R

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R

October 14th 2011 00:04

R stands for Rune (Pilou Asbæk). It also stands for Rashid (Dulfi Al-Jabouri). R (2010) is a tale of retribution with a maximum-security Danish prison. It’s survival of the fittest, or to be precise, survival of the strongest. R is raw. R is ruthless. R is realistic. This is a portrait of life behind bars subject to the hierarchy of prison status and enforced favours. This is a study of insular power games, manipulation and abuse. It makes for dark, powerful and compelling cinema, and R comes out trumps as one of the best prison movies in many years, along with A Prophet (2009) and The Escapist (2008).

Rune (Pilou Asbaek) is processed upon arrival

Rune arrives at Horsens Statsfængsel, a prison for serious criminals. Rune has been done for violent assault and has been sentenced to three years. He gets a tiny cell in the same block as many older, much tougher convicts who immediately put Rune through the initiation steps. He has his mattress taken from him, he’s assaulted and threatened in the yard, he has the photographs of his girlfriend defaced, he’s forced to clean the piss-soaked toilets, and then he’s ordered to beat the living daylights out of a “raghead” housed in one of the lower levels.

It's every man for himself

Racial tension is rife in prison. It’s a simple fact across the world. Each culture remains isolated from others. Lines are not crossed, unless you want to be maimed, or worse. Rune makes his acquaintance with the Mason (Roland Moller), a cruel sonofabitch, who’ll tell him to jump, and Rune is expected to reply, “How high?” Mason answers to the Old Man, the Big Daddy. After Rune does the bashing job he’s privileged to a cell swap with a better view (the countryside, rather than the yard). He’s even invited to poker in the lounge.

The Mason (Roland Moller) exerts his power

Rune discovers a covert way of moving drugs from a higher level of the prison to a lower without the guards being privy. It uses the drainpipe of the toilet, and it involves one of the Muslim boys from downstairs being the receiver. Pretty soon Rune has a small operation going between himself, Rashid, a young offender keen to do his short time and get the hell out, and the big boys. The big boys are keen to keep their hands clean, as long as they get their stash delivered. Rune is making a few bucks on the side and gaining some kudos.

A scheming Rune asks visiting mama for a Kinder Surprise

But nothing even remotely half-decent lasts in prison.

Soon enough Rune is in deep shit. And he’s swimming up creek without a paddle. Didn’t he read the graffiti scrawled in huge letters on the wall when he was getting strip-searched upon his arrival; Murphy lives here, and his Law rules.

Rashid (Dulfi Al-Jabouri) and Rune strategise

Most of the movie’s elements; the restless cinema verite style camerawork, the frighteningly convincing performances, and yet the cool, effortless command of the narrative and the sparse, but intense score are very reminiscent of fellow Dane director Nicolas Winding Refn, especially his Pusher trilogy (1996/2004/2005) and Bleeder (1999). There is a remarkable similarity in intent, mood, tone, and deliverance.

A brief reprieve

Whereas Refn is gifted, it’s not surprising to learn that directors Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noe have a background in documentary filmmaking, of which they’ve won awards. They also wrote the succinct and impressive screenplay.

Rune vs. raghead

But while R doesn’t present anything new, what is depicts still manages to look and feel fresh and invigorating, even though what it’s presenting is a very palpable nightmare. Pilou Asbæk is excellent as the newbie, a handsome chap who looks like a cross between Ewan McGregor and Jude Law. The core support cast is just as good, especially Roland Moller, Rune’s nemesis. Dulfi Al-Jabouri takes the baton and clutches it ‘til his knuckles turn white.

There’ll be tears before breakfast.

Hot Coffee will never be the same.

Here’s the trailer:

R DVD is courtesy of Gryphon Entertainment, many thanks!

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