DVD movie commentary/review

The existential worldview is a certainty in Far From Men (2015, France, and subtitled), but there is more.

The film is adapted from the short story The Guest by French existential writer Albert Camus. His short story was published in 1957.

The film adaptation, Far From Men, takes its cue from 1954 when there was an Arab rebellion against the French occupation.

Generically, Far From Men is not a traditional western, but has traces of the western genre. Whereas a traditional western followed the capturing of a wrongdoer, Far From Men is on the other hand existential.

The existential worldview is life as meaningless and uncertain. A sense of powerlessness is felt as the story converges from opposite directions and points to the futility of war and a meaningless situation.

However, earlier in the film, the theme of mercy and punishment appears more prominent.

Daru (Viggo Mortensen) is a French schoolteacher. He is a Catholic who lives in a secluded village, but his Catholicism isn’t described as his reasons for his struggle in delivering an Arab, accused of murder, to his execution.

Obeying a direct order to hand the man over is difficult. To bless rather than curse is at his heart.

Daru is not really an executioner. He is really merciful. However, if he does not hand over Mohamed (Reda Kateb), he is at risk of being killed himself. In this desert country, doing what you are told could make you live.

In their conscience, some people can’t fully punish wrongdoers to their death, but showing mercy makes for a good thing, if the riskier thing when giving mercy is risking your very life.

We know that human experience tells us that blessing an offender with authority and conviction is the hardest thing, because it is easier to punish and more challenging to show mercy. But with a full heart, could goodwill be offered to someone who has done wrong?