After the Wedding (2006)
"Efter brylluppet" (original title)

A manager of an orphanage in India is sent to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he discovers a life-altering family secret.

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Anders Thomas Jensen (screenplay), Susanne Bier (story)

Stars:

Mads Mikkelsen, Neeral Mulchandani, Rolf Lassgård

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Jacob Pederson
Neeral Mulchandani	...	Pramod, 8 year
Tanya Sharma	...	Indisk Pige 1
Swini Khara	...	Indisk Pige 2
Meenal Patel	...	Mrs. Shaw
Vallabh Gada	...	Suit No. 1
Hitesh Kotak	...	Suit No. 2
Suhita Thatte	...	Indisk Kvinde
Rolf Lassgård	...	Jørgen Lennart Hannson
Dispesh Mistry	...	Pramods Venner
Shivam Vicha	...	Pramods Venner
Frederik Gullits Ernst	...	Martin Hannson
Kristian Gullits Ernst	...	Morten Hannson
Sidse Babett Knudsen	...	Helene Hannson
Mona Malm	...	Farmor (Grandmother)

Storyline

Jacob Pederson lives in shanty surroundings in Bombay, India, and assists in the running of Anand Orphanage and School. He had attempted a number of projects to assist orphans, including child prostitutes - all quite in vain. He has adopted a young male orphan, Pramod, and takes special care of him. With growing pressure on the facilities, which is on the verge bankruptcy, the orphanage receives an offer of funding from wealthy Danish citizen, Jorgen, which may put an end to its problems. In order to obtain the money, Jacob must travel to Copenhagen, meet with Jorgen, get financial assistance, and be back to celebrate Pramod's 8th birthday. He sets forth, is received by Christian Refner, an employee and future son-in-law of Jorgen. Jacob is shown all possible courtesy and even housed in a posh apartment. He subsequently meets with Jorgen, shows him video-tapes and submits that a few Kroner could really save several lives which would otherwise succumb to minor illnesses and infections....

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Plot Keywords:

orphanage | wedding | speech | danish | children | 

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Taglines:

champagne is poured... secrets are spilled.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Equation [fr] Official site [dk]

Country:

Denmark Sweden UK Norway

Language:

Danish Swedish English Hindi

Release Date:

24 February 2006 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

After the Wedding

Filming Locations:

Denmark

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$47,311 (USA) (30 March 2007)

Gross:

$1,526,359 (USA) (6 July 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zentropa Entertainments, After the Wedding, Sigma Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At a showing at a film festival in Estonia, two of the reels had been switched by a mistake, making a part of the film out of place. Apparantly the majority of the audience didn't notice and was generally very enthusiastic about the movie despite the narrative being mixed up.

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Goofs

When the couple gets married, the rings are placed on the fingers, but no visible in scenes post marriage. The customs in Denmark may be different, but throughout the film, wedding bands, rings, etc. migrate from hand to hand (wedding band on the right hand for women, left for men), and also disappear.

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Quotes

Jørgen Lennart Hannson: Every acquaintance, every friend, every person who has a place in your heart, Iit is the time with them that really means something. Nothing else matters.

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Connections

Referenced in Vild med dans: Vals og cha-cha-cha, del 2 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Untitled #1"
a.k.a "Vaka"
Written by Sigur Rós
Performed by Sigur Rós
Courtesy of FAT CAT RECORDS

User Reviews

Invest the time, get a reward

You've probably read the glowing remarks about this film, so I won't be too repetitious. The film moves slowly along and where the story is going to take us isn't revealed for a while. It's like peeling the onion but with rewards in each layer. I was thinking about differentiating here but, as does the onion, this film also brings tears.

I liked the way we find out that our protagonist is from Denmark and has a past that drove him away and into a new life. He is certainly more of a giving human being that when he left the country. The story then follows a course that to a large degree his former life created.

One of the aspects I especially enjoyed in the film is the use of some Dogme 95 rules. It's not a Dogme film but the director makes good use of many parts of that approach. The camera is hand held and it's use here made me feel more involved with the characters. The use of available light made the film much more beautiful and warm. One of the good results of the Dogme use here is that the director has made a film that, even for its' slow pace, dispenses with non-important fluff that would most certainly have been added if it had been made in the USA. There was a reason for every scene.

So be prepared for a slow paced film loaded with beauty and revelation. You'll be rewarded with a wonderful film experience. Prior to seeing it I had thought Pan's Labyrinth would win an Oscar, but not anymore. Then I saw The Lives of Others and moved both of the films down a notch. They were my top three films of 2006, in fact none of my top three were American made. What a year for imports!