Movie Review: Indignation

Indignation is the story of a complex young man that is beyond his years. Marcus, played by Logan Lerman, is dynamic in this role. When you experience the narrow views back in the 1950s, it’s difficult to imagine how different the world used to be having known only today’s socially acceptable views of tolerance in sexuality and religion.

Young Marcus attends university in Ohio. Having been raised Jewish, he finds religion and God an impossibility. Marcus is extremely intelligent and very much introverted. He meets the most extraordinary Olivia Hutten (Sarah Gadon) and has his first sexual encounter, quite unexpectedly. He’s scared, intrigued, and drawn to the completely troubled Olivia. Their chemistry is apparent and both actors play their roles beautifully.

Early on, Marcus ends up having trouble with his roommates at the dorm. He asks to be moved to another room and ultimately this leads to him having to spend time with the dean of the college to explain why he is having what the dean feels is a simple problem of fitting in. Dean Caudwell (Tracy Letts) also portrays a dynamic example of a subtly bigoted figurehead. Inadvertently insinuating that Marcus’s atheistic views are preposterous.

The story moves on and, unfortunately at times, very slowly. As a viewer, you do get a glimpse into the mindset of the day. The opposition and stigma that was placed on divorce, religion, and sexual promiscuity. If we ever get to reminiscing about the past and the remorse for the values that seemingly are missing today. We must look frankly at all components. We have come a long way and it’s not been all bad. Things were not tolerant only sixty years ago; today, at the very minimum and maybe not completely, we are free to express ourselves and not be exiled. Indignation is a film that is worth your time.

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Betsy Cizek

Betsy resides in Michigan. She is presently writing a novel and pursuing a Freelance writing career. It’s important to her that her writing combines sensitivity, honesty and a hint of sarcasm to create a relatable experience with the reader. Having a passion for film and an all around American pie opinion, she aspires to have the sensibility for what the average Joe might enjoy.

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