THE HUNT (Jagten) (2012)

Genre: Drama
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrøm, Susse Wold, Anne Louise Hassing, Lars Ranthe, Alexandra Rapaport, Ole Dupont
RunTime: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: R21 (Nudity and Sexual Scene)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website: http://www.magpictures.com/thehunt/

Opening Day: 6 June 2013

Synopsis: THE HUNT unfolds in a small provincial town in the days leading up to Christmas. Lucas (Mads Mikkensen), a forty year old divorcee, is finally getting his life under control. He's got himself a new girlfriend, a new job and is in the process of re-building his relationship with his teenage son, Marcus. But things soon start to unravel. Nothing significant, just a slight comment here, a random lie there. And as the snow falls and the Christmas lights are lit, the lie spreads like an invisible virus. The shock and mistrust gets out of hand, and the small community suddenly finds itself in a collective state of mass hysteria, while Lucas fights a lonely fight for his life and dignity. THE HUNT is a disturbing depiction of how a lie can quickly become truth - a modern tale of witch-hunt, injustice, guilt and, ultimately, forgiveness. A fable on how fragile a community can become when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish. It is a stirring portrait of a man struggling to exonerate himself, and a father and a son reaching out for one another as their world crumbles.

Movie Review:

A lie told in naivety, a well-intentioned but ultimate foolish inclination to believe the words of a young child, and the herd mentality of a group of small-town folk - Thomas Vinterberg’s 2012 Palme d’Or winner ‘The Hunt’ explores the ripple effects of a false sexual abuse accusation on the life of a blameless kindergarten school teacher as lies, gossip and innuendo take over reason and just plain common sense. Trust us when we say that it’s not a comfortable film to watch, and since it isn’t made as a revenge thriller, won’t offer the kind of vindication some audiences might hope it does - but it is edge-of-your-seat gripping stuff and well-deserving of all the accolades it has received thus far.

Rather than resort to theatrics, Vinterberg and his co-scripter Tobias Lindholm treats the subject matter with the honesty and seriousness it deserves. That is amply demonstrated in the straightforward narrative that they choose, sticking from start to finish with the point of view of said teacher Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen).  There is therefore never any doubt about Lucas’ innocence; instead, we are under no illusion that the young girl Klara’s (Annika Wedderkopp) insinuation that he had sexually abused her was no more than a display of indignation after he rebukes her for a guileless but inappropriate sign of affection towards him.

A slow buildup in the first half hour of the movie lays the pieces for the ensuing proceedings - in particular, we learn that the gentle and mild-mannered Lucas was recently divorced and is fighting for his teenage son Marcus (Lasse Fogelstrom) to stay with him. Important to note too is the close bond of friendship between Lucas and Klara’s father Theo (Thomas Bo Larsen), as well as the budding romance between Lucas and a co-worker (Alexandra Rapaport). Though the pace is deliberate, you’ll appreciate the attention that Vinterberg pays to these relationships as the unfounded but no less virulent rumours and suspicions exert their nasty consequences.

Vinterberg shows admirable restraint in sketching the chronology of events leading up to the expected community backlash towards Lucas. At no point does he attempt to cast judgment on any one of the supporting characters responsible for Lucas’ predicament - not the kindergarten supervisor Grethe (Susse Wold) who first hears Klara’s lie and whose gullibility precipitates the chain of events, nor Theo or his wife who do not even bother to question their daughter further, nor the colleagues, parents and other townspeople who blindly accept the charge to be true. And because Vinterberg seeks not to assign blame, we are invited to likewise steer away from doing so - though we must warn you that it is hard not to be piqued at their sheer idiocy.

Adding a touch of poignancy to the themes is the fact that the events take place in the days leading up to Christmas, and it is no coincidence that there are Christian allegories to be drawn in the way Vinterberg paints how just a simple three-inch tongue can so easily through judgment, misdirection and falsehood bring down a six-foot man. In particular, a compelling but discomforting scene to watch is set inside the town’s church on Christmas night, when a bruised and battered Lucas (and we mean this both physically and emotionally) confronts Theo to look into his eyes and see for himself if that is the gaze of a guilty person. And speaking of metaphors, the title of the film refers to the figurative witch-hunt of a town which counts deer hunting as one of its common hobbies, the concluding shot a brilliant and befitting close to illustrate the titular significance.

Effectively cast against type here is Danish actor Mikkelsen, better known for being the memorably malevolent villain in ‘Casino Royale’ as well as the classic Dr Hannibal Lecter in the latest NBC TV series. There is great nuance in his portrayal of Lucas, demonstrating tangibly his initial fear and disbelief in his powerlessness to stop the tide of misgivings and then later his palpable frustration at the ostracision he is forced to endure. Even more impressive is the fact that Mikkelsen avoids drawing out audience sympathy for his character explicitly, despite how easy that might be under the circumstances.

Yet even though it is not an easy film to watch and doesn’t offer much by way of cathartic release through an expression of violence, ‘The Hunt’ remains one of the must-watch gripping dramas of the year. The setting might be distinctly European, but the relevance as a cautionary tale of the dangers of gossip, doubt and malice is universal. It’s unsettling psychological material all right, but those who like their movies meaningful will find much food for thought from this absorbing picture. 

Movie Rating:

(Gripping if never easy to watch, this compelling drama on the dangers of judgment and falsehoods is built around a bravura performance by Mads Mikkelsen)

Review by Gabriel Chong