Italiensk for begyndere (2000)

Writer:

Lone Scherfig (writer)

Release Date:

8 December 2000 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Asistencia Opcional. Pasión Requerida. (Attendance Optional. Passion Required)

Plot:

Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Restaurant | Denmark | Minister | Widower

Awards:

20 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Anders W. Berthelsen	...	Andreas
Anette Støvelbæk	...	Olympia
Ann Eleonora Jørgensen	...	Karen
Peter Gantzler	...	Jørgen Mortensen
Lars Kaalund	...	Hal-Finn
Sara Indrio Jensen	...	Giulia
Karen-Lise Mynster	...	Kirsten, the real estate dealer
Rikke Wölck	...	Lise, the nurse
Elsebeth Steentoft	...	Kirketjener
Bent Mejding	...	Reverend Wredmann
Lene Tiemroth	...	Karen's Mother
Claus Gerving	...	Klaus Graversen
Jesper Christensen	...	Olympia's Father
Merete Voldstedlund
Henning Jensen	...	Leif, Karen's father

Also Known As:

Dogme # 12 - Italiensk for begyndere (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme LS (Denmark) (working title)
Italian for Beginners (International: English title)
Italienska för nybörjare (Sweden)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

112 min | Germany:118 min (Berlin Film Festival) | Italy:118 min | USA:118 min (Telluride Film Festival) | USA:97 min (DVD version)

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Language:

Danish | Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Ireland:15 (IFCO) | Hungary:14 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Avedøre, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Danmarks Radio (DR)

Trivia:

Dogme 95 co-founder Lars von Trier was critical of Lone Scherfig making a romantic comedy with a resolved ending, but Scherfig insisted that she would make the film according to her own sensibilities.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Karen turns the dial of the IV, she reduces the dose instead of increasing it.

Quotes:

Olympia's Father: That sounds disgusting.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bodilfesten 2001 (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Barn Jesus i en krybbe la

Dogma For Beginners

This is a pleasant and entertaining little movie and it was fun seeing new faces and styles. The story is interesting and relevant. The people believable and charming. I enjoyed getting to know them as they got to know each other. the film employs a delicate approach to such topics as death, impotence, God and loneliness. I wasn't always enthralled. A couple of scenes dragged a bit and my attention began to wander. The woes and goals of some characters lacked originality. The situations have been depicted many times in many movies. None the less, I was never bored, never annoyed and did not feel slighted as the viewer.

An impressive cast and tight direction keep the show moving efficiently and provide a dependable vehicle for the delivery of the intended results in a satisfying manner.

What surprised me was the number of cinematic conventions incorporated into a project that reportedly meant to avoid them. I claim no authority on the Dogma 95 movement, but I understand they aspire to strip a movie of as many mainstream cliches as possible. Standard story elements and cinematography are not what the filmmakers wish to present.

One of the conventions they frown on is the artificial insertion of background music. Yet this movie does use such incidental music in one scene, in a very traditional format. It's even an old, familiar tune. Like "Rock Of Ages" at a funeral or "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" when we see Yankee Stadium. And for an approach expected to break with tradition, there is an awful lot of happily ever after in the resolutions to the various conflicts.

The average looking actors and the less than beautiful scenery add greatly to the believability. The fun they, and in turn, we have with it offsets any flaws in the production. But it's going to take more than a hand held camera and a Scandinavian accent to overcome 100 years of accepted film technique. But I enjoyed the show and if they keep trying, I'll keep watching.