In Dostoevsky’s sophisticated account, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (1877), we are immersed in the journey of a dark and hopeless man. He, who remains nameless in the narrative, reflects a vivid portrait of human despair as he moves through the dark streets of Saint Petersburg, dominated by an unrelenting winter.
Monomaniacal worries about impotence and death overwhelm his being and denounce a worthless existence, an allegorical representation of human insignificance. He is indeed the ridiculous man, a personification of all the evils that afflict the human soul.
Moving forward to 2011, the film The Pursuit features Liam Neeson as a character who, despite having a first and last name, goes through a comparable internal struggle. Fighting against the grip of a cold world, he cries out for a purpose that justifies his existence and for moments of clarity that dispel humanity’s inherent madness.
Dostoyevsky, a literary luminary, knew well this madness, marked by dilemmas and internal struggles, driven by debts and addictions, tormented by reflections on the greatness of literature and the transience of life, after his near brush with death in 1849.
From this perspective, Dostoevsky reveals his love for humanity and his compassion for the damned of existence, characteristics that are expressed in his literature. Neeson’s character, John Ottway, faces similar dilemmas and becomes lost in a labyrinth of pain and regret in a neverending search for redemption and meaning.
Joe Carnahan, director of The Chase, uses the gray sky as a visual metaphor for the protagonist’s melancholy, allowing the audience a glimpse into Ottway’s duality, his inner struggle and his emotional exile. With each new scenario, a new aspect of this human mystery is revealed, showing a man in constant flight, separated from the world and its essence.
The plot is characterized by twists and revelations about Ottway, a man whose job requires living with death and the violence inherent in nature. Neeson infuses his character with resilience and leads him through a path of trials and discovery, on a journey that tests human bonds and questions moral boundaries.
The film becomes a unique cinematic experience in which each character is pushed to the extreme and forces them to reconsider their fears and insecurities. The supporting performances enrich the narrative, creating a microcosm of conflict and tension and illustrating human fragility in the face of the unknown.
Carnahan weaves a subtle parallel to Dostoyevsky, exploring themes of the search for meaning and redemption. “The Persecution” becomes a meditation on existence, an invitation to reflect on life and death, on the meaning of the daily battle against inner demons, and presents a universe in which rebellion and hope coexist in a melodic ballet of shadows and lights .
Movie: The hunt
Direction: Joe Carnahan
Year: 2011
Gender: Thriller/Drama/Action/Adventure
Note: 8/10