While the VERY last scene, of HENRIK in his Bath-robe, leaves one pondering about the message or intent..., this story's climatic build-up is -both- truthful and believable ! At first, tantalizing and intriguing for the first twenty minutes, the tension sets-in whence the councilors/lawyer's, is taken aback by HENRIK's attitude and questions ...; meanwhile we have the incredible interventions of (Sofie Grabol) NINA as a loving/warm/tender/sexually satisfied wife and mother ...; the (daughter's) STINE, mostly still-life presence and expressions are just incredible and beyond words ...! Mr. TROELS LYBY's presence & rendition is just extreme or too natural, Mrs. SOFIE GRABOL is just too much right as a Wife and Mother ... as well as a shining-out presence ... while either direction and photography are unquestionably good.
Shortly-put, this is {another}of a very limited number of quality films, with subject or renewing script's visualization ! P.S.: Sofie Grabol is a gorgeous and incredibly good actress. ... as proved with her lead in the recent "The Killing" three Danish TV's series ... !
7.0Plot summary
On the surface Henrik and Nina Christofferson are an ordinary family living happily. But they have a problem. Their daughter, Stine, a difficult 14 year old, has a habit of telling lies in class. When Stine accuses her father of sexual abuse, and is believed by seemingly eager social workers, their family is thrust into crisis. Could Henrik have done it? And when Stine prepares to return home, the ugly side of family life is exposed.
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Movie Reviews
Very tense, sensibly rendered, ... tough and reality questioning subject !
very strong performances - the end was kind of weak
This movie was like a strong punch in your gut.
A daughter blames her father for sexual abuse and the film follows the consequences of this in every level: the police procedure, the trial, the little girl, the parents and their friends. It is unpleasant and almost suffocating to watch it.
**** SPOILERS ****** ********************
For the 4/5 of the movie the director plays it like if the father is the victim of a confused teenager who keeps lying. It is filmed like if the father is innocent and you suffer with him through his whole ordeal. Near the end it is revealed he was guilty all along and his daughter was saying the truth.
This manipulation I didn't like and it ruined the movie a bit for me. I would prefer the story to follow the true nature of the father from the beginning and not trying to shock the viewer. That twist wasn't needed. Imho, it would be braver and more interesting to follow the father knowing he was guilty.
Excellent performances from everyone involved.
The biggest twist in 2005, and perhaps in danish film history
This film is from 2005, when Troels Lyby was nominated for a silver bear. It has the biggest twist in 2005, and possibly one of the biggest twists in Danish film history. It is a solid film, with solid performances. The police work is also more or less reproduced correctly.
It's a movie that's not pleasant to watch, but it's because of its content. However, I, like many others, am not entirely happy with the last scene. It gets a little too high-flying.