Voldtekt

Anja Breien's stripped down, almost documentarian style and nonlinear narrative structure make this dissection of rape - or rather the indictment and trial of a suspected rapist - a fascinating watch. Filmed in black and white utilizing lots of introspective close-ups, quick intercutting and almost no music, Voldtekt is semi-experimental both aesthetically and thematically, not least in its factual but reversed rendition of the trial itself. A clever choice was casting real-life lawyers, most notably renowned criminal defence counsel Olav Hestenes. This and Svein Sturla Hungnes' aptly understated performance give the film an authenticity which was rather unusual for Norsk Film's productions in this time period. The film effectively underscores the impossible situation an accused can find himself in, and its continued relevance is a testament to the timelessness in Breien's focal point.