{"id":2888,"date":"2013-05-06T09:19:47","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T08:19:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk\/reviews\/?p=2888"},"modified":"2013-06-04T06:31:28","modified_gmt":"2013-06-04T05:31:28","slug":"a-hijacking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk\/reviews\/2013\/05\/06\/a-hijacking\/","title":{"rendered":"A Hijacking"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ahijacking\"<\/a>
A Hijacking<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\nFormat:<\/B> Cinema

\nRelease date:<\/B> 10 May 2013

\nDistributor:<\/B> Arrow Films

\nDirector:<\/B> Tobias Lindholm

\nWriter:<\/B> Tobias Lindholm

\nCast:<\/B> Pilou Asb&#230k, S&#248ren Malling, Dar Salim, Abdihakin Asgar

\nOriginal title:<\/B> Kapringen<\/I>

\nDenmark 2012

\n99 mins\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

An impressive sophomore effort from Tobias Lindholm, A Hijacking<\/I> tells the story of a Danish cargo ship taken over by Somali pirates, and the efforts to negotiate a peaceful and non-violent end to the affair by those back in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

Lindholm is an incredibly accomplished writer, having penned Thomas Vinterberg\u2019s The Hunt<\/I>, this year\u2019s breakout hit and a 2012 Cannes award winner, 2010\u2019s under-the-radar Submarino<\/I> (also directed by Vinterberg), as well as a number of episodes of the popular political drama Borgen<\/I>. Donning both the screenwriter and director\u2019s caps, the Dane has delivered on the promise he displayed with his hard-hitting prison drama debut, 2010\u2019s R<\/I>.<\/p>\n

Although the title of his new release might suggest an adrenaline-rush ride, the reality is a little more refined: switching from the ship to the negotiations back in Denmark, the plot racks up incredible tension, ably supported by actors who never overplay their hand. As the ship\u2019s cook, Mikkel Hartmann (Pilou Asb&#230k) brings restrained pathos to the role \u2013 with a wife and a young daughter back home in Denmark, he has more to lose than most of the other men on board. On the other side of the coin is Omar, (Abdihakin Asgar), who negotiates for the lives of these men with the CEO of the shipping company, Peter (played to mild-mannered perfection by S&#248ren Malling), who ignores the advice of the consultant and jumps into the situation with both feet.<\/p>\n

Lindberg is audacious in his refusal to portray the hijacking \u2013 he doesn\u2019t even stage the actual event, preferring to cut back to the ship after all the excitement is over. However, this should not be read as a negative comment \u2013 if anything, the audience is kept in the same position as the shipping company, the tension increasing tenfold as we learn exactly what happened during the hijacking.<\/p>\n

The plight of the men is harrowing. As days pile up on days and the mood turns sour, they try to survive, lacking even the most basic comforts a human being can expect. Again, Lindholm never creates a false tragedy, a Hollywood-style emotional manipulation. Instead, he lets the scenario play through to its logical conclusion, involving the audience throughout the characters\u2019 development.<\/p>\n

Quietly, the impressive cinematography works to create beautiful contrasts between the ship and the offices in Copenhagen, while the sound is sparse but effective. All in all, A Hijacking<\/I> is one of the most involving and well-written films to come out this year and is highly recommended to anyone looking for intelligent thrills.<\/p>\n

Evrim Ersoy<\/B><\/I><\/p>\n

Watch the trailer:<\/B><\/p>\n