Written and directed by Christian Swegal, struggling single father Jerry indoctrinates his son Joe into the sovereign citizen movement, teaching him that laws are mere illusions and freedom is something you take. As Jerry’s ideology consumes them, they are set on a collision course with a police chief who has spent his life upholding the rules that Jerry has spent his tearing down. Starring: Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, Dennis Quaid, Martha Plimpton, Thomas Mann and Nancy Travis.
Unquestionably, Sovereign is a film that asks a lot of relevant questions when it comes to freedoms, rights, parenthood, masculinity and responsibilities, just to name a few. However, there’s one particular question that stands out quickly: is there anything Nick Offerman cannot do? The man has a ridiculous range, and he proves it yet again here. The intensity and furore that he brings to Jerry is gripping and concerning. The level that he takes Jerry’s commitment to becomes a form of madness, blinding him to any logic or reason which doesn’t squarely fit within his beliefs. Offerman creates a perfect portrayal of that dangerously persuasive personality and how quickly it can deteriorate and fracture those around him. It’s a haunting performance, one that’s enhanced by Jacob Tremblay’s portrayal of his son Joe.
When that intensity is then met with such vulnerability and naivety that you find in Tremblay’s performance, it instils a profound sense of dread and impending doom into the atmosphere. Tremblay does a particularly good job at showing the subtle shifts, it’s not simply a switch flicking and he’s all in on this cult-like group, there’s a gradual change. You watch as his father’s actions and teachings bury themselves under Joe’s skin, added to the love and respect that he holds for Jerry, it’s a poisonous combination.
Serving as yet another reminder of how malleable young minds are and how easily they can be weaponised. It’s an extremely relevant story and one that only becomes more so with time, which is what makes it almost surprising that the true events Sovereign is based on happened fifteen years ago. That in itself asks a lot of questions about how more dangerous it is now, with the help of toxic, manipulative social media accounts. It’s incredibly worrying and Christian Swegal definitely capitalises on that current fear to fill the atmosphere with tension. It’s a sincerely sad, heart-rending story that was well translated for the screen by Swegal.
Part of that is how much depth he injects into the visual, it’s reminiscent of Foxcatcher or The Order, adding in the tension, suspense and threat without needing to escape the everyday. It keeps an intimate connection with the characters while also capturing the dangerous nature. The cinematography by Dustin Lane is definitely a big help with that, it has a wonderful texture, really embracing that blue-grey palette to feed into the isolation and depression. Lane also did the cinematography for the absolutely stunning Sometimes I Think About Dying starring Daisy Ridley, so he’s a name to watch out for. Sovereign is also supported by a nicely affecting score from James McAlister.
All of those elements build a simmering intensity and a really strong, compelling presence. It’s tonally right where it needs to be and the pacing and progression move along in a thoughtful manner to slowly increase the urgency. The only less effective choice that Swegal makes for Sovereign is the timing of the ending. It feels like the film’s continuing to move forward, even though it doesn’t have anything more to add. It makes the key moments of the finale lose some power, despite the best of intentions.
Sovereign is a poignant and compelling portrait of how easily moulded young minds can be in a dangerous fashion. Especially of how things can initially seem harmless or even helpful so that they become indoctrinated to a cause or movement, before they even realise it. It’s undoubtedly a topic that needs to continue to be covered so that young people have more protection and awareness. A lot of the power of the film comes from Nick Offerman’s performance, he’s exceptional, almost terrifyingly so, in the level of intensity he brings to this role and yet beneath that is a brokenness, he really rounds out Jerry as a character. He’s even more excellent when he’s alongside Jacob Tremblay, and they’re equally supported by strong filmmaking. It’s shot well, has a gripping atmosphere, and leaves a lasting impression.
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