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+++
title = "Ned Rifle"
lang = "en"
[taxonomies]
tags = ["film", "Hal Hartley"]
[extra]
author = "harald"
+++
{% figure(img="hal-hartley-ned-rifle-2014.jpg") %}
_Ned Rifle_ cover image
{% end %}
[Hal Hartley] is an american independent filmmaker who has done a number of
films. His latest film [Ned Rifle] (2014) is the third film about the
characters and story begun with [Henry Fool] (1997). I have sadly not seen the
second film, [Fay Grim] (2006) yet, but it does not seem like that's a
requirement either. The films stand well on their own.
<!-- more -->
After Ned's mother Fay is arrested after terrorist-charges, Ned is taken care
of by the family of a local bishop. On his 18th birthday he sets out to find
and kill his father, whom he blames for his mothers incarseration. Armed with a
bible, a gun, one bullet and a seemingly endless supply of money he sets out to
accomplish his task.
Along the ride comes the whimsical Susan, a 30-something, mentally unstable
girl who seems to have centered her life around the poetry of Neds uncle, Simon
Grim. She invites herself along, much to Neds disapproval. However, as much as
he tries to leave her behind, she always seem to be able to catch up with him.
At the same time the bishop, Fay and Simon is contemplating a way to prevent
Ned from acheiving his goal, without going too much out of their way in their
efforts.
This is one of those films that could probably be filled with action, car
chases, exchanges of fire in hallways and an endless plot of hide and seek
where Ned and his father would try to outsmart eachother. However it is
not. Instead Hartley turns down the pace, let the characters and story evolve,
and tries to challenge how our sympathies shift throughout as the story
unfolds. The actual finding of Henry is rather trivial, and the film is more
about how the dynamic between Ned, Henry and Susan plays out. This is a far
more interesting story in my eyes.
Contrasted to a film industry that more or less just remakes a small set of
movies again and again, Hartley and other independent filmmakers presents a
fresh breath, and dares to make films that will both surprise and challenge.
The film is available on [Vimeo on Demand], along with some of his [other
films]. Enjoy!
[Hal Hartley]: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001325/
[Ned Rifle]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2925768
[Henry Fool]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122529/
[Fay Grim]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444628/
[Vimeo On Demand]: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nedrifle
[other films]: https://vimeo.com/possiblefilms/vod_pages
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