I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
This film wants to be Festen. If you haven't seen it, it's a minor masterpiece made by Thomas Vinterburg and released in 1998. The English title is The Celebration and it's the first certified film made according to Dogme 95. It's also a hell of a lot more interesting to talk about than the mildly painful After the Wedding.
Having been exceptionally slack during the Film festival, this was one of the films I had pinned to see-when-it-returns. This was based on the frankly quite bewilderingly fantastic cheekbones of the leading man. As it turns out, this was not solid reasoning.
Following the journey of Jakob (Mads Mikkelsen of Casino Royale fame), who leaves his beloved Indian orphanage to try and fundraise in Denmark, the film assumes some kind of Four Weddings and a Funeral mantle, as it rocks through life changing events at a rate of knots. Jakob's life is turned upside down by the revelation of long buried secrets, as is the life of everyone he encounters.
Bizarrely the scenes set in India are shot on different stock (or given some HORRIBLE treatment in the grade). I assume this is to contrast the vibracy of run down amusing third world India with the stolid frankness of the Danish upper class. Either way, it's boring and contrived. The only fresh thing in this whole film comes from Pramod (Neeral Mulchandani) a boy Jakob has raised in the orphanage.
Possibly if this hadn't come hot on the heels of the Golden Age of Danish cinema it wouldn't have been so disappointing. Instead, it comes off as rather hollow. It's nice and crisp to watch, but you never get the sense that anything hangs in the balance. Rent Festen - it transcends the apparent narrowness of Danish family drama.
A good movie spoiled by being too long and slow in places. Would have liked to have seen more of Mumbai and colourful India but an interesting story nevertheless.
dejligt at se en film p? dansk igen i Auckland, og s? fuldstendig fantastisk!!!
Not perfect but absolutely great and satisfying cinema. Although you can see some of the plot twists coming - the characters aren't obvious. The acting, with its intense metaphorical close-ups are mesmerising, especially the two lead males. I can't understand how the flicks review found it hollow. You would have to be very jaded or cynical not to moved by the human condition explored in this movie. Definitely worth seeing.
Yes I know it only January but this is it from the rich voice of Jorgen to the peeling back of surprising layers of character, it dosn't have a chocklate box ending however its richly satisfying and has a seen of incredible intemancy. Go and enjoy
According to Danish director Susanne Bier, humanity resides between a rock and a hard place. Like her previous films (Open Hearts, Brothers), After The Wedding is an unabashed melodrama about a family torn apart by the randomness of life. As usual the performances are strong; Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) excelling as a sullen aid worker uprooted from India to confront his past. It's a good thing too as the plot is about as subtly orchestrated as a pop star's nuptials...
Evidently, this bloated piece of Oscar-nominated nonsense was a big hit in Denmark, which makes me think there's a glittering future in that otherwise discriminating country for several seasons of "Days of Our Lives."...
Potent Danish drama of skeletons falling out of family closets is occasionally deliberate but mostly mesmerising...
What feels at first like a quiet, straightforward picture builds into one of the richest and most satisfying of the year so far, in any genre or any language...
Once again Bier demonstrates just how misleading appearances can be, as she artfully removes the veneers concealing the dark truths locked away by her intriguing characters...
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 24th Jan 2008.
Release date: January 24th 2008.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
