#fear and terror / drama / wilderness / isolation / violence / humanity / emotions / tension / war / youth / Polish premiere
DO NOT HESITATE
drama, thriller, war movie / Netherlands, Greece / 2021 / 1h 30m
One of the vehicles of a Dutch military convoy breaks down while driving through the barren wilderness of a Middle Eastern country. Prolonged waiting for help in the disquieting surroundings makes the situation tense quite quickly. When something starts making suspicious sounds in the nearby bushes, no one is surprised that one of the soldiers decides to dispel all doubts with a rifle burst. To their surprise, however, the hidden culprit was… just an innocent little billy goat. This inconspicuous incident does not defuse the tension – it is only the beginning of a series of unpleasant events that will push the military to the brink of their morals. The convoy splits up, and the damaged vehicle stays under the protection of Eric, Roy, and Thomas. Meanwhile, a local boy appears in the camp, blaming the soldiers for the death of his animal. The kid, not afraid of rifles and glares, begins testing the military’s patience. Especially difficult times come for Eric – the young man appointed the commander of the small unit has to confront the truth about the reality of war and decide what is truly right.
Director Sharif Korver and screenwriter Jolein Laarman have created a powerful and expressive war drama verging on overwhelming thriller. The creators use well-known genre tropes and themes, but thanks to their intuition and thoughtful production, they give them a unique freshness. In “Do not hesitate,” Korver and Laarman avoid ostentation: they place events in a small space that, despite the endless wilderness surrounding it, turns into a claustrophobic trap. All this is due to a well-written story, deliberately aimed shots, expressive characters, and a stuffy atmosphere. The creators show us only a small glimpse of the hell of war, only to then strangle us with its tangibility and meaninglessness, and later take us to an emotional purgatory to which devastated human souls are sent.
directed by: Shariff Korver
screenplay: Jolein Laarman
starring: Joes Brauers, Spencer Bogaert, Tobias Kersloot, Omar Alwan, and others
cinematography: Nadim Carlsen
editing: Ruben van der Hammen
music: Juho Nurmela, Ella van der Woude
languages: Dutch, English
subtitles: Polish
WORLD PREMIERE: Tribeca Film Festival 2021
Age restriction: 16+
