BY WAY OF HELENA/ THE DUEL
US, 2016, 110 minutes, Colour.
Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Alice Braga, Emory Cohen, Felicity Price, William Sadler, Benedict Samuel, Raphael Sbarge.
Directed by Kiaran Darcy- Smith.
By Way of Helena is a striking title but, apparently, not sufficient to attract an audience and so the title was changed to The Duel. In fact, the film starts with the duel, a fierce fight in the streets of the town, a man standing up to a violent bully and his little son observing. The bully is played by Woody Harrelson.
The main action takes place 20 years later, the end of the 1880s, the boy having grown up and become a Texas Ranger. His played by Liam Hemsworth. His wife is played by Alice Braga. In the film was directed by Australian Kieran Darcy- Smith (Wish You Were Here, episodes of Jack Irish, Wolf Creek).
The Ranger is commissioned by the Governor to investigate a small community in southern Texas where people are disappearing.
The town is run by the bully played by Woody Harrelson, using religious domination, flirting with various women, capturing Mexicans, running a business where hunters, even from England, pay to go on shooting expeditions against the Mexicans.
The characters are strongly drawn, especially Harrelson and his vengeful son (emory Cohen). Liam Hemsworth is the straight up-and-down manager of law and order. The film builds up to a strong climax with the Mexicans, the hunters, the confrontation between the two enemies.
A grim but an above average Western.
1. The title? The alternate title? The American West? The 19 century?
2. The towns of the West, 1869, hosts civil war, the changes by the 1880s and 1890s? The countryside, travelling through the countryside, the isolated community, the Rio Grande and the Mexican border? The musical score?
3. The introduction, the atmosphere after the Civil War? The clashes in the town, the role of the law, crooked shysters, the fights, the preparation for the duel after the challenge, the death of the man, Abraham and his success? The boy watching his father die?
4. The 1880s, David and his being a Texas Ranger? Memories of his father? His marriage, Marisol? The status of the ranges, the meeting with the governor, laws and dealing with outlaws? The job, the commission, to find Abraham and his community, they’re exploiting Mexicans on the Rio Grande in?
5. David in himself, his age, his father, relationship with his wife, tensions, pregnancy? The mission, the long travel to find the community? His wife accompanying him?
6. The arrival in the town, the initial encounter with Abraham? Abraham, religious and preaching, capacity for healing, yet a fraud? Belief in himself, his control of the town, loyalty of the underlings, the attraction of the women, the role of Isaac, his son?
7. Abraham at Marisol, the range of women, the attraction, the religious motivation, the healing, his charm and self-confidence?
8. Abraham in himself, his way of control, exercise of charm, yet a fraud, the religious language? His liking David, responding to him, appointing him as sheriff? The reactions of the people on the town, terhis associates? Issak’s reaction?
9. Issak, the burden of being Abraham’s son, yet his self-assurance? The clashes with David? Wanting vengeance, his father’s treatment of him, severe?
10. David, following the group, the discovery of the truth about the river, the Mexicans, the tent and they’re being captured, their fears, rough treatment, for execution?
11. The visitors, Americans and British, coming to the west, paying for the hunt, Issak and his participation? With the Mexicans, giving them food, reassuring them? Yet turning them out to be hunted, tortured and shot? The bodies to be buried, to escape any detection, yet Issak putting them in the river, they’re being discovered?
12. Marisol, the interaction with Abraham, his hold over her?
13. David, the buildup to the confrontation, Abraham and is discovering the truth about Issak and his treatment of him? David being pursued, Abraham and the men, David and his shooting the men? The confrontation with Abraham, they’re talking, the rock falling on him, being left for dead? The Mexican woman, her encounter with David, her return and saving him?
14. Justice done, the Rangers, David and his visit to the governor, survival – and his future?
