Waiting for the Barbarians

Humanism personified by the guileless, worried face of Mark Rylance versus the chilling relentlessness of the modern inquisitor Johnny Depp and his right-hand man played by Robert Pattinson. In an unknown country and in an unknown time, the first two in particular play an amazing concert, which, in my opinion, the slow tempo does not detract from, but on the contrary, it favours. The division of the film into three acts resembles a theatre play, and a damn good one at that! (30/01/2022)

A visually stunning historical drama, Waiting for the Barbarians suffers primarily from its incredibly slow pacing, which might explain its modest 59% rating. Yet, this film is far from average in many respects. It holds its own alongside films like The American, which has a similar reception but left me equally impressed. The performances are outstanding, with Mark Rylance leading the charge and Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson delivering strong support. The story, set in an ambiguous time and place, is rich with meaning and easily translatable to various historical contexts, whether it be Africa, the Middle East, or any region touched by European colonialism. The setting of a remote fortress at the edge of the known world, coupled with exquisite cinematography, creates a mesmerizing atmosphere. It’s hard to believe that a film of this caliber is rated so modestly. (02/01/2022)