A Soap (2006)

A tragicomedy focused on the relationship between the owner of a beauty clinic and a transgender woman.

Director:

Pernille Fischer Christensen

Writers:

Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen

Stars:

Trine Dyrholm, David Dencik, Frank Thiel

11 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Trine Dyrholm	...	Charlotte
David Dencik	...	Veronica
Frank Thiel	...	Kristian
Elsebeth Steentoft	...	Veronicas mor
Christian Tafdrup	...	Kunde 1
Pauli Ryberg	...	Kunde 2
Jacob Lohmann	...	Mand 1
Claes Bang	...	Mand 2
Fine	...	Miss Daisy
Christian Mosbæk	...	Fortæller (voice)
Laura Kamis Wrang	...	Soap skuespiller (voice)
Joan Bentsen	...	Soap skuespiller (voice)
Camilla Søeberg	...	Soap skuespiller (voice)
Tom Hale	...	Soap skuespiller (voice)

Storyline

32 year old Charlotte (Trine Dyrholm) could have it all, but she doesn't want it. After moving out of her boyfriend's apartment, she becomes the upstairs neighbor of Veronica (David Dencik), who is in the process of transitioning from male to female.

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Plot Keywords:

male to female | suicide attempt | man wearing dress | male actor playing a female character | male wearing makeup | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes life is stranger than a 'SOAP'

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official distributor's page for the film. [Denmark] Official distributor's page for the film. [United States]

Country:

Denmark Sweden

Language:

Danish English

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

A Soap

Filming Locations:

Denmark

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,445, 5 November 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,018, 7 January 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nimbus Film Productions, Garagefilm International, New Danish Screen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White (flashback scenes) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Veronica's first customer is played by Christian Tafdrup, who played a male prostitute himself in his movie-debut Smukke dreng (1993). He asks Veronica to call him "lille soldat" (danish for "little soldier") which is also the title of Lille soldat (2008), another danish move dealing with prostitution and starring Trine Dyrholm.

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Connections

References Lady and the Tramp (1955)

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Soundtracks

You Burn Me
Written by Julie Michelsen
Performed by Julie Michelsen and Anders Birk

User Reviews

En Soap - En Soap

A strange relationship between a middle-aged woman and a transsexual who gonna be a woman soon. Charlotte and Venorica, both trapped by their inanimate lives and don't know how to get out of them. Charlotte is an owner of a beauty clinic, she has broken up with her aggressive ex-husband, moved into an apartment alone with all the furniture packed except her big bed. Veronica lives downstairs with her poor dog, She's sensitive and desperately bothered by her mother's visiting and the bad relationship with her dad. Her only hope is that the upcoming transsexual operation will turn her into a real woman and then everything will be fine. All she can do now is waiting for an approval certificate.

Then these two individuals meet by chance and gradually they are all involved into other's lives, there are some sparkles between them, but no one is brave enough to face the truth because they are not willing to accept the change as most people do. Eventually the ending is quite satisfying and leaves some imagination for us to think about it.

The director's great work gives me an great impression, she handles the development of characters very well, the emotional atmosphere is quite full and intense. Also I am so obsessed with the gloomy lights all over the apartment, Delphic but full of desire.

Two main characters are played by Trine Dyrholm and David Dencik, they are amazing in their roles, a very impressive performance and the chemical reaction between them is genuine and convincing.

This Swedish indie film is about encountering and change, no matter you're homosexual or heterosexual, male or female, the oddness of life exists everywhere, whenever you fall across it, you'll be hesitate and bewildered, but at least don't be afraid, follow your heart and choose the right way.