You can see what drew Ralph Fiennes to film-maker John Michael McDonagh. To judge by their work (specifically The Constant Gardener and Calvary), the pair share a fascination with passivity and self-destruction. Both themes are present with bells on in this Morocco-set comedy that’s determined to wipe the smile off your face. As a portrait of a hell on earth, The Forgiven makes every bit of the globe seem sulphurous.
Sozzled, erudite, non-PC British plastic surgeon, David Henninger (Fiennes; superb), is married to beautiful, if directionless, American, Jo (Oscar winner, Jessica Chastain; hardly stretched, but very watchable). The couple’s wealthy friends, Richard and Dally (Matt Smith and Caleb Landry Jones; fab), have a mansion in the desert that’s perfect for debauched parties. On their way in the car to one of these events, David and Jo are involved in an unfortunate incident; they kill an Arab teenager called Driss (Omar Ghazaoui).
