The Guilty (Den skyldige)
Denmark 2018

Opening 18 Oct 2018

Directed by: Gustav Möller
Writing credits: Gustav Möller, Emil Nygaard Albertsen
Principal actors: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi, Johan Olsen, Jacob Lohmann

Asger (Jakob Cedergren) is currently assigned to alarm dispatch duty (emergency call center) for a certain area in Copenhagen. At present, the calls are routinely tedious and his shift is almost over. So initially, Iben’s (Jessica Dinnage) call sounds typical, until he hears just barely a deep male voice in the background. As he coaxes trickles of information from Iben, or follows onscreen leads, he seems to forget he has dispatch duty; Asger moves into a quiet area to conduct his investigation. Subsequently, he talks to his boss (Jacob Lohmann), those close to Iben (Johan Olsen, Katinka Evers-Jahnsen), and his partner (Omar Shargawi). As the net widens and tightens, Asger’s unenviable position is being too aware of both sides of the wrong side of the law.

Director Gustav Möller crafts his film around a seemingly mundane job and an everyday hazard of said occupation, thus pinpointing the fallacy of such judgments. Presumptive thought processing can lead to rash decisions and actions with ungovernable consequences. Working in tandem with Möller is an excellent Sound Department, Jasper Spanning’s intuitive and reflexive camerawork, and outstandingly restrained, nuanced performance by Cedergren. Carla Luffe Heintzelmann’s editing brings all elements together to convey a taut, edgy psychologically probing film. Its beauty is in its simplicity – The Guilty is stunning. Premiering at 2018 Sundance, it won the audience award likewise at International Film Festival Rotterdam. The Guilty was nominated for the CineVision Award at Filmfest München. (Marinell Haegelin)