Efter brylluppet (2006),written and directed by Susanne Bier, is a Danish film shown in the U.S. with the title "After the Wedding."

The film is like a jigsaw puzzle that has been started but not completed. As the story progresses, pieces are added to the puzzle one at a time. There are secrets upon secrets, and memories upon memories. Only one character knows the entire story, and he is hiding a secret of his own.

The film begins in India, and the footage shot there has the ring of truth about it. Most of the film concerns wealthy people living in Denmark. The contrast between the poor in India and the wealthy in Scandinavia is immense. (Actually, it's more than that--it defies description.)

The person who travels between India and Denmark--Jacob--is the link between these two worlds. He works in an orphanage in India, and he is sent to Denmark to convince a billionaire businessman to fund the project. The plot unfolds slowly, in a subtle and unpredictable manner. There are many ambiguities, and not all of these are sorted out by the end of the film.

The acting is extremely good, with outstanding lead actors and an excellent supporting cast. If I had to single out one actor for praise, it would be the extraordinarily talented Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays Helene, the wife of the wealthy business man. Ms. Knudsen turns in a nuanced and satisfying performance that is a pleasure to watch.

This exceptional film was appropriately nominated for an Oscar. It's certainly one of the best movies of 2006, and deserves wider distribution so that more people can see it.

I recently saw this at the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival and of the 31 films I saw there this made my top 3. Mads Mikklesen received the festival's Best Actor award for his role as Jacob, a man who runs an orphanage in India. Jacob's been there for 20 years and is quite content in never returning to Denmark. A wealthy Danish businessman (Rolf Lassård) has contacted the orphanage expressing a desire to donate a large sum of money to keep the orphanage going. Jacob is led to believe that if he flies to Denmark and presents his business plan it will be a shake hands-smile-done deal and he will return within a week. Jørgen, the businessman has other plans however for Jacob. Sidse Babett Knudsen is Jørgen's wife Helene who has something in common with Jacob. Stine Fischer Christiansen is Anna, the daughter of Jörgen and Helene who is getting married to Christian (Christian Tafdrop) who is employed by Jörgen's company. Jacob is encouraged to attend the wedding and the real reason why he's been summoned to Denmark begins to unravel. Following the success of 2002's Open Hearts and 2004's Brother writer/director Susane Bier again collaborates with screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen in this emotional drama. Efter brylluppet (After the Wedding) has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards but I would believe that El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) is likely the odds-on favorite to win the Oscar. This is Denmarks 7th nomination for Best Foreign Film since 1956 and it's first nomination since 1989. Denmark has won two Oscar's for Best Foreign films in 1987 for Babette's Feast and 1988 for Pelle the Conqueror. This film is good enough that it has a chance but it would be an upset. This is a very good story and beautifully photographed by cinematographer Mørtin Soberg. I would give this a 9.0 out of 10 and recommend it.

Mads Mikkelson plays Jacob--a man who has spent much of his adult life working with orphans in India. However, his program relies on money from some benefactor back in his native Denmark. Inexplicably, this benefactor insists that Jacob come to Denmark personally to talk over future funding of the program. This really makes no sense, but Jacob has no choice but to go.

Once Jacob meets Jørgen Hannson, he is surprised by two odd things. First, Jørgen isn't that interested in discussing the project--even though Jacob came all the way there just to discuss it. Second, inexplicably, Jørgen invites him to a wedding. It seems that Jørgen's daughter, Anna, is getting married. Again, this is odd because Jacob doesn't know any of the people who will be there...other than having just met Jørgen.

When Jacob arrives at the wedding, he realizes something is afoot. It turns out Jørgen's pretty wife is Jacob's old girlfriend--a woman he hasn't seen in about 20 years! What is going on here? Surely this is not just some coincidence. What is Jørgen trying to do?!

I could easily say more about the film but this would ruin it. Suffice to say that when Jacob learns what's really afoot, it's a major kick in the head!!

Like so many of the films coming out of Denmark recently, this one seems inspired by the so-called "Dogma 95 movement". It's an agreement by several young filmmakers. While director Susanne Bier is not officially a member of the group (at least according to the research I have done),the film fits into their goals--such as the extensive use of a hand-held camera (I hate this myself...not that this matters),natural locations instead of sets as well as contemporary stories.

So what did I think? Well, as you can see above I didn't like the 'unsteady cam' look of the film. But, that withstanding, it's a terrific film. It's because the writing is superb and the acting is very, very nice. It seems very believable and the story sucks you into it. All in all, I can easily see why it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It lost to "The Lives of Others"--which would seem to indicated that it is an even more amazing film--which is hard to believe! I guess I'll have to see that film soon.