After the Hunt
Psychological drama by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Challengers) starring Julia Roberts as a professor who faces a difficult dilemma when a top student accuses a colleague of transgressive behaviour.
Guadagnino presents the modern campus as a battleground for progressive politics. Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts) is a brilliant, charismatic professor of philosophy at the renowned Yale University. As a feminist advocate, she is admired and adored by many – including her colleague and friend Hank, as well as one of her PhD students, Maggie.
After a party at Alma and her partner Frederik’s flat – attended by both staff and students, and where drinks were plentiful – Maggie shows up at Alma’s door. Maggie claims that Hank has crossed a line. But in Alma’s eyes, there is no direct evidence of this. Hank, in turn, claims that Maggie has committed plagiarism and that he has confronted her about it.
Although Alma and Hank have been close friends for years, the prospect of tenure for one of them adds further tension. What is the truth – and whose truth is it?
After The Hunt explores how feminism, generational divides, and cancel culture have clashed since the rise of the #MeToo movement. Reporting inappropriate behaviour is one thing – what happens after the report is another. (rs)