Elsker dig for evigt (2002)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Writer:

Anders Thomas Jensen (writer)

Release Date:

6 September 2002 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A Dogme film about an engaged couple that is torn apart after the man is paralyzed in an accident, and the woman falls in love with the husband of the woman who caused the accident.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Car Accident | Love | Hospital | Family Relationships

Awards:

12 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Mads Mikkelsen	...	Niels
Sonja Richter	...	Cæcilie
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Joachim
Paprika Steen	...	Marie
Stine Bjerregaard	...	Stine
Birthe Neumann	...	Hanne
Niels Olsen	...	Finn
Ulf Pilgaard	...	Thomsen
Ronnie Lorenzen	...	Gustav (as Ronnie Hiort Lorenzen)
Pelle Bang Sørensen	...	Emil
Anders Nyborg	...	Robert
Ida Dwinger	...	Sanne
Philip Zandén	...	Tommy
Michel Castenholt	...	Furniture Store Assistant
Birgitte Prins	...	A&E Doctor

Also Known As:

Open Hearts (International: English title) (USA)
Dogme # 28 - Elsker dig for evigt (Denmark) (series title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Germany:12 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Rigshospitalet, Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Det Danske Filminstitut

Trivia:

The film actually breaks with some of the Dogme 95 rules, e.g. the blood used in the car accident scene is 'theatre' blood, there were fantasy sequences shot in Super-8 and also a ThermaCAM has been used.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Elsker dig for evigt' på filmfestival (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Lil Things

Open Hearts is devoid of superficial movie cliches

Halfway through Open Hearts, it becomes more obvious that you're watching a fictional account. The plot becomes slightly predictable, which is a good thing. For the most part, this new Danish film feels like a reality documentary and pulls you in like reality itself. Director Susanne Bier follows the technical requirements to earn a Dogme 95 certification, which means the film has to be devoid of any unnatural camera movement, lighting and sound among other rules. As a result, Open Hearts is also devoid of superficial movie cliches and full of heartfelt human situations.

The film follows a young, newly?engaged couple and a married couple with kids, whose lives are interrupted and complicated by a road accident. Bier stays clear of the external effects of the drama and instead focuses on the characters' inner effects. Her protagonists lose emotional control and appear ill?equipped to handle the consequences of an unexpected tragedy. The film's appeal is not only universal, but timely as well, shattering the modern belief that everything is controllable. Once tragedy strikes, our lives seem far more fragile than we thought.

Stephan Paschalides