Very well made, simple. Some would say the characterisation approaches cardboard. But that's absolutely the point.
Choices were made, big, difficult, choices, in order to make a very rare film about a very rare subject in today's societies. But a subject which has an absolutely central importance, given how much today's societies are moving in the direction of feudalism, collective 'gang-led' thought, status and revenge based life. More and more people are living by the perception of that a successful life means being hard, so hard, and having power over others rather than thought and understanding. The media seems to encourage it often - film, TV, news, current affairs, journalistic comment.
This very rare film is amazing in its simplicity, It resembles a stage play, with scenes painted by basic numbers and with very best acting.
It should be seen in all schools by 10 to 14 year olds at eldest. But then again around 16, when people may be leaving school and the adult societies' prescriptionism of ego in bravado and the weakness of being perceived to be successful in 'successful' emotional appearance has begun to take hold. This type of society has been increasing steadily, unfortunately - to the point where every 2nd 'judicial' summary seems to describe the convicted as a monster in some way. This was very rare 30 years ago, when, generally, criminals were still seen as men and women who made mistakes or whose whole lives were sidetracked but who still had potential for reform.
Today, we might sum up a huge part of society as "throw away the key" societies. When we sit and wait and mean that about every person who gets it wrong and we cower, ready to bolster our own sense of status and social relevance by using that phrase over and over - it seems this really must mean that we are becoming or have become a "throw away the key" society. For the more it goes on, the deeper it gets, it can seem increasingly that's what the society both reaps, but also deserves itself and for itself.
