If I say the word “pirate,” what’s the first thing you think of? I’d put my money on some stereotypical Captain Jack Sparrow look-a-like with tattered clothing, a taste for rum, crazy hats, Â a parrot friend – you know, the almost cartoonish characterization. But pirates like that don’t exist anymore, and haven’t existed for years like that – yet pirating is still a problem in today’s world. Gone are the swashbuckling pirates with peg legs, as today’s pirates are more third world nations armed to the teeth with AK-47s. There’s no rules to the sea like old pirates had – these pirates take you hostage, hold you for ransom, and don’t leave until someone pays. This is pirating in the 2000s.
For such a prevalent societal topic, you’ve probably noticed that Hollywood hasn’t had a very good portrayal of today’s pirating racket, but that’s where Tobias Lindholm’s A Hijacking comes in. Detailing one ship’s experience with being hijacked by pirates, Lindholm follows every moment of drama from when the pirates take over, all the way to the bitter end. We don’t just watch our hostages on the boat though. A Hijacking flips between the boat and the business who owns the boat, as a proud CEO attempts to negotiate with the pirates himself. The drama is real, the tension is palpable, and Lindholm does a fantastic job establishing the pirates as not just the evil antagonists, but he shows them as real, poverty stricken people just trying to survive.
A Hijacking presents a thought-provoking view inside today’s dangerous world of pirating, exploring the highly volatile art of negotiation while also establishing our hostage’s deteriorating state on the boat. Neither side knows exactly what they’re doing, yet our access to both the company and the boat settings makes Lindholm’s story that much more intriguing. I know you wouldn’t think a film about modern day pirates isn’t that interesting, but trust me when I say A Hijacking will have you riding the edge of your seat the entire time.
That does it for our list but feel free to comment below if you think we missed any films. Also, please note that this article was a collaboration between Matt Joseph, Matt Donato and Alexander Lowe.
