The Village (2004)

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan | 108 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Cherry Jones, John Christopher, Judy Greer, Michael Pitt, Celia Weston

In the media this film is promoted as an exciting horror. Many people feel disappointed after seeing this film. The disappointment is justified in one area. ‘The Village’ is just a little bit exciting and even less horror. However, this movie is much more. It gives an outline of the collective consciousness of a group of people controlled by a number of utopia seekers. And much can be deduced from this, such as, for example, that after a period of development a mini-society will function in the same way as a global one. There is also madness, jealousy, fear, love, ignorance and an unquestionable enemy. The latter is symbolized by the evil beings. The villagers fear the creatures that mark the literal and figurative boundaries of their existence. When the need arises for the outside world to be needed, a choice must be made by the elders in the village. This is followed by an important discussion: namely, whether intelligent people have the right to determine for others what is good and bad. As a result, this is also only temporary because a changing of the guard and the curious are inevitable. At the same time, there are thoughts that intelligent people can better use their faculties for the benefit of society through education, science and art, so that many have the opportunity to develop. A film to think about and talk about for a long time. Why this film is mainly shown in the major cinemas is a question. That not only art house visitors have seen ‘The Village’, but also another more entertainment-oriented group is actually very nice. The general public gets to see how a society functions and what the role of the individual is in it.

Story-wise, the film is well put together. Just about half way through the movie, a lot is clear about the nature of the monsters. Then come other revelations. There are much slower pieces that give the viewer time to work out what and how. This is done very well through cinematic language, by putting the right elements into focus long enough. The blind girl Ivy, superbly played by Bryce Dallas Howard, looks beyond her nose. The scene where she runs in the woods is dreamlike beautiful. Joaquin Phoenix (Lucius Hunt) plays the silent outsider who first realizes how and what, struggles with what to do and plays the game more and more passively. The village idiot, a very nice role, played by Adrien Brody is the only one who laughs at the regular threat. His madness is what makes the truth come out. So for all the paranoid schizophrenics among us: Don’t worry. The decoration is also excellent. The village looks grey, old-fashioned, indeed development has come to a standstill here. The monster suits are beautiful and contain all the materials to represent a child’s idea of ​​a monster.

‘The Village’ is an educationally entertaining, at first sight a disappointment to many, but actually a wonderful film with a great eye for detail in image and story. Director M. Night Shyamalan has mastered the art of filmmaking and also has an illuminating view of reality. Whoever can make one of these two gifts can rightly be called a visionary. And actually it’s brilliant to present this film in the media as a spectacular thriller and then come up with a brilliant story