Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: HINTERLAND [Locarno Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]

The aspect of forensic science, psychology and the aftermath of war way before our technological struggles of sorts is an interesting perspective. "Hinterland" [Homefront] is an interesting movement on this idea involving a former police detective who returns home after the first World War to part of Austria (Vienna) that is struggling with its political ideology but also its power struggles. Peter Perg is struggling with PTSD but also a notion of aim. He is quite intelligent but also disjointed. He is a great character for that age...very finely drawn and yet impulsive and broken. That is why when he snaps into form even slightly it is quite cool.

This film feels like what "The Alienist" could have been if it was made into a feature film back in the day when it was being looked at as a Tom Cruise/Sean Connery vehicle for a short time...but with a European perspective and smaller set pieces. This has the grime and darkness while also dealing with existential problems as well as the notion of faith, desire, sex, identity and duty. Its power is that it doesn't show any bias in any different way but also skirts the edge in a meaningful way as well. Perg's relationship with a female coroner whom he helped back before the war is an effective part of the film which is not overexplained but very true both in the way she and he play it. He is married and he has a child but the complications of what war created both on his side as well as her side are very well handled...especially in his aspect to stay away.

The power of a piece like "Hinterland" is that alot of it makes sense while still creating a cinematic journey and a thriller that still moves without any big action sequences. The eventual progression to the end is a little muddy but not too much. It makes total sense and the logic again is sound (as much as it can be in times of war). Unlike other films recently on World War I, this movie doesn't overwhelm on metaphors but simply exists on what people were doing but makes it modern enough that it feels like looking at a portal back through time, warts and all, just people but as if they starred in their own thriller. Quite effective. A-

By Tim Wassberg