At the end of his latest assignment in the Indian Ocean, Danish cargo ship cook Mikkel Hartmann (Pilou Asbæk, The Whistleblower) advises his wife of a two-day delay in his return home. His far-flung location dictates that their conversation is short; however it is emotional distance that taints their chat, with the prolonged time apart taking its toll. Alas, Mikkel’s words prove accurate in intent but not in duration, despite his best efforts. The band of Somali pirates that commandeer the craft have little regard for his desire to reunite with his family; the ship’s corporate owners may be all too aware, but their actions in securing the vessel’s release are couched purely in self-interest.
With both extremes established, A Hijacking (Kapringen) narrows the gap, as the contrast of the callous deeds of the captors and the calculated response from the hostages’ employer gradually lessens. Though their preferred outcomes vary, the motivation remains the same, with money – procuring much and parting with little – the ultimate driver. Depicting terse and tense negotiations extended over months, the film expertly flits from the hijackers’ harrowing hold over their human freight to the careful reasoning of the company’s CEO (Søren Malling, TV’s The Killing) and would-be saviour. That hardworking men remain caught in the middle is never forgotten, but nor is their primary consideration.
Accordingly, writer/director Tobias Lindholm (R) transforms a thrilling situation into much more, using the fate-determining tug of war as a statement on the value of existence. In the constant tussle, figures flow freely, with the men in the middle little more than numbers to bartered for and bargained over. For the shipping company, the disinclination to part with cash for lives sits in opposition to the willingness to pay for a new ship; similarly, the pirates’ desire to receive a sum – any sum – of money soon negates the rationale for a high ransom. Objects are afforded worth, as is currency; in their pursuit, people are just pawns to play with.
Drawing upon the nuances that made Lindholm’s script for The Hunt such riveting viewing, the filmmaker ensures his latest moral quandary is grounded in compelling and contemplative circumstances – and as a study of the intertwined triangle formed by the parties with a stake in the hijacking, the fictionalised but authentic feature is never less than riveting. Indeed, the drama seethes with devastation and duplicity to such an extent that the film excels as a study of a crisis; the contextual complexity that accompanies the cynical game of life and death is both intelligent and absorbing.
Economical, effective camera work from cinematographer Magnus Nordenhof Jønck (television series Borgen) aptly evokes claustrophobia, just as efficient editing by Adam Nielsen (Teddy Bear) heightens the stakes in the nightmarish scenario, aided by excellent performances and exceptional attention to detail. Indeed, it is the film’s commitment – to its idea and execution – that resonates throughout, engrossing in its machinations and chilling in its psychology.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
A Hijacking (Kapringen)
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Denmark, 2012, 99 mins
Sydney Film Festival
5 – 16 June
http://sff.org.au/
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