THE FORGIVEN

UK, 2021, 117 minutes, Colour.

Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain, Matt Smith, Caleb Landry Jones, Abby Lee, Christopher Abbott, Mari-Josee Croze, Alex Jennings, Said Taghmaoui, Ismael Kanater.

Directed by John Michael McDonagh.

John Michael McDonagh wrote and directed the very affecting Irish drama about sexual abuse, Calvary. He also made the drama, The Guard. So, expectations from him him? Not quite fulfilled?

It is difficult to engage with the range of Western characters who are introduced at the opening of the film. They are from Britain, America, France. They see themselves as culturally superior to the local Moroccan Arabs. And, they drive through the Moroccan desert to the home of a wealthy gay couple who are throwing a party, extravagant, swimming pools, lavish food, servants (whom they look down and take for granted), an extraordinary cultural contrast between the Westerners and the locals.

In wondering how to describe these characters, this description from an IMDb blogger, Xstal, hit the mark: ‘An out of touch and dislikeable group of misfits, also rans and holier-than-thous, gather in a remote part of Morocco to celebrate and carouse’.

But, the central characters, David and Jo, he a doctor from England, she his American wife, drove through the desert and night to the party, crashing into a young man who wanted to sell them a souvenir, killing him, then burying his identity card, but taking his body on to the resort. The police arrive. Interrogations. Declaration of an accident. David is played by Ralph Fiennes, surly, commenting that his father said that we live in a difficult word and the only way to deal with it is to mock it. He is also alcoholic. His wife, on the other hand, is a hard to fathom character, not helped by Jessica Chastain’s odd, ambivalent performance.

However, there is the possibility for involvement with the film after the uninvolving distance it initialy sets up with its characters and their behaviour. The father of the dead boy comes to retrieve his son’s body, encounters David who agrees to accompany him back to his home, helped by his sympathetic friend, Anouar (Said Taghmaoui). It is a significant journey for David, uncertain, conscious of his responsibility with the boy’s death, the father acting mysteriously, a long journey through desert detours, no alcohol. As the audience thinks about the title of the film, we wonder about David and his repentance, whether he is being forgiven.

Important themes are articulated when David compliments Anouar as being a ‘decent’ and he returns the compliment by calling David an ‘honourable’ man. And, facing the aftermath of the party as most of the characters drive off to the next one, leaving the hosts rather empty, David is challenged even more to take the responsibility for what he did, drunk, arguing with his wife, speeding, responsible for a death – and whether he is forgiven or not.

1. The title, crime, punishment, accident, responsibility, justice, facing reality, and I for an eye?
2. The Moroccan settings, the range of desert scenery, mountains, harsh sands, night? The home in the middle of the desert, luxury? The contrast with the huts for the locals? The musical score?
3. The range of characters, unlikable, dislikeable? Western culture, British, American, French? The contrast with the local Moroccans? Culture gaps, financial gaps? Honesty and dishonesty, thievery? In the life of Western decadence?
4. The focus on David and Joe, on the boat, the first glimpse of Africa, the tension between them, brittle marriage, his work as a doctor, his drinking? Hiring the car? Is culturally insensitive attitudes and behaviour? Superiority? The arguments between the two? The drive, by night, hitting the young man, bearing his identity card, taking him to the compound? David and the consequences, the accident, participation in the party, his drinking, sardonic remarks? The police arriving, the interviews, the accident? The father of the dead man, the meeting with David, David agreeing to go with him, his friendship with Anouar, the conversations, the silent father, the drive, detours, sense of tension, possibilities for vengeance? Arrival of the heart, the body, the grieving women, the burial of the body? David in the locker room, the conversations with the father, the morning, clean clothes, everybody gone, the father’s return? The drive, the farewell, the father speaking in English? Telling the story of his son and his wishes for him, archaeology, sales, prosperity? David and his return, buying the local shirt and wearing it, back at the compound, interactions with his wife, his suspicions, driving away, held up, the young man with the gun, David allowing himself to be shot? His descriptions as an honourable man?
5. Themes of decency, behaviour, attitude? Anouar is decent? David is honourable?
6. Richard and Ali, the gay relationship, English and American background, affluence, the resort, luxury, the guests, behaviour, relationships, cultural superiority, sexuality, adultery? Aftermath? Richard and his character, the host, the relationship with Dalley, the welcome, presiding over the events? The aftermath?
7. Tom, American, his presence, interactions with Joe, flirting, the adultery, the consequences for him, for Joe? His leaving without saying goodbye?
8. The other guests, flamboyant, the swimming pool, costumes, dancing, the Lord from England, his entourage?
9. Audiences and the main characters, identifying with them on not?
10. The Arab characters, the two young men, the background of archaeology and souvenirs, high sales, drugtaking, the gun, trying to sell the emblem? The father, his attitude, hopes for his son? The men working at the resort, tolerant of the behaviour, get spitting on the drink? Hopes of getting jobs and more fashionable hotels?
11. The change of tone with David and his journey, an interior journey, giving the money to Anouar, acceptance of responsibility, his death? Forgiven yet executed?