When one dives into Sovereign, the first thing one notices is the fact that the film is based on true events. Usually, viewers have different expectations for films that are re-telling something that really happened.
Those expectations vary depending on whether the viewer knows the real story or is hearing it for the first time through what is being narrated in the movie. However, when I spoke to Christian Swegal, it became very clear that his goal wasn’t for people to know that story in particular, but to ask themselves questions about why this story had happened.
Truthfully, the movie leaves one thinking about what happened and how the characters reached that point. There is a sense of wanting to protect the teenager and understanding that his actions stem from the fact that he grew up with a father who drilled all those ideas into his mind.
But then again, if we think that about this character, we must think the same about the father. With the few details he provides about his own upbringing, it is clear that who he is comes directly from the way he was raised by his father.
Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay deliver perfectly crafted performances. Whether one knows the real men or not, it is undeniable that these characters are well-rounded, and the actors are at the top of their game. The chemistry between the two of them is perfect for the kind of relationship these two characters have.
While the movie doesn’t necessarily focus on that, the relationships between fathers and sons are one of the main components of the story. The father/son relationship between Offerman and Tremblay’s characters is the wheel that keeps the movie turning. However, that same relationship between Dennis Quaid and Thomas Mann’s characters is just as important.
In a different way, this bond also dictates how the characters behave. If it weren’t for his father, Mann’s character probably would have never become a cop. Therefore, he wouldn’t have died the way he did.
Unlike Offerman’s character, Quaid’s character realizes where he went wrong. After losing his son, one can see him act differently toward his grandson. Instead of letting his grandson cry as he always told his son to do, he picks him up and comforts him. The biggest change that he is evolving.
Considering Swegal’s goal, one could say it was achieved. After watching the movie, viewers are left wondering how the characters got to that point. Where do people get their information?
What draws the line between a conspiracy theory and what people truly believe to be their reality? Could all of this have been avoided?
For his first time directing a feature film and getting it in front of a larger audience, Swegal should be proud of the product he delivered. His writing and directing skills are extremely promising, and it’ll be interesting to see where he goes next.
Sovereign makes it clear that he is the kind of director who delves deeply into a topic and delivers the kind of content that will stay with the audience long after they finish watching the film.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). In addition to Eulalie Magazine, you can find her work published on Tell-Tale TV, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.