No. 60 (2022) THE FORGIVEN July 23rd.

 

Film No. 60 (2022)  July  23rd.  10.45 AM   Cinema 1.  LUNA,  Leederville.

 

"It was an accident. He stepped out in front of us. We don't want the police showing up, poking their noses into everything!" (David arrogantly guides friend Richard as to how this "small" speed hump in life should play out).

THE FORGIVEN is a film that comes with Box Office cred, but plays like a richly shot and scripted Art House thriller. And while its plotting is a little uneven and far fetched, the script is invigoratingly edgy. I've not read the Lawrence Osborne novel of the same name, so I had no prior idea of what to expect. 

David (Ralph Fiennes) and Jo (Jessica Chastain) are professionals from London in a marriage neither seems bothered to nourish. Their journey in driving from Morocco to a weekend long party in the Sahara finds them headed for a clash of a cultural and moral nature. As an audience we are set up to watch, open mouthed, the arrogance with which wealthy westerners treat the indigenous occupants of the land. After running over a local boy, by accident, David has some lessons to learn with regards to attitudes and the treatment of others.

Writer/Director John Michael McDonagh (THE GUARD, CALVARY) is a seriously thoughtful, entertaining film maker. So, while THE FORGIVEN is heavy handed on occasions, particularly when emphasising themes of cultural divisions, his writing never labours a point. The script's best lines are delivered by the locals. The anchor point for moral sense as David decides to deal with his mistake comes in the form of Hamid brilliantly played by Mourad Zaoui (THE NIGHT MANAGER), David's designated guide.

The magic of THE FORGIVEN is that we are never quite sure where it is headed. The juxtaposition of the party, with fireworks exploding in the background, as a father, Abdellah (Ismael Kanater) grieves for his son, triggers anger within us at the opulence of the unlikeable Brits celebrating (who cares what) in their enclave. But do we really know what David is headed for when he decides to face the repercussions of his error(s)?

THE FORGIVEN is a fantasy. Its trailer is brilliant and tantalizing to a tee. It's message is strong in relation to family being at the core of what we all have in common. And most of all, it plays as thoughtful entertainment. After all, isn't that the main reason nearly all of us go to the movies? 10GUMS.