Foreign Pick: A Hijacking (2012)
Before I go any further, let me admit I’ve yet to seen Captain Phillips. When I set out to watch A Hijacking, I thought it would be a perfect compliment to the Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, since they both tackle similar topics, and since I’m a sucker for movie marathons, I intended to compare them eventually. Unfortunately, I never got around to Hanks’ turn. Why? I just couldn’t watch anything else after this low-key Danish film, convinced there couldn’t possibly be any other oceanic hijacking film that would provide the same thrills with such adequate pacing.
Mikkel Hartmann works as a cook aboard the Rozen. Mere days before going home and reuniting with his family, a group of Somali pirates seize the ship, much to his dismay. His journey to survive the physical and psychological torment is juxtaposed with the shipping company’s CEO Peter Ludvigsen’s struggle to effectively communicate with the pirates in order to reach an agreement, after further complicating the situation by insisting on speaking to the pirates’ translator himself.
Hartmann’s desire to be reunited with his wife and daughter fuels both storylines, as the pirates quickly grab a hold of his position and realize he’s the one who’s most likely to succumb under extreme pressure. Pilou Asbæk’s performance as the cook is absolutely sublime, as he manages to express desperation and despair efficiently. Nevertheless, I believe Søren Malling steals the show as Ludvigsen, given the character’s utter powerlessness and wish to stand by his employees at all times during the whole ordeal, even if his fellow company higher-ups don’t necessarily agree with his methods or philosophy.
No, I still haven’t seen Captain Phillips, and I’m not entirely positive I’ll watch it in the near future. As far as Somali pirates, helpless crews and stubborn CEOs go, I sincerely doubt it gets much better than A Hijacking. Don’t take my word for it, though – go ahead and watch them both!
