The Hunted (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The hunted |
| Original title | Affliction |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1997 |
| length | 110 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Paul Schrader |
| script | Paul Schrader |
| production | Linda Reisman |
| music | Michael Brook |
| camera | Paul Sarossy |
| cut | Jay Rabinowitz |
| occupation | |
| |
The hunted (original title: Affliction ) is an American drama from 1997 . That of Paul Schrader written and directed film based on the novel by Russell Banks from the year 1989 .
The hunted tells of a sheriff in a small American town who is alienated from his environment . Solving a fatal hunting accident becomes the occasion for a personal mission that leads to tragedy.
action
Affliction begins with a voice-over by Rolfe Whitehouse from the "affliction" (English. Affliction ) reports that triggered the mysterious disappearance of his brother Wade and the previous events at the bereaved.
Wade Whitehouse is the local sheriff in Lawford, New Hampshire, USA . After separating from his wife Lillian, he has become estranged from his daughter Jill. He has a split relationship with his domineering father; he has only sporadic contact with his siblings, who have moved away from Lawford. His employer, the corrupt councilor Gordon LaRiviere, does not hide the fact that he has Whitehouse in hand and can drop it at any time. In addition, Whitehouse has an alcohol problem, with which he compensates for his isolated social position and his damaged self-image, and which sometimes makes him abusive. Only with the waitress Margie does he have an open and warm relationship.
When a trade unionist who played an important role in a supra-regional corruption process was killed in a hunting accident, Wade imagined that hunting guide Jack had murdered him on an assignment. Wade's brother Rolfe initially seems to reinforce this suspicion, but later relativizes his statement again. At the same time, Wade tries to get custody of Jill through a lawyer. After the death of Wade's mother, not only does the conflict with his father Glen openly break out, but also that with Jack and LaRiviere, who dismissed him from the police force.
Wade's increasing lack of control and violence eventually lead to an argument with Jill and Margie, who are fleeing from him in the car. His father Glen congratulates him that Wade finally appeared as a “real man” instead of a “bottle”. Wade attacks Glen, who is killed in the ensuing fight between the two men. Wade burns his father's body in the shed and gets drunk.
In the final voice-over by Wade's brother Rolfe, the viewer learns that Wade shot the hunting guide Jack after his father's death before he disappeared without a trace in his jeep.
background
After Paul Schrader read Russell Banks' novel Affliction , he secured the film rights, but took several years to get the funding in place. Nick Nolte , to whom Schrader offered the role of Wade Whitehouse, initially charged a fee that was too high. Later Nolte reduced his demand and acted as one of the executive producers of the film. Schrader offered the role of Wade's father to James Coburn after Paul Newman turned it down.
The Hunted was the second collaboration (after Light Sleeper ) between Schrader and actor Willem Dafoe , who only has a major supporting role here. Schrader's wife, Mary Beth Hurt, took on the role of Wade's ex-wife, Lillian. The shooting took place in Montreal and other locations in Québec , Canada .
The Hunted celebrated its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 1997. In Germany , The Hunted hit cinemas on February 12, 1998. The official film release in the USA was January 15, 1999. In the first exploitation, the film grossed six million US dollars in American cinemas, with an estimated production cost of six million US dollars.
Reviews
“ The hunted moves successfully and accurately through both treacherous and complex psychological terrain, without even hesitating. [...] the plasticity of Wade's character makes this film particularly captivating. "
“[Nick Nolte] delivers the acting performance of his entire career in Paul Schrader's quietly breathtaking new film […] As in Das süße Jenseits , the more contemplative and elegant, but less direct and explosive film, Der Haunted finds a deeper meaning in one all too believable tragedy. "
"Sensitive but rather monotonous adaptation of Russell Banks' novel [...] the narrative structure is too vague and pale to appeal to the heart or mind."
“A deeply sad film in the dimensions of a classic tragedy, which challenges the viewer to come to terms with his own life. Exceptional due to the consistent, uncompromising staging, the effective camera work and the excellent actors. "
Awards (selection)
- James Coburn was awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance .
- The Hunted was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor .
- Nick Nolte received an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor . Nolte has also received awards from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle, among others .
- The Hunted was nominated in six categories for the Independent Spirit Award : Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography .
Publications
The hunted is available on DVD in the US and many European countries, including Germany. Michael Brooks' score was released on Citadel Records in 1999.
literature
- Russell Banks: The Hunted . German by Karin Tschumper and Brigitta Neumeister . Goldmann, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-442-44082-3 .
- Kevin Jackson (Ed.): Schrader on Schrader & Other Writings. Faber & Faber, London 2004, ISBN 0-571-22176-9 .
Web links
- The hunted in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Affliction at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
proof
- ↑ Interview ( Memento of the original from October 7, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. with Paul Schrader on Industrycentral.com, accessed October 29, 2011.
- ↑ a b The hunted in the Internet Movie Database .
- ↑ a b The hunted in the lexicon of international films .
- ^ " Affliction successfully and effectively navigates treacherous and complex psychological territory without ever missing a beat. […] The vividness of Wade's character is what makes this film especially compelling. "- Review by James Berardinelli on Reelviews.net , accessed on October 29, 2011.
- ↑ "[Nick Nolte] gives the performance of his career in Paul Schrader's quietly stunning new film […] Like The Sweet Hereafter, a more meditative and elegant but less immediate, volcanic film, Affliction finds the deeper meaning in an all too believable tragedy . ”- Review by Janet Maslin in the New York Times , December 30, 1998.
- ↑ "[...] sensitive but rather dull adaptation of Russell Banks' novel [...] the narrative's too unfocused and low-key really to engage the heart or mind." - Review by Geoff Andrew in the Time Out Film Guide , Seventh Edition 1999, Penguin Books 1998.
