THE GUILTY: DANISH DILEMMA

The advent of video and then discs has made films from around the world more available than ever. Where once you had to live near a theater that specialized in foreign films now you can buy or rent them with ease. Where once Oscar nominated foreign films were seen by few now everyone has that chance. And now a film chosen by Denmark for this year’s (2019) Oscars that didn’t make the finalists is available. After watching THE GUILTY I think they made a mistake.

Danish police officer Asger Holm (Jakob Cedergren) is on restricted duty in answering their version of 9-1-1 calls. Unlike most he’s not one to take many of these calls seriously. As examples he chastises a drug user calling because he’s overdosed rather than direct him on how to stay alive while another is a john whose been mugged by a prostitute. Asger suggest he not visit prostitutes.

As the movie progresses we get bits and pieces of something else going on in Asger’s life. Nothing is clearly defined but the reason for his new duties revolve around an inquisition to take place the next day. The details of what happened are not revealed but as things progress we begin to get clues.

As his shift is about to end Asger gets a call that changes everything. The call is from a woman who’s been kidnapped by her ex-husband. Somehow she’s been able to call in but her husband is unaware. The woman’s name is Iben and she relates what it happening to her while Asger tries to calm her down and find out where she is. As their conversation progresses he learns that her young daughter and baby are home alone and he sends police there to investigate.

The calls between Iben and Asger are broken up with calls back as he tries to help her. As he tries to calm her and get more clues as to her location he begins to learn more about her and what is taking place. Talking to her daughter he gets more information. But when he talks to the police who arrived at the scene to care for the girl he learns the most horrific thing of all.

Before all is said and done things will turn on their head and the reality that Asger assumed to be true may not be so after all. His preconceived notions of what was transpiring on the other end of the phone with each phone call is shaken to their core and he learns something about himself in the process.

The movie is only 85 minutes long and all of it takes place in the offices where Asger and the others answering phone calls work. If they wanted they could even make this a stage play. But in spite of this the film ends up being one of the most intense films released in recent years. It’s composed of conversations with no action to be seen and yet the movie holds you in its grip from start to finish.

I never once found myself in search of the remote while watching this, trying to get through the boring scenes in hopes that better ones would follow. The pacing, the acting, the directing all combine here to make an effective thriller that will stick with you after the final credits role. Not only is this a great example of a foreign film but it’s one that I know I will watch more than once. I would suggest that if the chance presents itself you make the attempt to do so as well.

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