Kontra
| Kontra | |
|---|---|
| File:Kontra film.png Saul, Jamal and Nik, the film's main characters | |
| Directed by | Anelise Skreder |
| Screenplay by | Gydmaan Mwole |
| Produced by | Gydmaan Mwole |
| Starring | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Total Muvien |
Release dates |
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Running time | 128 minutes |
| Country | Vyvland |
| Language | Vyvlander |
Kontra (Vyvlander pronunciation: /konʑa/, meaning 'against') is a Vyvlander social realist thriller released in 2004. It portrays a group of three young men and their experiences in the criminal underworld in the Morviy suburb of Lyksdal. The film was the first to be directed by Anelise Skreder, who had prior to then worked in a drug rehabilitation centre in Morviy. Kontra received widespread political acclaim in Vyvland and abroad, and is hailed as a tipping point in awareness about Lyksdal's urban problems and gang crime, but was criticised for its negative portrayal of ethnic minorities.
Characters
- Nik (Nikke Pohjonen), of Black Nevan extraction, is the ringleader of the group. He has been involved in the drug trade from a young age, and it is his actions that lead to the involvement of his two friends later on in the film. Despite his masculine, blasé exterior, it is revealed towards the end of the film that Kal regrets his position and wishes he could escape his current life.
- Saul (Peter Shimov) is a Luziycan-origin young man who moved to Morviy from Langmaaf to escape an abusive father. He has a fascination with knives and weapons, a collection of which he keeps in his small flat, which he inhabits with his girlfriend, Rina.
- Jamal (Tomas Al-Abbas) is the youngest of the group. He is descended from Irvadi immigrant parents, who had both died by the time Jamal was six years old. Jamal quite desperately wants to be seen as worthy of the attention of his group, and thus is known for dangerous acts and spur-of-the-moment decisions.
- Rina (Kassi Vriemaan) is Saul's girlfriend. She is often mistreated by Saul, who is dependent on her to earn money. Rina tries to resist joining in with the activities of the three men, instead attempting to concentrate on her job in a local primary school.
Setting
The film was predominantly set and filmed in Sdad Jegers, an Ejsdad (suburban social housing estate) in the east of the Morviy borough of Lyksdal, with some scenes taking place in the city centre, such as on the Niybruj bridge. Many interior scenes were filmed at Studio Lyksdal, on the other side of the city, although Gydmaan Mwole, the film's producer, stated that he "tried to do as much as possible in Sdad Jegers to give you a real feel for the place". The primary school where Rina teaches is the Alecand Reys Ynfsgol, where all of the schoolchildren portrayed in the film were actually in attendance; one child, Luk Venmaan-Jiao, has since appeared in other films after his role in Kontra.
Initially, Morviy's borough council was hostile to filming in the area, and refused to block off roads where the crew wanted to film. However, when the film was pitched to the council as being illuminating of the conditions in the borough, they became more sympathetic and by the end of the film had contributed µ2000 in grants and other money to the film. Since its release, the film has become something of a tourist attraction for the area, which now offers tours of many of the major settings in the film.
Plot
The three main characters begin the film on the Metro back to Morviy after a night out in central Lyksdal. In this scene, Nik is first seen smoking cocaine in this scene, introducing the audience to his habit.
Reception
Domestic
Kontra was widely acclaimed within Vyvland for its gritty portrayal of the suburbs and complex character development. Eroyd Rudiy of Entwerd described it as "a perfect encapsulation of the Ejsdad: its life, its people, its problems." He also praised the heartfelt sympathy felt by the audience for the trio during the escalation of their behaviour as the film progresses.
Kontra also prompted some political debate and action. For example, then-mayor of Lyksdal Sakarja Plaambeem described the film as "an eye-opener from all of those who have avoided the problems that plague our city." The film was also cited as an inspiration for the Niy Sdads urban renewal and anti-deprivation scheme, which Sdad Jegers benefited from.
Negative reviews of the film centred around its portrayal of ethnic minorities. Skreder suggested that this casting decision was not malicious, but merely chosen to emphasise the diversity existing in the area; the population of Morviy borough is 38% foreign origin, with Sdad Jegers being around two-thirds non-Vyvlander in ethnic origin. Jorj Brektsen of de Kronikel criticised the intricacy of the plot, suggesting that it becomes "somewhat confused towards the middle, with a mix of threads that take slightly too long to weave together."
International
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