Writer/Director Tobias Lindholm released his fictional hijacked ship movie, unsurprisingly called A Hijacking a year before the better known and ostensibly true story of Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks in the titular role was released. He was apparently inspired to write the screen play after reading about commercial Danish ships hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean. A similar scenario plays out in Captain Phillips.
The contrasts between the 2 thematically linked films is one of the chief attractions in viewing A Hijacking. But at the outset I have to ask why Lindholm didn't attempt to dramatise a real life event, rather than dream one up.
Kapringen is filmed in deliberately washed out colours, with the audience frequently watching an almost black and white screen. He eschews virtually all action and is more interested in the (extremely) drawn out negotiation process via satellite phone and the associated psychological impacts on the most affected players, namely the Danish crew and the CEO of the Danish corporation which presumably owns, or is responsible for the ship's cargo. (I don't think we ever found out exactly what it was.) Such a framework allows Lindholm access to a sub - story of corporate hi - jinks, with the audience being asked to question whether the parent firm and its CEO are actually doing enough to genuinely seek their crew's release, or are they more concerned with the financial bottom - line.
Pertinent questions certainly, but this is where the film revealed its inherent narrative weakness, which I'm surprised many others in this forum haven't already raised. Fundamental to the posed storyline is that the corporation has been successful in keeping the hijacking secret for well over 4 months, a scheme I suggest is just ridiculous. No media, no newspaper leaks, no Danish Government involved. The crew's families have been notified of course, but we're all expected to believe that they've dutifully followed the CEO's advice of not saying boo to anyone for month after very long month. Meanwhile a huge merchant ship just supposedly marks time, sailing in circles in the North - Western Indian Ocean and it's not a headline ... somewhere? Contrast this of course with Captain Phillips, where we observed real life US Naval involvement relatively quickly.
Too big a story bridge to cross for this punter anyway. A Hijacking is a well made and acted low budget film, but ultimately (and literally) pales in comparison to the more authentic and let it be said, more entertaining tale, spun out in Captain Phillips.
The contrasts between the 2 thematically linked films is one of the chief attractions in viewing A Hijacking. But at the outset I have to ask why Lindholm didn't attempt to dramatise a real life event, rather than dream one up.
Kapringen is filmed in deliberately washed out colours, with the audience frequently watching an almost black and white screen. He eschews virtually all action and is more interested in the (extremely) drawn out negotiation process via satellite phone and the associated psychological impacts on the most affected players, namely the Danish crew and the CEO of the Danish corporation which presumably owns, or is responsible for the ship's cargo. (I don't think we ever found out exactly what it was.) Such a framework allows Lindholm access to a sub - story of corporate hi - jinks, with the audience being asked to question whether the parent firm and its CEO are actually doing enough to genuinely seek their crew's release, or are they more concerned with the financial bottom - line.
Pertinent questions certainly, but this is where the film revealed its inherent narrative weakness, which I'm surprised many others in this forum haven't already raised. Fundamental to the posed storyline is that the corporation has been successful in keeping the hijacking secret for well over 4 months, a scheme I suggest is just ridiculous. No media, no newspaper leaks, no Danish Government involved. The crew's families have been notified of course, but we're all expected to believe that they've dutifully followed the CEO's advice of not saying boo to anyone for month after very long month. Meanwhile a huge merchant ship just supposedly marks time, sailing in circles in the North - Western Indian Ocean and it's not a headline ... somewhere? Contrast this of course with Captain Phillips, where we observed real life US Naval involvement relatively quickly.
Too big a story bridge to cross for this punter anyway. A Hijacking is a well made and acted low budget film, but ultimately (and literally) pales in comparison to the more authentic and let it be said, more entertaining tale, spun out in Captain Phillips.