Movie spotlight
The Enclave
Commissioned for the Irish representation at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013, The Enclave is an immersive, six-screen video art installation by Irish contemporary artist Richard Mosse. Partly inspired by Joseph Conrad’s modernist literary masterpiece Heart of Darkness, the visceral and moving work was filmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo using 16mm colour infra-red film, which captures otherwise invisible parts of the spectrum. The resulting imagery in Mosse’s work is hallucinatory and dream-like with the usual greens of jungle and forest replaced by shimmering violet. The Enclave depicts a complicated, strife-ridden place in a way that reflects its complexity, using a strategy of beauty and transfixion to combat the wider invisibility of a conflict that has claimed so many.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a dystopian future, a young man named Leo lives in a fortified, technologically advanced enclave, a supposed sanctuary from the toxic outside world. He is a soldier tasked with keeping order and dealing with undesirables. However, when he discovers a secret about the enclave's true purpose and the fate of those expelled, he begins to question his loyalty and the reality of his existence.
Critical Reception
The Enclave received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric tension and strong performances, particularly from Joel Kinnaman. Some noted its thematic similarities to other dystopian films but appreciated its unique setting and bleak outlook. Audience reception was generally favorable, though some found the pacing slow.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its oppressive atmosphere and compelling lead performance.
Some found the narrative derivative of other dystopian works.
The film's bleak tone and social commentary were frequently highlighted.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews and their sentiment for 'The Enclave (2013)' is not readily available in public databases.
Fun Fact
Tarik Saleh, the director, also wrote and directed the 2017 film 'The Nile Hilton Incident', which also starred Joel Kinnaman.
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