Film Review - The Correspondent
Images courtesy of Maslow Entertainment.
As annoying as the consistent onslaught of biopics have been, owing to the fact that they usually hold very little substance or are a quick cash grab (I’m looking at you Back to Black) - The Correspondent actually offers a rather insightful narration of Australian journalist Peter Greste’s experience during his incarceration in Cairo back in 2014.
The film follows Greste, played by Richard Roxburgh (Rake), as he reports on the political minefield that is Cairo after a hostile military takeover, and is subsequently detained for questioning under suspicion for collaborating with terrorists through his work with Al Jazeera. After his arrest and conviction, Greste must navigate the turbulent political unrest in Egypt whilst advocating for his freedom.
The Correspondent was a surprisingly heartwarming story about the perseverance of Peter Greste and his associates, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. Though much of the film focuses on laying out the events that led to Greste’s eventual release, it stops to show the importance of finding joy when you can. Between good-natured games of competitive backgammon and bittersweet moments of holding onto hope, it was shocking to laugh throughout a film that handles very heavy topics. Roxburgh delivers a witty representation of Greste’s character which lightens the morbidity of the situation in addition to the playful chemistry between himself and co-star Rahal Romahn as Baher. However, at times, it was jarring to be so light-hearted within the context of the film, and it occasionally fell into the territory of stereotypical over-saturated Australian humour.
The Correspondent truly excelled through its cinematography and construction. From the same duo who delivered the film Red Dog, director Kriv Stenders and cinematographer Geoffrey Hall create an eerily intimate atmosphere for viewers, with most shots never expanding further than mid-shot. The film was almost entirely shot up-close and personal, caging the audience into the emotion and vulnerability of the characters. Moments of handheld camera work also gave the film a documentary style that enhanced the graveness of the situation by creating a realistic motion of “following the character”. Another notable quality was the lighting. Stenders and Hall utilised light with excellent detail, opting to produce blinding and discombobulating effects that mirror Greste’s experience. The artful reconstruction of Greste’s story demonstrates genius direction from Stenders as he delivers a thoughtful and painstakingly honest account on the dangers of war journalism.
Despite happening in 2014, the experiences of Greste still speak volumes about current political turbulence and journalists being caught in the crossfire simply for doing their job. Though Greste was released back to Australia (despite technically still being a convicted terrorist in Egypt), there are countless similar cases who did not make it home. The Correspondent speaks to the thousands of journalists that risk their life to inform the world about the atrocities of war. Something that is desperately needed at a time where censorship is more prevalent than ever.
The film is admirable, sincere and will truly make you reconsider covering for a coworker ever again.
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The Correspondent is screening in cinemas from Thursday the 17th of April. For tickets and more info, click here.