Comments on: CIFF 2013: The Verdict (Het Vonnis, 2013)

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:31:08 +0000

Of course, in law, the victim and perpetrator don’t matter. They are both equal human beings under the law. One, the scumbag, went free because of a technicality, though he might have been convicted or set free, who knows. The other went free because he deserved to as far as the jurors and audience members were concerned. In a sense, he got off on a technicality, too, through the interpretation of crime of passion as applying to a planned crime motivated by passionate hatred. Luc has lost all he holds dear, except his life and freedom, so that’s punishment enough for him in the eyes of the audience. This was manipulative to be sure, but I can forgive the film a lot because of how well written and performed it was.

By: tom hyland

tom hyland — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:08:07 +0000

Marilyn: I agree with you to some degree, but whether the killer was a scumbag or not, I don’t think matters. It’s about what the husband does. It’s not a crowd-pleasing revenge story, but one that asks difficult questions not only about this character, but about the laws as well. There is some advocacy, but to me it was subdued. No one comes out smelling like a rose when all is said and done.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 02:18:42 +0000

Hi, Tom, and thanks for stopping by. I would have agreed with you if we didn’t get the title cards at the end that seem to be calling for a change in the situation. Given the drama we have just seen, it would appear that the solution is to abridge due process. Making the killer a scumbag and the husband all that is good really stacks the deck. This is advocacy filmmaking, no matter who good it is – and it is very, very good.

By: tom hyland

tom hyland — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 02:01:10 +0000

Marilyn: Excellent review. I’m also on the media list for the CIFF and recently saw the film and am as praiseworthy of the film as are you. This is an excellent film and the performance by Leysen is brilliant, while his closing argument is one of the finest I’ve ever heard in a film.

I will disagree with you though on your final thoughts. I understand your point and this is a tricky subject – or slippery slope, as you put it. But this film wisely talks about both sides in the argument. This is not a simple minded film in which we root for revenge. I for one am glad to finally see a film that takes the position of the victim – and does so with great balance. (See my review at: http://cinemadirectives.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-verdict-and-i-will-be-murdered.html

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:48:09 +0000

I agree, zigot, that the script is first rate and the performers excellent. You do bring up a good point about the perfect citizen, which makes the sympathies of the audience push into his corner without really examining what’s going on here.

By: zigot

zigot — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 04:19:00 +0000

just seen this screening… based on what I’ve seen I have to say that I think the movie in general is a little bit banalized… it left me wondering what would of happened if there was added complexity of the retributor NOT being such a perfect/idolized citizen… would he be given the same level of justice

having said this, I haven’t seen better monologues (particularly by the defense attorney and the chief prosecutor) in a while… which rates this movie as a more than excellent courtroom drama… the opportunistic justice minister’s role was also brilliantly displayed

By: Christopher Potter

Christopher Potter — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:51:00 +0000

To Marilyn:

I get more envious every day. I hope they go on a Best-of-the-Festival tour — including an Ann Arbor stop.

Chris Potter