A Hijacking

A Hijacking is authentic, sober and well played. But it lacks more dramatic moments, and some scenes slow it down unnecessarily, while others that are needed to complete the story context are missing. We could learn more about the cook’s family and, most importantly, the CEO was supposed to discuss the ransom amount with shareholders when they were so proactive that they wanted to replace him due to lengthy negotiations. Let’s see what Paul Greengrass can think up with Tom Hanks on board. (07/06/2013)

Paul Greengrass filmed Captain Phillips quite authentically but still the Hollywood influence is evident here. A Hijacking’s authenticity is quite different and that’s mainly thanks to the Scandinavian approach to serious topics. The movie doesn’t do much to build either the atmosphere or the plot. Everything is set within first few minutes and then it just counts the days while the big fishing boat is being kidnapped by Somalian pirates and you as an independent viewer are just watching what is happening on the boat or at the round table where the owners of the company are wondering how much they could afford to pay for releasing the captive fishermen. And I don’t know what was worse for me. Both of those situations stressed me out. In the end I was wondering a lot why I shouldn’t rate it with 5 stars and finally resolved that the possible reason was that the movie lacked emotions. Everything is so cold, including the company owners and especially the ending. But the movie nicely portrays the difference between the oligarchs and us mere mortals. Try to watch it and then tell me that there is nothing wrong with this world... (10/06/2020)

A good story is a construct, while a really good story is one where you do not realize the construct. The paraphrase of Tobias Lindholm's directorial screening credo is perfectly captured by A Hijacking. It depends on what you perceive as dramatic - if it is the scenes with circling boats, shooting and skirmishes, then this procedurally tuned film will logically disappoint you. If you can appreciate the meticulously constructed (and the naturally-feeling) plot, perfectly observed situations and once again perfectly cast civilian characters (Roland Møller is now amongst my top Nordic beasts), then this film is what you are looking for. It is clear that the film was shot directly in the relevant environment, that the director collaborated with people who were dealing with a similar problem at the time, and above all that Lindholm is an unusually clever filmmaker. He does not infer anything or condemn anyone, or study and pretend to be someone. I can’t remember the last time I was so tense waiting to see what comes out of the fax machine. Probably never. Together with the Borgen series, this is the ultimate demonstration of the Danes' ability to "face" geopolitical reality. (07/11/2013)

Comparison with Greengrass's Captain Phillips is immediate and shows the fundamental difference between the American and European approaches to the drama genre. The American adaptation focuses on a strong individual, a top professional who fights a heroic battle against evil and can rely on military power and the exceptional position of his country in times of need - both of which were unquestioned at the time of filming. The Danish version is more modest and presents the opposite in all aspects. It is a civilian, unpretentious affair where weapons do not play a decisive role, but rather steady nerves in endless negotiations and the factor of (dragging) time. In A Hijacking, do not expect any favorite thriller or even action elements, as the focus is on creating authenticity and depicting the psychological state of the captured sailors. The performances are convincing but subservient to the idea of a slowly unfolding procedural drama. It is not a boring film, but if the viewer prefers entertainment, Captain Phillips is a more satisfying choice. Overall impression: 80%. (03/15/2021)

A good film about what it's like and what happens when you're attacked by Somali pirates. Certainly, the fact that it has an almost documentary-like quality can be appreciated. On the other hand, this aspect wasn't enough to compel me to enjoy watching the film or to consider it truly powerful. Yes, it is good. (04/21/2017)

The talented Tobias Lindholm made a very believable film about contemporary piracy. The plot quickly gets stuck in negotiation maneuvers between the management of a wealthy Danish company and Somali pirates, who demand a hefty ransom for the release of the crew of a hijacked cargo ship. I thought it would be boring, but the opposite was true. The deadlock situations that piled up one after another during months of negotiation turned the initially straightforward narrative into a truly gripping spectacle, during which the mental states of everyone involved took quite a beating. I would also like to mention the great performances of Pilou Asbæk and Søren Malling. (04/10/2020)