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Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson appear in this Ciro Guerra film adapted from a J.M. Coetzee novel.
By Glenn Kenny
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The austere view of a Western-style army outpost in the middle of the entire desert, where “Waiting for the Barbarians” begins, would possibly remind viewers of Valerio Zurlini’s 1976 film “The Desert of the Tatars.” It is not known whether the director of this image, Ciro Guerra, meant the scene as a trio of Zurlini’s film, but he did not even want it. It turns out that J.M. Coetzee, whose novel of the same call encouraged this film, probably influenced Dino Buzzati’s ebook “The Tartar Steppe”, the source of “Tartars”.
In unnamed territory with Asian and Middle Eastern characteristics (it’s a fable, as you can see), the impeccable Mark Rylance as a Western justice of the peace deals with a local multi-ethnic population. From the Peace Justice European comes Colonel Joll, a demanding authoritarian played by an eccentric Johnny Depp, who flaunts himself by pretending to be underestimated and turns out to have the impression that he is still running with Tim Burton.
Despite the magistrate’s protests that a barbaric invasion is not on board, Joll is determined to take forceful action, which means the imprisonment and torture of people without guilt, just to begin with. Later, Robert Pattinson, as Joll’s ruthless subordinate, joins the villain, provoking some mockery of imperialist caricature and sadistic laughter.
The justice of the peace does not present himself as a future white savior. But he is also not aware of how, as an official of colonialism, it is part of the problem. The film’s reluctance to deepen this circumstance deprives it of a possible dramatic depth.
Instead, “Barbarians” aspires to cling to an anti-colonialist mentality to an outdated Orientalist narrative style. Guerra is incredibly stingy, for example, by appearing the open wounds of torture of a prisoner illuminated by the glare of the old masters.
Waiting for the barbarians Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes. Rent or shop on iTunes, Google Play and streaming platforms and pay TV operators.
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