After The Wedding Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Kind of a naff name for such a superb movie!

I'm being spoiled. First I see the beautiful, mature and delightful Mira Nair film 'The Namesake' (in my top twenty with a bullet) - and now this peach! What's going on!!

'After The Wedding' has a central performance from Mads Mikkelsen (the facially scared card-playing La Chiffre in the superb 'Casino Royale') that is both riveting and Oscar worthy. He's the kind of actor who can just stand there and whole worlds are expressed in his face - an instrument I'm sure the director knew would have us hooked right from the get go. When Mads smiles, you smile, when he hurts - you do the same. He's as riveting as Gary Oldman or Christian Bale or Robert Downey Jr or Gabriel Byrne. And I can imagine, many women wouldn't mind looking at him either - long after the two hours of this is up!

It's foreign language (dubbed) and opens with Mars (Jakob) in an Indian orphanage where he is distributing food from a truck, giving lessons in English in a shed of a building and generally holding it all together. But as always - lack of funds threathen imminent closure and the destitute children will be evicted out onto the harsh streets. He gets a phonecall from Denmark from Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard playing a millionaire businessman) with an offer of untold millions that will keep his orphanage open and indeed even help others. He seems reluctant to go and get this gift horse, but he has to. Jakob promises the adoring children that he'll be back within a week and he won't let them down. But things change when he gets there.

Attending the well-heeled society wedding of Anna (Jorgen's daughter), to his astonishment, Jakob recognises Jorgen's wife - and she him - there's been history between them that is perhaps still alive & unresolved. Without giving too much plot away - Jakob makes a staggering and life-changing discovery and also, slowly but surely, begins to understand Jorgen's interest in wanting him back in Denmark.

This is about family, loved ones, the preciousness of our kids, betrayal, bad mistakes made in the past, another chance given to redeem them now - all the best stuff - and although some of the performances are at times slightly 'over-the-top' - the movie has heart - and you root for these people all the way to the end. The cast is uniformly excellent - especially Mikkelson and Lassgard - who's rivalry and shared loves are beautifully and realistically handled. There were many scenes where tears willingly plopped out of my weary goggleboxes. And there's superb complimentary music too.

I loved this film - I really did. And hope it will get the vast audience it deserves. Put it very high on your rental lists.

Refreshingly different

I actually ordered this in error having searched for different film of similar title. Slightly confused at first, as started in speaking English and English Subtitles, however, I soon realised there were three languages going on, and although Danish is prime language, the lead character does actually speak in English at times. Camera work was notably different from many British and US movies, with some long lingering close ups, obviously and rather artisticly used for sublminal messages.

Story of the human condition - clearly displaying how this knows no boundaries such as distance, social environment or rich or poor. Some very touching scenes that cannot be divulged without containing spoiler. Warning - my husband complained there was little action - it is not an action movie, could be deemed somewhat slow at times - however very powerful stuff! Definitely worth watching if you enjoy artistic, human story type movies.

Danish storyline with a lot of emotion.

I am a great fan of Danish movies (partially due to the Dogme concept). The way the footage and the story lines are so very different to the usual American stories.

If you like this film I would recommend watching another Danish emotional blower: Festen (the party).

boring

i couldnt wait untill the end of this film so i had to turn it off. if you like a film in a different language with english subtitles then this is the film for you.

avoid!!!!!

awful boring predictable film where nothing happens do not waste asingle night on this film

Touching masterpiece

One of the best films I've seen for such a long time! Such a delightful and wonderfully moving film. Characters are well cast, the story very compelling and the ending not as expected. The story unfolded brilliantly, leading you down the path of intrigue with a sense of empathy and understanding for each of the characters along the way.

Dull

This was a very dull film, with very little point or story.

not for me

tempted to turn off half way but watched it all,wished i had not botherd.not a good movie,sub titles did not help this one.

Moving

I rented this film blind, and I absolutely loved it. It draws together the story of people in very different conditions and with very different perspectives on life and then turns it all around on you in a quite unexpected way. The main characters are all excellently portrayed with depth and subtlety, and the camerawork is refreshingly intimate.

This is not an action film, but I found it absorbing, moving and thought provoking and a must for anyone who enjoys a film with real substance.

[Highly rated reviewer]

so thankful for this recommendation

this is compulsive drama with some very measured performances. Sometimes the camera work gets a bit wonky but that shouldn't take away from the film and a mesmerising plot. Ok, i guessed halfway what would happen but it was still captivating to see how it would all unfold.

the best scene is about ten minutes from the end where you finally see the emotional restraints breakdown. I read the detractors to this film who criticise in particular the subtitles. I have to admit, there was more far going on in the film than the dialogue. It wasn't what they said often, it was what was not said. The way the camera's shot in to someone's hands quickly etc.

You can criticise the plot as boring. There is an element of soap opera to this which is sad because it makes the film a little predictable if you watch lots of them. However, i don't and i really appreciated the story. I'm not going to add on the other reviews too much.

I just want to emphasise that although the story was a bit sugary, it was well-told giving away fairly good hints and introducing each of the characters well. Even if you could tell what was going to happen, it was worth sticking with it to see how it would pan out.

The scenes shot in India were genuinely beautiful examples of cinematography.

S