SUSANNE BIER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB

Original title:  Efter Brylluppet

Denmark/Sweden, 2006.  Zentropa Entertainments, After the Wedding, Sigma Films, Sveriges Television, Det Danske Filminstitut, Nordisk Film, Invicta Capital.  Story by Susanne Bier, Screenplay by Anders Thomas Jensen.  Cinematography by Morten Soborg.  Produced by Sisse Graum Jorgensen.  Music by Johan Soderqvist.  Production Design by Soren Skjaer.  Costume Design by Manon Rasmussen.  Film Editing by Pernille Bech Christensen, Morten Hojbjerg.  

Working in India as a teacher for impoverished children, Mads Mikkelsen is informed that he needs to travel home to his native Denmark to help raise money for his school to remain open. The corporation looking to invest in his project wants to meet him in person, so he goes and upon arrival is immediately invited to the wedding of his possible benefactor’s daughter. Walking into the ceremony sees him walking into his own past, with a particular key member of the wedding party turning out to be holding a secret part of his life that he has had no awareness of for the last two decades. From there the film twists a million times, at many turns incredibly moving until director Susanne Bier exhausts our patience with a seemingly endless soap opera that wants to go on forever. Terrific acting, however, and excellent dialogue.

Academy Award Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film

European Film Award Nominations:  Best European Film; Best European Director (Susanne Bier)

Toronto International Film Festival:  2006