4/5
Stars
The film from Denmark, directed by Thomas
Vinterberg, revolves around a 40-year-old man who is wrongly accused of child
molestation.
The Danish film was screened at the 14th
Mumbai Film Festival under the 'World Cinema' category. The plot is gripping
and the subjects discussed (which have been dealt with subliminally) are
important, and well portrayed. Performances by the cast are brilliant and the
writing-direction is simple yet sparkling.
40-year-old Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is
already going through a rough time post his divorce, when he is falsely accused
of sexually abusing his best friend Theo's daughter Klara. How he comes to terms with the humiliation of being
targeted as a child molester, along with losing the trust of his near and dear
ones, including his son Marcus and new girlfriend, and ultimately strives to
get justice is what ‘The Hunt’ is all about.
The story deals with various subjects on
different levels. Be it child molestation, trust issues, judgemental societies,
mindless conjecture, character assassination etc. All of these subjects have
been portrayed in a manner which mirrors the state of the society that we live
in. We tend to come to conclusions easily and these convictions make us form
judgements about the 'suspects' and we do not hesitate before harming them in
any way. This is the reality, and that is what the film talks about. It also
deals with the perceptions of the wronged individual. The helplessness that
emanates from the protagonists face is impactful, intense and terrifying. Actor
Mads Mikkelsen delivers a superlative performance in the film, as does the rest
of the cast.
The screenplay of the film was brilliant.
The way the audience is kept guessing right till the climactic moments in the
film is exemplary. There are moments in the film where you may not agree with
what's happening on an idealistic level. However, if you give it a deeper
thought, you will find that so many instances incorporated in the film portray
reality. The protagonist is beaten, abused, humiliated and 'wronged' time and
again, but you keep hoping till the end that redemption will come. The film
does not consciously project this hope and optimism. ‘The Hunt’ is all about
the bitter truth. One which everyone eventually has to come to terms with. It
does not have a convenient ending, but one should remember that not all endings
are that.
Must, must watch film. It's a Danish film
subtitled in the English language. Get hold of it anyhow and watch.
Shivom
Oza
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