majid and George instinctively isn't forthright with why he is inquiring. She responds with that she has chosen to not remember because it is an unpleasant memory. Like the Massacre of 1.5 million Algerians from 1954 to 1962 and to this day the French have never admitted to the torture and killings. Pierrot is also starting to turn out like his father by not owning up to his role in the videos and drawings. He's like is father in the respect that he wants his father to know how he feels about the way he had treated Majid but is unable to talk with him and wants his father to know or deal with these issues and does this by reintroducing his father with the guilt of lies that have changed the life of George, Majid and his son. A lot like the younger generations of France he is unable to change or control the outcome of the actions of his father or his father's father, but he is able to influence and change the situations he is in. Like the Maquis freedom fighters of France during WWII, who moved to the mountains to get away from being used as forced labor for the Germans and ended up becoming organized and fighting for the liberation of France. Unable to deal with the way George is treating him Majid's actions may represent those of the Algerians who wanted to be left alone and given freedom but instead took death out of pride. In the scene where Majid is being taken back to the foster home George's mother and father walk him out to the courtyard and he runs away not wanting to leave the estate, off camera you can hear the struggle to bring Majid back to the car and see the Laurent's turn their backs on him and walk into the house. Like France during the massacres; at that time it was easier to just turn a cold shoulder than to deal with the atrocities of the Algerian war.

George has done this with Anne trying to hide the visit with Majid, telling her that he was unable to speak with him and that it never happened. Just like the Leaders of France still not willing to admit to 132 years of abuse during colonization; but all along she like the rest of the world has been privy to videos of the truth and circumstance. Here George shaded in a new light for Anne's realizing he isn't the man she thought. She has a look of disbelief as she stands and asks him to trust her. Like the people of France or the US it is hard to want to believe someone when you feel that you are being lied to. Anne is not a saint in this film either; Pierrot has a sneaky intuition that his mother and family friend Pierre are more than friends and she almost becomes defensive to this and shows a sign of guilt when this is brought up after Pierrot's return home from his disappearance.

George now in his bosses office he must wait for life to go on until these videos stop, his boss asks now about these cassettes and wonders if Majid