Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Efter brylluppet (After the Wedding)

The human condition is never more difficult, gripping and intense than when it's in the hands of a Danish film maker. Take pretty much anything by Lars von Trier and even the darkly funny Adam's Apples by Andres Thomas Jensen (who co-wrote this film) and you'll start to understand that the Danes love to make you wince.

I haven't seen anything else by this director, Susan Bier, but in this film she doesn't, and Danes in general don't, shy away from the ugly, the uncomfortable or the unpleasantness of being human. In fact, these are the things they celebrate and I love them for that. Where most directors would move the camera away, they will zoom in on the spittle threads in the open, gaping mouth, the snot dripping onto the upper lip and the gasping sobs of a human in emotional torment. Beautiful!

In this great Danish drama, the life paths of an orphanage worker in India and a wealthy businessman in Denmark cross. They have to figure out their difficult situation, moving forward to new beginnings and ends as they get what they need from one another. Great camera work: interesting/weird shots that recur and develop the themes...well written, brilliantly acted.

1 comment:

Gibson-US said...

This movie is extremely intense. Great acting, great camera work and a scene involving Man vs. Mortality that I won't soon forget.