I got the opportunity to watch this film last night as part of my annual film club and had read the previous reviews so anticipated seeing it.
Like some of the reviewers on here, I agree that it is filmed beautifully and the location and set are a great backdrop to the deep and thoughtful narrative encapsulating the audience.
Both boys in the film absolutely steal the show and provide a very convincing performance where you sincerely believe they are both within the 'pact' together and that their friendship is solely based on vengeance - until the very end, when Christian admits that the very core of his demand for payback was remorse for his mother's battle with cancer (and repressing feelings toward his Dad).
I agree with a few people on here in which the Africa plot was a little bit hard to distinguish against the main plot line as I believe they are trying to run both stories parallel but we don't spend enough time developing characterisation for the African's lives and their wives who had been targeted. Rather, our minds are more set on deciphering the boys relationship and where it's going to go next - the film would have been just as good (if not a little better) without it.
Also, I couldn't help but think that towards the end of the film, it could have been wrapped up a bit quicker than what it did - whilst the landscape shots / and the birds in the sky do provide us with a slight metaphor about the beauty of life, I felt that they did get a little tedious to the end. Don't get me wrong, when used correctly this sort of thing can have a very strong impact, but in this instance I believe we just needed a conclusion to settle the story.
All in all, a great film, challenging everyday emotions and morals, with a great cast who execute the film perfectly. Take out a few scenes and this would have been one for the vaults.
Like some of the reviewers on here, I agree that it is filmed beautifully and the location and set are a great backdrop to the deep and thoughtful narrative encapsulating the audience.
Both boys in the film absolutely steal the show and provide a very convincing performance where you sincerely believe they are both within the 'pact' together and that their friendship is solely based on vengeance - until the very end, when Christian admits that the very core of his demand for payback was remorse for his mother's battle with cancer (and repressing feelings toward his Dad).
I agree with a few people on here in which the Africa plot was a little bit hard to distinguish against the main plot line as I believe they are trying to run both stories parallel but we don't spend enough time developing characterisation for the African's lives and their wives who had been targeted. Rather, our minds are more set on deciphering the boys relationship and where it's going to go next - the film would have been just as good (if not a little better) without it.
Also, I couldn't help but think that towards the end of the film, it could have been wrapped up a bit quicker than what it did - whilst the landscape shots / and the birds in the sky do provide us with a slight metaphor about the beauty of life, I felt that they did get a little tedious to the end. Don't get me wrong, when used correctly this sort of thing can have a very strong impact, but in this instance I believe we just needed a conclusion to settle the story.
All in all, a great film, challenging everyday emotions and morals, with a great cast who execute the film perfectly. Take out a few scenes and this would have been one for the vaults.