Indie Watch
Long Night's Journey into Day
By Dan Krovich
December 12, 2013
The landscape for independent films has changed rapidly. On one hand, the opportunity to build a theatrical release has become increasingly difficult, but on the other hand, digital release has given indies a chance to play to a broad national audience at once. Each week, new indie releases will be profiled and because they might not be playing at a theater near you, one highly recommended film available now a click or two away via VOD (whether a new or not quite new release) will be presented for viewing without leaving your computer.
VOD Pick of the Week
Long Night’s Journey into Day
With all of the tributes and remembrances in the wake of the death of Nelson Mandela, it seems like an appropriate time to revisit this Oscar-nominated documentary from 2000 by directors Deborah Hoffman and Frances Reid. The film covers four cases in South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that was set up to help the country transition from years of apartheid oppression to a democracy.
Unlike the Nazi Nuremburg trials after World War II, the TRC was less interested in punishing wrong doers and more focused on presenting a dialogue to help the country heal wounds and move forward. Individuals were allowed to petition for amnesty for the violence they committed during the enforcement of and struggle against apartheid. To qualify, they must demonstrate that their crimes were politically motivated and be willing to publicly testify to the crimes they committed in front of the victims’ families. Both blacks and whites submitted for amnesty and testified in front of the TRC.
Long Night’s Journey into Day focuses on four trials. One is a group of black men who killed an innocent white American college student because they viewed her as just another oppressor because of the color of her skin. Another is a group of white police officers who murdered the men they viewed as leaders of a local rebel group. The third is a militant who was responsible for several bombings aimed at the white minority in power, and the final was a black man who worked with the white police force to set up and murder a group of young black men as a show of power.
There are a variety of reactions from both sides of the table. Some of the perpetrators seem quite contrite, caught up in the violence inherent in the conflict of the day and looking back at their actions with true regret and realization that what they did was wrong even in the context. Others show a bit of an air of defiance, and while confessing their crimes seem to be convinced that their actions were necessary due to the circumstances. On the other side, the reactions of the families of the victims range from a willingness to forgive completely to a bitterness and lingering hatred against the men who perpetrated crimes against their loved ones.
The film supplements actual trial footage with interviews with amnesty seekers, victims’ families, and members of the commission including its chairman Desmond Tutu. Archival news footage also gives context of life in South Africa during apartheid and the specific crimes featured.
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission while maybe not perfect was a rather remarkable achievement in the aftermath of apartheid. The natural instinct after years of oppression must be to want to return the favor once you get the upper hand, but that will only lead to a never ending cycle of tit for tat. The TRC represented a truly unique approach to break the cycle and move forward, and Long Night’s Journey into Day provides an opportunity to further reflect on the legacy of Nelson Mandela and a model of moving forward after great conflict.
Available at Amazon
Available at Vudu
New releases for December 13th
Hours: A tale of survival, the film received unfortunate publicity when its star, Paul Walker, died in a car crash. In the film Walker plays Nolan, an expectant father who arrives at a hospital in New Orleans on the eve of Katrina with his pregnant wife who has gone into early labor. The baby is born prematurely, requiring a ventilator, as the hospital is evacuated due to the oncoming hurricane. Nolan waits alone with his newborn child for an ambulance to transport them to safety, but the ambulance never arrives. While Katrina ravages the hospital, Nolan must fight to keep the power on to keep his baby alive.
Available at Vudu
Here Comes the Devil: Felix and Sol are parents on vacation with their preteen son and daughter. When the parents want to enjoy some afternoon delight, they send the kids off on a hike, and the kids disappear. After a frantic night, the kids turn up the next day, outwardly seeming none the worse for wear. However, when the children start acting strangely, the parents begin to suspect that they may have been sexually abused by a local man. It turns out, that something even more sinister may be at work in this Mexican horror film.
Some Velvet Morning: Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbors) can be the master of the brutal battlefield of sexual politics. He returns to form with Some Velvet Morning. Stanley Tucci plays Fred, who arrives at the door of his much younger former mistress Velvet (Alice Eve) after four years apart. He claims that he has left his wife and is ready to fully commit to Velvet now. As she rejects his advances, their conversation reveals the dark history of their past relationship.
Available at Amazon
Available at iTunes
|
|
|
|
Print this column
