The Forgiven

7/1/2022

_The Forgiven_ is a peculiar film that seems to be trying to say something about poverty or the wealthy being blind to anything that isn’t directly under their noses, but it also squeezes in a few jabs at racism. The whole thing about throwing mice off of rooftops while wearing parachutes with swastikas on them is really bizarre. The film alludes to death and uncertainty at every turn with verbal descriptions of torture and a brief clip of Hershel’s beheading on The Walking Dead. Despite the best efforts of a massively talented cast, _The Forgiven_ trudges around in circles to the point where you don’t care what its destination is as long as it finally and truly ends. **Full review:** hubpages.com/entertainment/The-Forgiven-2022-Review-A-Desert-Drama-Where-the-Mouth-is-Faster-Than-the-G

9/8/2022

Despite a rather a decent cast, this is all a bit of a non-story. It centres around a soirée being given by the rather ostentatious gay couple "Richard" (Matt Smith) and boyfriend "Dally" (Caleb Landry Jones) deep in the Moroccan desert. Travelling to that get-together are "Jo" (Jessica Chastain) and her rather drunken husband "David" (Ralph Fiennes). Along the way, in the darkness, a young boy "Driss" steps in front of their car and he is killed. Repatriating his body with his family exposes "David" to some of the traditions and culture of the local people who deal with their grief in a traditional manner - one that requires the man to journey to the boy's home, to meet his father - and to try to make some amends. Meantime, his rather unconcerned wife stays with their hosts and makes merr