classicsoncall Review of The Forgiven

The Forgiven (III) (2021)

"Open your door to a good day and prepare yourself for a bad one." - Moroccan proverb

[8/10 · 19 December 2022]

I'm surprised at the film's relatively low rating of 6.0 as I write this. I thought it was a fascinating study of clashing cultures in an exotic locale, with an unfortunate accident that paves the way for moral self-searching on the part of David Henninger (Ralph Fiennes), who's arrogance at the beginning of the story slowly unravels as the impact of killing a young Muslim boy is brought home to bear on his wounded conscience. There's real tension in the story when David agrees to go with the boy's father (Ismael Kanater) to bring the son's remains to their village for proper burial. As the viewer, one constantly wonders if violence will be visited on the wary Henninger, and it's that dynamic that keeps one off balance during his time at the home of Abdellah Taheri. All the while, a hedonistic party that was the Henninger's original destination continues unabated, with wife Jo (Jessica Chastain) sampling the fruits of the brief freedom from her husband in a meaningless dalliance with American Tom Day (Christopher Abbott). The contrast in lifestyles of the uber elite with the average Moroccan adds additional poignancy to the story, while the presence of servant Hamid (Mourad Zaoui) lends a respectable gravitas for those Moroccans who can find a way to better their own lives. Considering the trajectory of the story once David leaves the desert, the finale comes as unexpected as a desert sandstorm, which in its severity, serves as a reminder that justice usually finds its own way.