A Hijacking (2012)

The crew of a Danish cargo ship is hijacked by Somali pirates who proceed to engage in escalating negotiations with authorities in Copenhagen.

Director:

Tobias Lindholm

Writer:

Tobias Lindholm

Stars:

Pilou Asbæk, Søren Malling, Dar Salim

16 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pilou Asbæk	...	Mikkel Hartmann
Søren Malling	...	Peter C. Ludvigsen
Dar Salim	...	Lars Vestergaard
Roland Møller	...	Jan Sørensen
Gary Skjoldmose Porter	...	Connor Julian
Abdihakin Asgar	...	Omar
Amalie Ihle Alstrup	...	Maria Hartmann (as Amalie Alstrup)
Amalie Vulff Andersen	...	Kamilla Hartmann
Linda Laursen	...	Anette Ludvigsen
Keith Pearson	...	Kaptajn
Allan Arnby	...	Niels Giversen
Bettina Schjerlund	...	Jytte
Derrick Dharmakan	...	Sømænd
Juma Mvita	...	Sømænd (as Jumamvita)
Mikyan 'Thura' Aung	...	Sømænd

Storyline

The cargo ship MV Rozen is heading for harbor when it is hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Amongst the men on board are the ship's cook Mikkel and the engineer Jan, who along with the rest of the seamen are taken hostage in a cynical game of life and death. With the demand for a ransom of millions of dollars a psychological drama unfolds between the CEO of the shipping company and the Somali pirates.

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Plot Keywords:

shot in the head | hijacking | shipowner | somali pirate | pirate | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

All of the pirates are played by local Somalis, only one had been cast beforehand.

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Quotes

Connor Julian: We can't rush these people. Time is a Western thing. It means nothing to them.

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Connections

Version of Stolen Seas (2012)

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Soundtracks

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE DRUNKEN SAILOR?
(TRADITIONAL)

User Reviews

Strong drama about fear and responsibility

This hostage drama shows two different worlds: the despair of the crew on a vessel that has been hijacked by Somalian pirates, and the concern of the management of their shipping company in Copenhagen. The juxtaposition of these two worlds, connected by a dramatic event, is the strong cinematographic concept this film is built on.

The two worlds are very different. The crew on the ship is terrified by armed pirates they can't understand. They are locked up in a small room, where fear, heat, boredom and lack of food slowly drive them crazy. The managers in their design offices are dressed in tailored suits, wear cuff-links and drive limousines. Their fear is different, but far from negligible. The CEO chooses to personally negotiate with the pirates, and thus takes on the responsibility for the lives of his crew members. He is under great pressure from their families, from his board, and from the possibility that the press will report about the hijacking.

Director Lindholm focuses on two characters: the CEO of the shipping company and the cook on the vessel. The hijacking takes its toll on both of them, in different ways. The film switches from the clean offices in Copenhagen, where the CEO negotiates about the ransom, to the ship where the cook lives in continuous fear of being killed. The psychological approach of the film makes for great drama. Plus: this is a Danish film, so you can be sure the focus is on subtle human interaction, not on spectacular action scenes. The fact that the moment of the hijacking itself is not even shown, tells it all.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish English Somali

Release Date:

20 September 2012 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

A Hijacking

Box Office

Budget:

DKK15,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,392, 23 June 2013

Gross USA:

$414,437

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,688,444

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nordisk Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1