Review of Disgrace (2008) by Mikael K — 17 Oct 2009

â??Disgraceâ?? is the long awaited film adaptation of J.M. Coezee's praised novel with the same name. I have sadly not read the novel, but Steve Jacobs's version impressed me well enough. The film is deep and carries a weighty load of delicate subjects and difficult themes.

John Malcovich is perfect as an English professor who loses his office after engaging in a sexual relationship with a student. The main character's journey that follows turns into substantial drama about self discovery, the problems and possibilities of the coexistence of different cultures, gender roles... This story isn't afraid of tackling everything at once, yet it feels mainly quietly and beautifully lyrical and melancholic instead of heavy or unfocused. There are no easy answers either, and no clear closure, which might make â??Disgraceâ?? a frustrating film for some. It's just a glimpse into an ongoing life arch of a character with an unshown history. The story itself doesn't have a clear path or a definite goal. But this is maybe just the reason why the movie feels so authentic and touching.