The Nightingale

Les personnages unidimensionnels et les brutalités revanchardes dignes d'un film « guilty pleasure » ne me dérangent pas mais The Nightingale, avec son talent narratif très limité, veut être un témoignage thématiquement significatif de la cruauté de l'époque de l'occupation de l'Australie par les Anglais avec leur arrogance et leur traitement cruel aussi bien envers les aborigènes que les bagnards. Le meurtre d'un nourrisson, le viol, le massacre de familles de fermiers juste pour le plaisir. Après une introduction très puissante, laissant présager un film de vengeance brutale, le film se déplace progressivement vers un objectif plus spirituel, tout en donnant constamment l'impression d'être l'exercice coûteux d'un élève moyen en cinéma. [Helsinki IFF] (29/09/2019)

Jennifer Kent, director of The Babadook, delivers an Australian rape and revenge drama that is definitely not for mainstream audiences, especially NOT for pregnant women! The year is 1825 and the protagonist, Clare, is a young Irish convict in the Tasmanian outback chasing the British soldiers who have committed an unforgivable and horrific act of violence against her family. She is aided by an Australian Aboriginal tracker, also traumatised by past acts of violence. Once again, after a long time, we have an oppressive, chilling, unflinching, damn uncomfortable and disturbing film that doesn't shy away from violence against women or children. The rape scene in the cabin will be the deciding factor as to whether you will tolerate or give up on the film. For a film directed by a woman, it has unexpectedly more balls than those of other directors. The downside for me was the slower pace and a slightly excessive running time, but otherwise this is a solid film that adds a different dimension to my favorite subgenre. 75%. (26/10/2019)

I really like films set in a time when Australia was still just a penal colony, where the British put away all the individuals unworthy of sharing the same island with the royal majesty. This film didn't disappoint me (well, maybe a little). It had quite a brutal start, but then the quest for a bloody revenge turned into long stretches of wildlife tourism mixed with the beginning of the Irish-Aboriginal friendship. In the end, despite a somewhat longer running time, I was quite satisfied. 4*- (11/08/2020)