The Weight

Oregon, 1933. Following the death of his wife, Samuel Murphy ends up in a ruthless work camp. When he gets the chance to earn back his freedom by smuggling a cargo of gold through the inhospitable wilderness, he grabs it with both hands. But during the perilous journey past roaring rivers and treacherous rope bridges, more is at stake than just his freedom, and Murphy begins to wonder how far he will have to go if he ever wants to see his daughter again. Commentaar The Weight has already completed quite a festival circuit — from a premiere at Sundance to the Berlin International Film Festival — mostly with very positive comments from critics. Especially the intense role of Ethan Hawke is widely praised as a career highlight. For anyone who knows their film history well, the synopsis will probably also ring a bell. Regisseur Padraic McKinley makes no secret of the fact that Sorcerer van William Friedkin was a major source of inspiration. There are worse films to borrow from, and thanks to the interesting dynamic of Hawke and Russell Crowe and the emotional red thread with the daughter, the film undoubtedly has a completely unique identity of its own.