The Innocent (German: Der Unschuldige) is a 2018 Swiss-German drama film written and directed by Simon Jaquemet. It stars Judith Hofmann as Ruth, whose life is disrupted by the return of her former lover. The film had its world premiere in the Platform section at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, and Hofmann later won Best Actress at the 2019 Swiss Film Awards.
Contents
Synopsis
Ruth is a devout Christian who works in neuroscience. When her former lover reappears after twenty years in prison, her sense of reality begins to unravel.
Cast
The cast includes:
Judith Hofmann as Ruth
Naomi Scheiber as Naomi
Christian Kaiser as Hanspeter
Thomas Schüpbach as Andreas
Anna Tenta as Meike
Urs-Peter Wolters as Paul
Production
Jaquemet said the film was inspired by a television report about a woman who continued to believe in her fiancé’s innocence after he had been sentenced to life imprisonment. He also said that a dream later helped shape the project.
Reception
Awards
At the 2019 Swiss Film Awards, the film was nominated for Best Fiction Film and Best Cinematography. Judith Hofmann won Best Actress, and Simon Jaquemet was nominated for Best Screenplay.
Critical response
The Hollywood Reporter described the film as ambitious and well performed, but considered it a letdown and criticised it as messily told. The review also praised Judith Hofmann’s performance, while arguing that the film left too much open to interpretation and did not fully develop its characters.
Variety described the film as a coolly intellectual drama and praised Judith Hofmann’s performance. The review said it unfolds like a slow-motion thriller, while suggesting it was only partly successful in placing the audience in Ruth’s perspective.
Filmdienst described the film as a drama told in the style of magical realism, centred on faith, delusion, and reality. The review praised Judith Hofmann’s lead performance and rated the film as worth seeing.
Festival screenings
The film had its world premiere in the Platform section at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. In 2019, it was screened at festivals including the Jeonju International Film Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, and the Haifa International Film Festival. In 2021, it was screened at the Kaohsiung Film Festival.