grodscorp@grods.com
Film rating: 4.5/5
Walkouts: 2/5
Pretentious clapping at credits: 3/5
BPM sighting: No
Screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen and director Susanne Bier’s (a reformed Dogme disciple of what Village Voice calls “emotional disaster movies”) gut-wrenching drama looks at the emotional implosion that occurs when the lives of an altruistic aid worker and an arrogant billionaire collide.
Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen, Exit in this year’s MIFF) runs an orphanage in India. When it is threatened with closure, he receives a generous offer from Jorgen, a Danish benefactor, on condition that Jacob fly to Copenhagen for a personal meeting and the wedding of his daughter. What unravels after these events is a series of secrets and subterfuge of near biblical proportions.
A very satisfying film to conclude my MIFF ‘07 campaign. I’ve got to say that I’m a huge fan of Mads Mikkelsen, starting with his blistering performance in 1996’s Pusher, and he was excellent in After The Wedding.
This film’s script was orginal and tight, the cinematography atmospheric in that beautiful Danish Dogme style, the performances watertight, and the direction inspired.
Apparently this is scheduled for a general release so go see it!
Tuesday 14 August 2007, 9:08 am #McBec
Sounds good, fancy seeing it again?
And just for the record, ‘Pusher’, sucked enormously. A bunch of drugged fucked double crossing losers who have no redeeming features running around copenhagen. Oh and let’s not forget the brillant to-be-continued ending.
Thanks for wasting my time, Mads.
Tuesday 14 August 2007, 9:25 am #The Editor
I agree that Pusher was fairly shithouse (I gave it 2/5 in the original review) but I thought Mads’ performance was awesome. Great character acting.