Cruel

A única coisa que enfraquece um pouco este filme é o vago cenário do tempo em que ocorre. A fim de não fazer a ação parecer irracional e exagerada relativamente à atualidade, essa é sublinhada com música no estilo de Herrmann e cenário, que parece ter lugar no período mais ou menos pós-guerra. Mas a roupa, penteados e comportamento de muitos dos personagens, bem como a forma técnica das suas filmagens, são apropriados aos dias de hoje, para que também possa apelar ao espetador adolescente contemporâneo (pensativo), para quem pode tornar-se o filme da sua vida... No entanto, se pusermos de lado esta colisão das épocas, Cruel torna-se um drama emocionalmente poderoso, perfeitamente filmado (bela câmara), com bom elenco e bem interpretado, que, mesmo em termos de forma, não está de maneira alguma longe do melhor de Hollywood. (12/02/2009)

I have to say that I expected something a bit more emotional. Klass, a film that deals with a similar topic, was a lot more interesting because the situation in Czech grammar schools is more similar in it than in the boy’s boarding school in Evil, i.e. I could relate better (and to be honest, I don’t believe something like this can happen in civilised Europe). Of course, it did arouse some emotions too, but compared to Klass, the enjoyment is barely half. (26/11/2008)

This Swedish gem easily ranks among my top ten favorite (most precious) films. I can't describe it, nor can I pinpoint exactly what makes Evil so special and brilliant for me in perhaps every respect. Part of it may be that, although it is not only a powerful but also a rather cruel drama, I didn't feel "manipulated" and pitifully begged for sympathy for the main character throughout the entire film. In short, the entire film is conceived as one very harsh human fate (a punishment all too disproportionate to the initial transgression) that the vast majority would buckle under, which is (un)fortunately not the case for Erik Ponti. The overall attitude or character of the protagonist – especially his "proud defiance" – struck me as almost "Promethean" at times, and I wouldn't be afraid to compare his unshakable endurance and resistance to higher "authorities" and arbitrariness to ancient heroism. However, the character of Erik goes even further in his struggle than the ancient heroes and is thus much closer to the Prometheus of the 19th century, who (unlike the ancient myth) in P.B. Shelley's did not submit to malice and proudly resists it to the end. I hope I didn't get too carried away by that literary interlude. ;) (04/04/2011)

If Harry Potter weren’t a fantasy, this could be its perfect “bully" adaptation. I felt each one of those blows physically, which I think is a first for a movie. And if Andreas Wilson wasn’t just acting himself, then he is the most talented actor I know right now. Personally, I would have ended it with the fadeout as the door closes behind him and his step-father. What follows it just SO terribly unnecessary... (13/04/2009)