Direction: Frederik Louis Hviid, Anders Ølholm
Country: Denmark
The first feature film from the pair of Danish directors Frederik Louis Hviid and Anders Ølholm bring two police officers - the competent Jens Høyer (Simon Sears) and the antagonistic Mike Andersen (Jacob Lohmann) - into a labyrinthine ghetto ravaged by wild riots, looting and general chaos. The reason for this altercation is the death of an Arabic teen while in police custody. With distinct personalities and approaches clashing along the way, these cops in distress have a go at finding their way out, which would be impossible without the help of a young Arab, Amos (Tarek Zayat), whom they have previously stopped and frisked and then arrested.
Enforcement relies on tense situations of conflict arranged at a furious pace, as well as a heavy dollop of fierce action that manages to create a good impact during its gripping first half. Unfortunately, the plot becomes weaker and the course of events too coincidental in a dissonant latter phase where the two agents see some generous former ‘enemies’ as their saviors.
The moral ambiguities experienced by the policemen end up in an opportunistic cynicism that brings the film down, revealing an implausible game changer.
Provocative yet unconvincing, Enforcement will serve more the interests of unconditional enthusiasts of the action genre than actually entertain those looking for a well-calibrated story.
