Retrospective Film Review

The Gambler (1974) • 50 Years Later — free will and the duality of man in amazing drama

A literature professor and gambling addict borrows money from his girlfriend, his mother, and finally some criminals…

We are often troubled by our own dualities. We long for the tranquillity of order, but yearn for the thrill of danger. Some of us never strike an appropriate balance. This leads us to ask an important question: is it better to live a structured, reasoned life, or lead an existence based on passion and desire? To live in comfort and security, or spend your time balancing on the knife’s edge?

Axel Freed (James Caan) prefers the latter. Though he’s a respected English professor in New York City, he also harbours a hidden dark side: he’s a gambling addict, a hopeless adrenaline junkie. His propensity for chasing the rush of reckless bets has placed him in hot water: he has 24 hours to come up with what he owes — no less than $44,000. Otherwise, his life is forfeit. Truthfully, he’d have it no other way. After all, living on the edge is part of the…