Family Matters (1993)

Jan thinks he is Swedish-Danish, but after his mother's death he discovers he was adopted. As his world begins to fall apart, he decides to find his birth parents. The hunt leads him to ... See full summary »

Director:

Susanne Bier

Writers:

Lars Kjeldgård, Philip Zandén

Stars:

Philip Zandén, Ghita Nørby, Ernst-Hugo Järegård

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Zandén	...	Jan
Ghita Nørby	...	Jan's mother
Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Håkon Borelius (as Ernst-Hugo)
Ana Padrão	...	Constanca
Anna Wing	...	The Grandmother
Bodil Udsen	...	Ingrid
Filipe Ferrer	...	Frederico
Claus Nissen	...	The Taxidriver
Charlotte Sieling	...	Nurse
Birgitte Simonsen	...	Elisabeth
Ann Christine Simonsen	...	Eva (as Ann Kristine Simonsen)
Henrik Larsen	...	Bedemand
Helene Egelund	...	Lena
Isabel de Castro	...	Abbedisse
Laurinda Ferreira	...	Hotel Receptionist

Storyline

Jan thinks he is Swedish-Danish, but after his mother's death he discovers he was adopted. As his world begins to fall apart, he decides to find his birth parents. The hunt leads him to Portugal - in a taxi - where more surprises await him.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | eastern europe | topless female nudity | female nudity | title directed by female | 

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Genres:

Drama

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User Reviews

A slightly bizarre family comedy.

Jan is a Swedish-Danish grown-up who, after his mother's death, discovers that he was adopted as a child. When, because of this, all his world begins to crack, he decides to look up his real parents. This hunt leads him to Portugal in a taxi, and there some more surprises await him.. This film, you might say, is typically Danish, since it doesn't hesitate to bring up really difficult, but nevertheless completely possible, circumstances. Everything is hidden behind a facade of humour, but behind it you see the seriousness of unpleasant things that you can't help. I guess what happens in the film is among the worst discoveries a person can make, but still it is not a totally absurd plot, since nothing in it is really impossible. In spite of all family miseries and the desperate tries to keep up the normal looks of it all, I think the most absurd and improbable element actually is the taxi driver, gladly coming along with his passenger all the way from Denmark to Portugal! I like this film very much, since the plot is suggestive and interesting, and the humour is wonderful. Some of Sweden's and Denmark's (and maybe Portugal's - I cannot speak for them) greatest actors help to make the details in the film a persisting enjoyment. I still remember the tiny facial expressions and the strong lines, five years after having seen it, and I especially remember the breathtaking music when Jan gets to know he was adopted. Altogether a great film.

Details

Country:

Denmark Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

19 November 1993 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Taxi to Portugal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Det Danske Filminstitut, Groupo de Estudios e Realizacoes, Nordisk Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)