The Nightingale

I can stand rather primitive (from the filmmaking perspective) revenge brutality flicks with one-dimensional characters as an occasional guilty pleasure. The Nightingale, with its very limited narrative talent, is capable of being just that, but it aspires to be a significant testimony about the cruel times of the English occupation of Australia with the settlers’ haughtiness and cruel treatment of the Aboriginals and convicts, murdering toddlers, raping, killing farm families just for fun. After a very strong introduction suggesting a brutal revenge flick, the film gradually turns toward a more sophisticated goal, all the while looking like an expensive exercise of an average filmmaking student. [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)