IN A BETTER WORLD

Dur: 118mins
Rated: MA
Genre: Drama
Director: Susanne Bier (Brothers 2004-American version released not long after the original,  Things We Lost In The Fire 2007, After the Wedding 2006 which was nominated for Best Foreign Film but lost out to The Lives of Others, a very good film if you have not seen it), and many other films l have not mentioned.


l saw the preview of this film on At the Movies (my bible for all movies) and at once there was something about it that looked quite compelling.  l was not to be dissappointed. 

This movie slowly envelopes you into the lives of two families going through two very different emotional and trying times.  You become witness to both the tragedies and hope of human beings as well as the evil and good of individuals.  The movie is set mainly in Denmark and Africa where one of the main actors Mikael Persbrandt, playing Anton, a Doctor, works at a refugee camp for long stints at a time, taking him away from his estranged wife and two boys, one being Elias, Markus Rygaard.  The other main character is Ulrich Thornsen playing Claus, the father to Christian, William Johnk Nielsen, who is coming to terms with the loss of his wife.


The two boys, Christian and Elias meet at school under unusual circumstances and it's the consquences that flow from that meeting which will captivate and haunt you. 


The actors all round are great, the intensity, passion, sadness and strength that are showed in this film, make it compelling viewing.  l hope you feel the same when you go to see it.


This film reminds you what films should be like and why we go.  It was no surprise therefore to learn it was nominated for a 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and won.