I finally watched the much-talked-about US indie film The Gift last night.
The story centres on a young couple whose lives unravel when a schoolfriend from the husband’s past shows up with mysterious gifts and a chilling secret. Directed by Joel Edgerton in his debut, the film feels Hitchcockian in its pace and sparing dialogue—a true craftsman’s work. I picture Edgerton shaping it meticulously, like a carpenter perfecting a piece. The film is so precise that adding or cutting even a minute could make it crumble.
A major theme is the impact of communication, showing how schoolyard teasing can have lasting, harmful effects.
Recommended.
