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Reviewed by Prof Joel White
Although almost twice the length of the average film shown in Harare cinemas, the film “Prisoners” leaves one begging at its end for a few more minutes of explanation.
As an American, I can see how the filmmakers took it for granted that an American audience would be quite capable of filling in some of the unexplained.

Remarkable and unusual in several ways, I predict that it will one day be cited as the forerunner of a type of film-making which may be then in vogue. On the other hand, the plot, which features aggrieved victims of crime who do not feel that the police are either willing or capable of pursuing a myriad of leads with which the amateurish criminal has littered his path is entirely realistic.

We are in the State of Pennsylvania, large and relatively agricultural when compared to the State of New York, immediately on its eastern border. A small town, such as one in which all its residents live in their own, small houses; very few apartment dwellers. We are introduced to, and the film centres on, two families whose close friendship I found to be unusual in small town American. One is white; the other black. Each has a daughter about 7 or 8 years of age and they are close friends. I have made the decision for myself that it is the friendship of the two little girls that led to the parents putting aside the usual prejudices.

Playing in the snow on the lawn of the white family’s home, the two girls are kidnapped. From this point the film dwells on the methods and their failings of a small town’s police force. Very realistic, in my opinion, and therefore very informative.

The police efforts, although seen to be diligent and devoted, are viewed by the parents quite understandably as reducing the likelihood of the children’s safe recover.

And we, the audience are shown the method by which the parents are taking direct action, which includes brutal, physical abuse of suspects whose innocence is ultimately revealed. A film definitely not for the squeamish; one which accepts reality for the obligations which today’s openness often find us unprepared.