by Grace Paré
George Sluizer’s 1988 film is a fantastic exploration of the sick mind of a psychopath, the problem of obsession, and the doom of insatiable curiosity. Produced in Dutch under the name Spoorloos, the movie starred Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu as Raymond Lemorne, the psychopathic murderer of a young wife Saskia (Johanna ter Steege), and her husband Rex (Gene Bervoets). Sluizer makes an interesting choice in this film to introduce the murderer from the very start, uncommon among most thriller movies, where the suspense the director creates throughout the story leads up the reveal of a criminal. This director’s decision lets the viewer see the two stories, one of the murderer searching for his victim, and the other of the bereaved husband searching for an explanation in parallel with each other.
As the film opens, a fight develops between the newlywed couple when their car stalls in a dark tunnel after Rex neglects Saskia’s warning to fill up on gas. Rex leaves the car to get gas, leaving his wife alone as she searches for a flashlight. Saskia panics, remembering a dream that she has of being imprisoned in a golden egg, which causes her to fear solitude.
The couple reconciles later at a gas station, but Saskia disappears after going to buy drinks. Three years later, living with a new girlfriend, Rex receives postcards from a man claiming to know what has happened to his wife. In between scenes of Rex’s search for this man, the audience is shown scenes from the life of Lemorne, who is planning to abduct a woman. He takes a methodical approach to his goal, recording the measurements of chloroform he uses, and his heart rate during his attempts. After Rex appears on television and asks only that the mysterious writer let him know what happened to his wife, Lemorne reveals himself. When they meet, Lemorne tells Rex of his lack of conscience and his success in abducting Saskia. He then reveals that the only way for Rex to learn what happened to Saskia will be to allow himself to be drugged and have the same experience. Unable to bear his curiosity, Rex finally agrees. He wakes up in a coffin, buried alive.
One of the most notable things about The Vanishing is how quiet much of the film is. This, combined with the soft look of the film, with its scenes of greenery and picturesque French towns, contrasts sharply with the subject of its story. The look and sound of the film is peaceful, but this becomes eerie as the viewer gradually discovers what the film is about. Sluizer uses this feel in two different ways in relation with the obsessions of the main characters. The methodical and orderly methods of Lemorne as he plans his kidnapping disturbingly fit in with the peace of his country home.
Rex’s mania is, however, contrasted with the setting. Rex’s obsession starts with the same golden egg dream she had, which he has while laying in a beautiful green field by the side of a country cottage. When he wakes, his rage and frustration stand in sharp contrast to the scene around him.
Sluizer cuts between Lemorne and Rex for a majority of the film, an editing choice that is extremely effective in obtaining his goal of a comparison between the two characters. It is clear from their actions that they both have an obsession, but by switching between their individual lives, the director is able to point out just how similarly they are affected by this. Even after several of the postcards have failed to produce any answers, Rex continues to go where they instruct him, clinging on to any hope of knowing. Lemorne continues to try to kidnap a woman, even after many failed attempts, trying any method to gain his end. Rex loses his girlfriend to his obsession. Lemorne loses the trust of his wife and the respect of his daughter. Rex continues on his attempts to find out what happened to Saskia, even after he has lost all love for her, because his desire to know supercedes anything else. Lemorne continues to try to abduct a woman even though he does not have any real want or need for the woman, just a desire to know what it would be like. The two go through the film losing things to their obsession until they meet each other. In the end, Lemorne comes out triumphant, because he, having obtained his goal of abducting a woman, is in control, while Rex is still a slave to his passionate curiosity, and thus is at the mercy of anyone who can give him what he wants to know.
This film is a fascinating portrayal of the devastating effects of obsession, on both the psychopathic and healthy human mind. Sluizer offers an insightful and thought provoking story, with all the fun and suspense of a thriller which will be hard to forget. If you can speak Dutch and French, or if you don’t mind reading subtitles, this exciting film is definitely worth the watch.
