Cinematic Point Of View

In the 2014 film french drama Far From Men (2014), based on an Albert Camus short story and directed by David Oelhoffen, a reclusive, French-Algerian ex-soldier named Daru (Viggo Mortensen) lives and works in a remote Algerian village as a school teacher during the 1954 Algerian war. It’s not so much a village actually, as a single building set down within a rocky valley.

Each day the children from surrounding villages arrive for school. He provides a safe place to learn, laugh, and receive much needed food. It is a simple, peaceful existence in a harsh environment.

One day, a soldier arrives with a prisoner and asks Daru to take this man named Mohamed (Reda Kateb) to a village, several days ride away, for his trial. Mohamad has killed his cousin to prevent him from stealing his family’s grain.

Daru resists at first, but eventually takes Mohamed in for the night with plans to release him the next day.

It is during this night before their departure that the film really took hold of me.

The wind howling outside the ancient, wooden schoolhouse. The creaking and groaning of the building as it resists the weather. A warm fire crackling in the fireplace. Daru treats the prisoner with a dignity that he himself would want in this situation. He removes Mohamed’s bonds, prepares a simple meal for them and lays out a bed roll. Truly a shelter from a world of violence.

The next day they come under attack from angry villagers out for justice. Daru holds them off and finally decides to take Mohamed himself, knowing that the man would be easily executed if allowed to set off on his own.

Daru is a wounded man who has fled from the world. He does not want to impose himself on another man’s freedom by taking him to his trial. He also doesn’t want to be responsible for his death by simply ignoring any sense of duty or moral obligation.

I won’t spoil any further.

The pair face many moral dilemmas of violence and brush up against that grey area of war exploring themes of colonialism, manhood, justice, and personal integrity. You have shootouts and bonding and forgiveness and reunions.

This is a wonderful film and it’s a real crime that it isn’t more well known. It’s basically a western set in Algeria. It’s a beautiful and thoughtful slow journey through harsh landscapes with stunning cinematography and some truly immersive sound design.

Another note of interest, the majority of dialogue in this film is French. Viggo Mortensen learned both French and Arabic for his role. Kinda makes the whole thing even more bad-ass.

You can find Far From Men on Amazon and on DVD. Sadly, no Blu-Ray is available. Are you listening Kino Lorber? It’s far past time for a Far From Men Blu-Ray release.