INDIGNATION (2016)

Genre: Drama
Director: James Schamus
Cast: Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tracy Letts, Ben Rosenfield, Linda Emond, Noah Robbins
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Some Sexual Scenes)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 18 August 2016

Synopsis: Based on Philip Roth’s late novel, Indignation takes place in 1951, as Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman), a brilliant working class Jewish boy from Newark, New Jersey, travels on scholarship to a small, conservative college in Ohio, thus exempting him from being drafted into the Korean War. But once there, Marcus’s growing infatuation with his beautiful classmate Olivia Hutton (Sarah Gadon), and his clashes with the college’s imposing Dean, Hawes Caudwell (Tracy Letts), put his and his family’s best laid plans to the ultimate test.

Movie Review:

If the majority of a movie contains heavy dialogue scenes, there is a high chance it would not go down well with most mainstream movie goers. These days, you only feel you have gotten your worth after seeing countless explosions, car chases, bare fisted fights and also not forgetting, computer generated effects. When a film featuring lots of conversations engages you from beginning to end, you will have to admit this is a gem.

And this is exactly what James Schamus’ directorial debut is like. Based on Phillip Roth’s 2008 novel of the same name, this 110 minute movie is a fine piece of work from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of the Korean War, a working-class Jewish student (played wonderfully by the understated Logan Lerman), leaves Newark, New Jerseyto attend a small college in Ohio. There, he experiences a sexual awakening after meeting an elegant and wealthy girl (Sarah Gadon), and confronts the school's dean (the highlight of the film: Tracy Letts) over the role of religion in academic life.

Schamus, best known for his written works (the screenwriter was nominated for 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and 2005’s BrokebackMountain), tries his hand at directing. While this writer has not read the original novel, he is guessing that the subject matter is one that requires a mature mind to fully appreciate. And you can trust the winner of the Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay Award (for 1997’s The Ice Storm) to comfortably deal with this topic.

This is essentially a coming of age tale about a boy and a girl, just that it takes place in another era. We urbanites are probably unfamiliar with the intricacies of those times, where rules, obligations and constraints are the focus of many people’s lives. The restrained atmosphere of the film is aptly complemented by Schamus’ decision to keep things grounded and straight to the point. What makes you think instead, are the strong undercurrents between the characters. Lots of dynamics are on play here, with power shifts and intentional word play.

It is also fortunate that Schamus has Lerman and Gadon to play the protagonists. The result is a compelling drama between the characters. It keeps viewers glued to the screen (not with convenient cinematic approaches like those listed above), and leaves you wondering why certain personalities behave in a certain way. If there is anyone who will make you sit up and watch, it is Letts who makes every second on screen count. Watch out for two scenes where he and Lerman have a civilised yet heated debate over issues which would otherwise be cheapened by social media today.

When you walk out of the theatre, you know you have caught a film that is keen to tell a good story.  

Movie Rating:

(James Schamus' first film is a handsome piece of work, a restrainedly engaging film)

Review by John Li