There is a particular kind of challenge to making a movie tethered to a single, self-contained location where the dialogue is conducted almost entirely over the phone and the story plays out in real time. This Danish thriller centers on Asger Holm (Jakob Cedergren), a police officer temporarily demoted to an Emergency Services (Denmark’s version of 911) call center. Asger treats the job with barely concealed contempt, judging his callers before sending help their way, until he answers a call from a woman who has been abducted by her ex-husband (who thinks she’s phoning their daughter). Asger keeps her on the line with yes or no questions and passes on the information, which is supposed to be the end of his involvement but he can’t let it go and he starts investigating on his own. As we learn more about Asger—he’s under investigation for questionable use of force—he himself begins to realize that he may have jumped to the wrong conclusions. The Guilty is an impressive debut from Swedish filmmaker Gustav Möller, who isolates Asger within the frame as the tensions build, creating a thrilling drama where all the action occurs offscreen and phone silence only adds to the anxiety. An incisive portrait of a self-righteous officer who confronts his own assumptions and prejudices over the course of an evening, this was Denmark’s official entry for the Oscars. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
The Guilty
Magnolia, 88 min., in Danish w/English subtitles & English-dubbed, R, DVD: $26.99, Blu-ray: $29.99 Volume 34, Issue 3
The Guilty
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