The Hunt (Jagten) (Thomas Vinterberg, 2012)
Imdb
Date Watched: 04/24/17
Cinema or Home: Home
Reason For Watching: 13th HOF, Neiba's Nomination
Rewatch: No.
This is the tenth nominated film - out of fifteen, not including my own - that I have watched for this Hall of Fame. While there were some nominated films that I respected, I was really starting to lose hope that I would find at least one that I genuinely enjoyed.
It finally happened. Like the other Vinterberg film I've seen -
Festen, which I also watched for a HOF -
Jagten tells a story that deals with deeply disturbing and damaging accusations and it is brought to heartwrenching life through stellar performances and very unsettling scenes. But where
Festen examined the long lasting damage caused when those accusations are true,
Jagten takes the opposite approach - showcasing the destruction that results from false accusations.
Ultimately, I found this film to be both challenging and frustrating - but in a very good way. It was very frustrating to know the truth behind the lies and to have to watch as a man's life was ruined. And yet I had to ask myself how I would react if such accusations were made against someone I knew. Who would I believe? If that person was shown to be innocent, would I still have doubt? And all I can say is I don't know. But I love that this film had me asking these questions. I love that it did more than just entertain, it really made me think. Still, having seen it only once I won't call it a favorite and I'm hesitant to rate it any higher than this but it will take something extraordinary for
Jagten to not take second place on my HOF ballot.
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