Review by Gilbert Seah

INDIGNATION is the first feature of James Schamus, founder of Good Machine production company, and the CEO of Focus Features. He has championed classics like CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, FAR FROM HEAVEN and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. The film is based on Philip Roth’s novel of the same name, a powerful one based on the writer’s college days.

The plot of the film is simple. But the pleasure of the film is not in the plot but in the writing. Based on the Philip Roth novel, excellence can only be expected. A working class Jewish student, Marcus (Logan Lerman), leaves Newark, New Jersey to attend a small college in Ohio. There, he experiences a sexual awakening after meeting the elegant and wealthy Olivia (Sarah Gadon). Later he ends up confronting the school’s dean (Tracy Letts) over the role of religion in academic life.

Director Schmaus also adds his artistic touch. He frames the story with the killing of a soldier during the Korean War. (Roth served two years in the U.S. Army.)

Though the year is not mentioned, the film later reveals the time period through the college banner of ‘Class of 55’ when Marcus enrols on the college. As most of the film are interior shots, he places his camera often stationary, concentrating on the performances on his actors, with close ups and pullbacks.

SPOILERS: In the Philip Roth novel it is explained early in the book that Marcus is dead and telling his story from the afterlife. In the beginning of the film an American soldier is shot dead in the Korean war. The next scene has Marcus attending a funeral of a friend. The audience assumes that the dead soldier is Marcus’ friend. It is only at the end of the film that it becomes clear that the dead soldier was not Marcus’ friend but Marcus himself. Director Schamus achieved this rather brilliantly conceived trick cinematically. The audience had not seen Marcus’ face yet so the assumption is that of any soldier. At the film’s end, Marcus’ face is very familiar so the association become complete. Also the wallpaper in Olivia’s mental home of the vase with flowers is cinematic as the effect of the wallpaper (as seen by an audience) cannot have the same effect as the reading of the book.

The script by Schmaus changes the novel a bit. In the novel, Hawes D. Caudwell, the college’s dean (Tracy Letts) suspends Marcus after he refuses to attend double the chapel services (mandatory in the school) that he had missed. In the film, Marcus is seen serving in the Korean War. The audience is assumed to be smart enough to put two and two together that Marcus had been kicked out of college and therefore been drafted as a result into the U.S. Army.

The success of the film lies a great part to the performance of the lead actor playing Marcus, who is in almost very scene in the film. Logan Lerman (who has proven himself in the PERCY JACKSON films and other dramas like THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER) displays acting capability and eloquence as in the film’s best scene with Dean Caudwell debating Bertrand Russell’s Christianity. His character is described by Dean Caudwell as intense. The same adjective can be used to describe Lerman’s performance. Linda Emond is also excellent as Marcus’ mother. Ben Rosenfield has a supporting role as Marcus’ roommate. When Marcus moves out of the room, the roomate’s longing stare at Marcus during the Chapel service could be taken as his closeted homosexuality.

Shamus has now proven himself as a superb writer and director. INDIGNATION is a thinking man’s film that is smart, entertaining and funny. It is cinematically excellent in all departments from wardrobe, art and production design and acting. I would highly recommend this film and would also gladly see it a second time.

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