Review of Victim (1961) by Josh M — 14 Feb 2010

If Victim came out today, it would be a fairly engrossing thriller with a sterling amount of human drama, one anchored by fine acting and an intelligence that allows it to mix an intriguing blackmail story with some trenchant social commentary.

What makes Victim truly remarkable and a little staggering, however, is that its story of homosexuals suffering from blackmail and an inability to go to the police for fear of finding themselves in prison.

..the story of these men who are rejected by many people who pretend to be their friends...the story of these men who find themselves rejected by their society...was released in 1961. The sheer guts it took to make a movie so brutally honest, so outspoken about the way homosexuals were marginalized and discriminated against, so willing to make gay men not only the victims of the film but also the heroes.

..I can't imagine. Of course, if Victim were only really involving because of its remarkably ahead-of-its-time politics, it would be a curiosity, but the fact remains that it's a hell of a film.

The thriller aspect of the film is gripping, but it's the strong lead performance by Bogarde (himself a closeted homosexual) that truly sticks with you, as a man struggles with his actions, his guilt, and himself.

Though it seems to be largely forgotten these days (I only really knew about it thanks to Ebert's Great Movies list), it's a remarkable film that sadly hasn't aged as much as I would have liked; though the laws may have changed, a lot of the attitudes and beliefs in the film sure haven't.