Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lasse Fogelstrom, Annika Wedderkop
Running Time: 110 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Trailers
Morality and consequences of a lie are the two main themes explored in Thomas Vinterberg’s faultless THE HUNT released on DVD and Blu-ray this week. Dealing with paedophilia, family relations and social reaction it isn’t an easy watch, but its brilliance shines beacon-like through a dearth of happiness.
Mads Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a mild-mannered teacher accused of inappropriate behaviour by his best friend Theo’s (Larsen) daughter Klara (Wedderkopp). Brilliantly constructed by writer/director Vinterberg the film manages to elicit sympathy for every main character and understanding for their reactions. Which, given the controversial subject matter, is no mean feat. Along with the perfectly-pitched screenplay the acting is excellent. Mikkelsen cements his standing as one of the greatest actors currently working, whilst Wedderkopp is wonderfully understated as Klara.
Stylistically Vinterberg uses Sweden’s natural beauty wonderfully. Crisp browns of autumn fade into lush whites of winter helping to break-up the bleakness. For his actors Vinterberg lets the camera linger, taking in every emotion and creating an appropriately uncomfortable atmosphere.
Past aesthetics and acting, THE HUNT’s real strength is its message about the ‘innocence’ of youth and how a little lie can grow and destroy lives. Through Klara the audiences emotions are portrayed with the correct level of scepticism and downright confusion. Never does the film pander to conformity in denouncing anybody on-screen, the film is open to interpretation and debate, a quality sometimes lacking in film today.
Made with an incredible level of understanding, a willingness to be brave, and a respect for its audience THE HUNT is one of the most incredible films you’ll ever see and deserves to be on every shelf, in every home in the world. Magnificent.
THE HUNT is available now to buy via Arrow Films.
