Copyright: Nordisk Film |
The Hunt, which is the English translation of
the Danish name Jagten, takes place in a small community where everyone knows
everyone else. Every person on the street is a neighbor, acquaintance or a
friend. In other words, the story takes place in a form of human settlements
which for thousands of years was and still is an ideal place for various forms
of persecution ranging from public condemnation to open witch hunts.
Mads Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a professor who loses his job. Because of that he gets another one as a teacher in a kindergarten. Despite the difficult period in his professional and private life, Lukas loves his job, and the other kids adore him. One day little Clara, the daughter of his best friend, presents a vague story that might show abuse. The manager of the kindergarten feels obligated to do something. Lucas gets suspended, and instantly his life becomes hell.
Director
Thomas Vinterberg uses dry realism presents this serious drama. In it there is
almost no music. Vinterberg puts Lukas in a state of almost total isolation and
helplessness. The case has no basis in the legal sense, but his community
begins its own trial and renders its verdict immediately. For them the real
court process is not important. The only important thing is the fact that Lucas
is accused of something unspeakable.
The film is
a perfect project for Mikkelsen. He has a distinct screen presence and few
people on the world cinema stage comparable to him (Christoph Waltz comes to
mind as one possibility). In his new TV show Hannibal he was able to dazzle us
in the shoes of a killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. As Lukas, he manages to create a
warm, regular family man in a difficult period. The real problems for Lukas
begin when this period becomes a nightmare.
This movie
reminded me of the older film called Just Ask My Children, based on a real event
in the United States. However, Winterberger opted for a much less dramatic
approach. Its story is less about injustice and more about the dark places in
ordinary men and women. This darkness
bubbles to the surface when they believe they are just trying to protect the
weakest in our society - children.
The Hunt
shows that the greatest danger lies in the moment when good people come across
an ugly phenomenon like child molestation. It that time, there is a danger that
those who see themselves as protectors also become monsters.