A Mighty Heart

[DotTheEyes]

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The headline-generating abduction and execution of journalist Daniel Pearl, and the courage exhibited by his pregnant wife Mariane during the (ultimately futile) search to find and rescue him, forms the plot of A Mighty Heart. Directed by the prolific, experimental Michael Winterbottom, it is both a geopolitical action-suspense film and, at heart, a tragic love story.

The film stars Angelina Jolie and Dan Futterman as Mariane and Daniel Pearl. She delivers an award-caliber, unforgettable performance of astounding grace and emotional power, especially in the heart-wrenching scene where Mariane finally learns what fate befell her beloved husband. This is definite proof there is a stellar actress behind the tabloid-friendly celebrity façade, if proof was needed. And though his role is smaller (Mariane is the protagonist), Dan Futterman is charismatic and respectful. Standing out in the supporting cast is Bollywood actor Irfan Khan, who is fantastic as a Inter-Services Intelligence (the largest and most powerful of the three main branches of Pakistan's intelligence agencies) Captain dedicated to finding Daniel Pearl.

The style of Michael Winterbottom's film could be described as cinéma vérité, a naturalistic style not dissimilar to a documentary. The handheld cinematography puts you in the center of the swirling action as the characters race to and fro around the too-crowded, often-decrepit city of Karachi, Pakistan. And information is presented very fast, often as text on the screen or in rapid-fire dialogue. It can be a challenge to follow, but never becomes incomprehensible and proves, in the end, to be very rewarding and fascinating.

Overall, despite the June release date, this as far as a film could be from 'summer entertainment.' It's a spectacularly depressing, though very gripping and well-made piece about an important-but-awful true story. If you're fascinated by the politics of the region or the story of Daniel Pearl himself, it's unmissable.