The first Williams Lake Film Club film of the new year had to be changed due to some delivery problems.
I am still trying to get INUK for you, but at a later date. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, we will be screening The Hunt, a great film from Denmark.
It will be shown at the Gibraltar Room at 7 p.m., back doors open at 6:30 a.m.
I have to admit I was hesitant to get this film. It deals with a very touchy subject, sexual child abuse, and in my opinion it is very, very difficult to make a good, well-balanced film about this, even more difficult not to get either all sappy or too judgmental.
Well, I was wrong. The Hunt is not only a good film, it is excellent.
The acting is excellent. Mads Mikkelsen received the Palme d’Or last year at the Cannes Film Festival for best actor for his portrayal of Lucas, the wronged teacher.
And the little girl Klara is a true wonder to watch.
The cast is well chosen all around and totally believable. And the setting in this small town in rural Denmark is just beautiful, a perfect backdrop for the underlying treachery.
The film tells the story of a former schoolteacher who went through a nasty divorce, lost his job, and is now working in a kinder garden. He has a great group of friends, some of them he has known for many, many years.
Lucas is finally ready to develop some tender attachment to a lively young colleague, but his priority is his fight for custody of his son.
All seems to go well, things are looking up for him, and then his world shatters once again …
One of his kinder garden children, Clara, the daughter of his best friend, tells a little lie.
We know it is a false accusation, we even know that little Clara picked this story up from her brother, but it is all so easily and scarily believable how the story unfolds.
The slow acting poison of rumour is devastating. It tears people apart, makes them so suspicious. We see it all too often without really thinking about it.
This film will make you think.
And it will make you wonder how you would have acted under such circumstances.
The Hunt comes highly recommended, has received countless accolades and should not be missed. I completely agree.
There will be refreshments after the screening and maybe a lively discussion about the film. Or you just might be happy to see all of your friends again.
Note: There will be a complete new schedule for our Tuesday movies and a new schedule for Saturday matinees.
Language is Danish, English and Polish, with English subtitles when necessary; 115 min., rating 15-plus.
