OBSERVER: Scandivanian Film Festival
Melbourne’s Scandinavian Film Festival saw the gripping psychological drama Second Victims have its Australian premiere.
Set in a Danish hospital which is understaffed and where employees are overworked, an experienced neurologist has her confidence shaken when a simple mistake turns a routine case into a tragedy.
The screenplay was written by Zinnini Elkington and feels authentic in its depiction of an under-resourced hospital.
The characters are all well-drawn and the narrative plays out in a dynamic fashion, with vigorous bouts of dramatic action interspersed with quieter reflective moments.
The film does have a strange final scene which feels slightly out-of-place and forced given all that’s gone before, especially in terms of the central character’s storyline. Otherwise the writing is excellent.
In bringing the screenplay to life there were several splendid performances from the cast.
In particular, Özlem Saglanmak (who plays the neurologist Alex) and Trine Dyrholm (the grieving mother Camilla) give gut-wrenching portrayals of women shaken and shattered by the tragic events that unfold.
Their pain is palpable and one can’t help but sympathise with their plight.
Such compelling performances are, in part, due to great direction. Here Elkington directs as well as having written the screenplay.
She does so in an assured manner, getting great work from all her actors.
In addition, working with cinematographer Mia Mai Dings Graabek, the film is shot in a cinema verite style; you feel as though you’re in a real hospital watching things happening to real patients in real time.
It’s a great stylistic choice for the subject matter of the film.
The title of the film comes from a phrase used in healthcare to describe professionals who experience distress and trauma due to medical mistakes that have tragic consequences.
In doing a brilliant job of capturing and portraying the lives of such professionals, Second Victims tells their story, an important story that needs to be heard and heeded.
Venue: Palace Cinemas, various venues
Duration: 92 minutes
Bookings: palacecinemas.
com.au/movies/sca25-second-victims
Review by Peter Murphy