Reconstruction (2003)

A young man who thought himself already in love with a nice girl is drawn into a literary drama when he is captured by a deep and stimulating love affair.

Director:

Christoffer Boe

Writers:

Christoffer Boe, Mogens Rukov

Stars:

Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Maria Bonnevie, Krister Henriksson

12 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Klaus Mulbjerg	...	Tryllekunstner
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Alex David
Maria Bonnevie	...	Simone / Aimee
Krister Henriksson	...	August Holm
Nicolas Bro	...	Leo Sand
Peter Steen	...	Mel David
Ida Dwinger	...	Monica
Malene Schwartz	...	Fru Banum (Mrs. Banum)
Helle Fagralid	...	Nan Sand
Mercedes Claro Schelin	...	Mercedes Sand
Jens Blegaa	...	Waiter
Isabella Miehe-Renard	...	Journalist
Katrin Muth	...	Bartender
David Dencik	...	Bartender

Storyline

Late one evening, Alex suddenly abandons his girlfriend, Simone, to follow the beautiful Aimee. In his encounter with Aimee, time and place dissolve for him and he becomes a stranger to Simone, towards whom he cannot return. Alex's future, is Aimee's love. But will he have the courage to embrace it? A psychological romantic drama, about a man, who forgets about his past and must put his faith in love, in order to gain a future.

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Plot Keywords:

copenhagen denmark | writer | subway | hotel | feature film directorial debut | 

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Taglines:

It's all film. It's all construction. But even so, it hurts.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and brief strong language

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish Swedish

Release Date:

26 September 2003 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Реконструкция

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,629, 12 September 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$72,762, 21 November 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Director's Cut, HR. Boe & Co., Nordisk Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 89 min (Filmfest Hamburg) 92 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Narrator: He loses Aimee.The last person that was left for him. The only one... Can their love survive? What will it take?
Narrator: A test.For him and for her. His love for her. Stupid? Maybe.
Narrator: If he steps back... if he doubts... she will disappear.

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Connections

Featured in Trier, Kidman og Cannes (2003)

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Soundtracks

Adagio for Strings
by Samuel Barber

User Reviews

An Artsy "Revenge of the Cuckold"

"Reconstruction" is a clever, European take on "Unfaithful" where an older husband uses literary intellect instead of violence to attempt "The Revenge of the Cuckold."

But we have no idea how much is real or imagined or roman a clef or the character of the author is identifying too much with his alter ego, as we are told from the outset that what we will be seeing is the magic of the storyteller or puppeteer, watching as he manipulates his characters, trying out different situations in different drafts of a novel, erasing and playing out different scenarios of chance and choice, where art replaces the memory science of "Code 46."

I don't think I was the only audience member, however, who was rooting instead for the tall, dark, handsome young man as Nikolaj Lie Kaas has captivating chemistry with Maria Bonnevie (and I feel really foolish that I couldn't tell from either the film or the Danish credits until I looked at the IMDb listing that she plays both the jilted girlfriend and the adulterous wife).

The author makes some lame justifications about women needing love and men accidentally falling into it, or some such, that doesn't quite make sense and the film is supposed to be illustrating the point that a man has to learn about hurt as a price to be able to love. The author's self-understanding I suppose is illustrated by him reading his book's dedication to his wife in a desperate plea for her to forgive him all his inattention, etc. as he needs her for his art, so she shouldn't look for passion elsewhere.

But we're left more with the very powerful visuals of the different versions of how he imagined her possible affair could have started (a la "Brief Encounter") and its ramifications or concluded, and the feeling that the older guy was a smug deus ex machina.

In the things one can learn from the movies department: we also get a nice tour of Copenhagen-- people can smoke anywhere, even on the subway, and do, constantly; restaurant bathrooms have real terry cloth towels; the Hilton is really luxurious; Danes and Swedes don't seem to exchange cell hone numbers; and, like in "Italian for Beginners," Danes seem to think of Italy as the place to go for romance.