It has been four years since the end of the “Harry Potter” series, and since then Emma Watson has made many impressive yet bold choices, from her moving performance in “Noah,” to her amusing role in “This is the End,” to her empowering work on behalf of women worldwide as the newest UN Goodwill Women Ambassador. It is safe to say that Watson has a pure talent for portraying strong women who stand up for their beliefs and desires, and her role in the new historical thriller “Colonia” is no different.
In the first trailer for the film, which Watson shared with the world on Monday via Facebook, the actress takes on what could be her most daring post-“Harry Potter” role yet. Set during Augusto Pinochet’s 1973 military coup in Chile, “Colonia” follows Lena (Watson), a brave and heroic young woman who is determined to rescue her lover Daniel (Daniel Brühl) after he is abducted by the murderous sect. To do so, she goes to the ultimate extreme by infiltrating the cult in order to find him. “I joined up to find you,” she whispers to Brühl in the clip.
The religious cult is led by a father/priest figure, Paul Schäfer (Michael Nyqvist), and is severely misogynistic and cruel. As Katy Rich of Vanity Fair writes, the cult “preaches about how women are controlled by Satan, forcibly separates children from their parents, and brings women in to men-only prayer meetings for ritualistic verbal and physical abuse. And that’s just the stuff we see; the sexual abuse of children is, mercifully, merely implied.”
This story is not for the faint of heart, as it is based on true events. Colonia Dignidad or “Dignity Colony” actually existed and served as a torture camp led by Schäfer during Pinochet’s rule, which only makes the film seem all the more chilling.
Jane Schoettle writes on TIFF.net that, “A blood-curdling unease pervades Colonia, and we are unable to tear ourselves away. Vividly realized and briskly paced by director Florian Gallenberger (City of War: The Story of John Rabe), the film shifts seamlessly from love story to political drama to something akin to a horror movie, with Watson anchoring every sequence with her dynamic yet completely relatable central performance.”
Sadly, the film does not have U.S. distribution yet, but is premiering in Germany on January 21, according to IMDB.com. While “Colonia” may not be as huge as some of Watson’s other films, it is more evidence of the powerful career she is building.
