Review of
the Keeper of Lost Causes
Keeper of Lost Causes (2013)
Director: Mikkel Nørgaard
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Review:
Originally a bestselling novel by Danish author Jussi Adler Olsen, Keeper of Lost Causes
proves to be just as stunning on screen. Adapted by Nikolaj Arcel (who coincidentally adapted the Girl With The
Dragon Tattoo for the big screen) the film centres around Carl Morck (played by
Danish actor Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who is a disgraced homicide detective that is
assigned to the new unit, and is teamed with Assad (Fares Fares) to file old
cases. They investigate the disappearance of young politician Merete Lynggaard
(Sonja Richter) whom it was presumed that she had thrown herself from a
ferry five years prior. However as Carl and Assad probe the circumstances it is
discovered that Merete is far from dead and is in fact being held captive in a
pressure chamber. A plotline that can’t be faulted but only because it is so
straight forward so it’s none more than you’d expect from an episode of Silent
Witness perhaps.
On the whole the film itself
is gripping from beginning to end. The plotline is strong; hand in hand with
some solid acting (stand out performance from Fares Fares as Assad, the
optimistic ‘sidekick’) and you end up with an hour and a half well spent. I can’t help feeling that this
film received a great critical reception because it is subtitled which gives it
an art house feel. This film is a decent enough crime thriller, but would not
have had the same critical interest if it came out of Hollywood that’s for
sure.
Tension
builds well throughout the film and I believe the identity of the kidnapper and
their reasons for doing it are revealed at the right time. All in all, you wouldn’t
leave a screening of this film completely dissatisfied and visually, you will
be pleased.
(Keeper
of Lost Causes, three and a half stars)
