The Hanging Sun
Noir crime drama has violence, domestic abuse, language.
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The Hanging Sun
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Hanging Sun is a crime drama based on a book by Jo Nesbø with violent scenes including domestic abuse. Set in an unspecified Nordic region -- during a period when the sun never sets -- John (Alessandro Borghi) is a hitman who flees to a remote village as a means to escape his criminal father (Peter Mullan). There he meets Lea (Jessica Brown Findlay) who is the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, Aaron (Sam Spruell). Lea is hit in the face, slammed against walls, and pushed down the stairs by Aaron. Her son, Caleb (Raphael Vicas) is also injured in one incident. John is also shown committing violence including strangling someone to death and fights involving punches and headbutts. He is also shown drinking spirits straight from the bottle, and both he and Lea smoke. The village itself is home to a strict religious community who repress the women among them. There is strong language throughout including variants of "f--k." There are a number of plot holes and unanswered questions that make the movie difficult to get onboard with.
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What's the Story?
In THE HANGING SUN, John (Alessandro Borghi) tries to escape his past as a hitman by fleeing to a remote village. There he meets Lea (Jessica Brown Findlay) and her son Caleb (Raphael Vicas) who are facing their own battles.
Is It Any Good?
This Nordic crime drama is based on a book by popular Norwegian author Jo Nesbø. Yet despite the source material, The Hanging Sun is a dull affair that is as confusing as it is boring. All the elements are there: Set in a remote village where it's never night nor day; a hitman trying to escape his past; and an excessively-religious community that doesn't take too kindly to strangers. It also boasts an impressive cast with British actors Peter Mullan and Charles Dance among them. But even they can't save the film from the grips of boredom. There are also some bizarre directorial choices. None more so than the decision to give young Caleb a jarring posh English accent. Caleb explains it by saying it's his way of dealing with a non-existent stutter. Presumably this was an attempt to make the character interesting. Instead, and perhaps mercifully, it simply distracts you from the tedium of the disjointed plot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Hanging Sun. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How were drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
How did the setting add to the movie's atmosphere? What other films have you seen where the setting has played such an integral role in the story?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 20, 2022
- Cast: Alessandro Borghi, Jessica Brown Findlay, Charles Dance
- Director: Francesco Carrozzini
- Studio: NBC Universal International
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 19, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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