by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Would you sacrifice the possibility of peace to unearth the monster that ruined your life in the first place?
Refugees generally have been through insane amounts of trauma, which has brought them to their new home in the first place. They have been through so much that it can be hard to shake. The story of Adam Bessa’s Hamid in Ghost Trail is one such case. He escapes Syria after being in a horrific prison situation for years. France and Germany are new and promising lands. Hamid is also disconnected from his mother in Beirut. The Syrian regime had horrible men, including torturers, and they are who Hamid is chasing. What life will he choose?
Ghost Trail is a stripped down, somber, and intense affair. The subtlety brings life to the film. There are not big and aggressive visuals, but writer/director Jonathan Millet (and cinematographer Olivier Boonjing) finds the right way to move that camera to acquire the right amount of suspense. So many little choices combine to maximize the overall experience. They create engrossing point-of-view shots tho accentuate the stalking that Hamid performs to follow this torturer. The way the camera moves in each space is dynamic, while the music heightens the tense sequences throughout the film. The film has a gray and grounded feeling that is less cinematic but more visceral.
At the core of the film is the story of Hamid seeking out the figure from his past. This could have easily been your standard cat-and-mouse, but there is something richer going on here. Their dynamic is fascinating, challenging Hamid in interesting and unexpected ways, and his internal journey really sells the experience. What does he really want out of life? To go home? To venture out into this new world? Find connections? Eradicate the past? Millet and and his co-writer Florence Rochat explore these paths in such engaging and complex ways. The human connections that Hamid navigates along the way give his journey more meaning. His calls with his mother are poignant, adding layers to the cultural aspects of his journey. Additionally, two women represent the two directions that Hamid can explore at this impasse. Each brings a certain meaning, as well as challenge in Hamid’s eyes. The more you give yourself to each conversation that Hamid has, the richer and more engaging Ghost Trail becomes.
And because of this, Bessa is really is the soul of the film. His performance is necessary to make sure this challenging story comes together, and it’s natural and authentic. There are plenty of moments where Hamid is sitting and watching and waiting or following. Bessa stands out in those quieter moments because he feels so real. He looks like someone who is just there. The journey that Hamid goes on is confident, effective, and natural in Bessa’s hands.
The fact that Ghost Trail draws upon actual events makes it even more haunting. Millet captures the right tone to craft an engaging and haunting film that will shake you to the core. This is not big and boisterous, but a quiet and stalking film that delivers layers of themes that explore the refugee story in unexpected ways. Millet crafted a film that will crawl underneath your skin and challenge you in satisfying ways.
Rating: Loved It
Ghost Trail is currently playing in theaters
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