Open Hearts
2003
In Susanne Bier's achingly tender drama, filmed according to the tenets of the Dogme 95 collective, the fates of two couples are forever altered in the blink of an eye. Joachim (Nicolaj Lie Kaas) and Cecilie (Sonja Ricther) are a young couple on the verge of marriage. But before they can make it official, a car hits Joachim, .. Read more
| Starring | Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Paprika Steen, Mads Mikkelsen |
|---|---|
| Director | Susanne Bier |
| Genres | Drama |
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Open Hearts
In Susanne Bier's achingly tender drama, filmed according to the tenets of the Dogme 95 collective, the fates of two couples are forever altered in the blink of an eye. Joachim (Nicolaj Lie Kaas) and Cecilie (Sonja Ricther) are a young couple on the verge of marriage. But before they can make it official, a car hits Joachim, leaving him paralyzed. It turns out the driver of the car, Marie (Paprika Steen), is the wife of Niels (Mads Mikkelsen), a doctor at the local hospital. Niels offers Cecilie a shoulder to cry on, and when a tormented Joachim sends her away, she takes Niels up on his offer. What begins as a harmless connection between two strangers quickly turns into something else, as Niels finds himself falling in love with Cecilie. Gradually, Marie begins to sense something is amiss, until the truth finally comes out, destroying their relationship in the process. A sudden change of heart from Joachim forces Cecilie to decide which man she wants to spend her life with. Like the most successful Dogme films (FESTEN, MIFUNE), Bier boldly mixes a melodramatic storyline with a documentary-like visual approach to create a work that is deeply affecting, and wholly believable.
| Starring | Sonja Richter, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Paprika Steen, Mads Mikkelsen |
|---|---|
| Director | Susanne Bier |
| Studio | ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 06 Oct 2003 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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The 28th feature to be shot in adherence to the Dogme aesthetic, this utilises the austere restrictions of the movement to focus wholly on the raw emotions of doctor Mads Mikkelsen and twentysomething cook Sonja Richter. The pair are brought together when Mikkelsen's wife, Paprika Steen, is involved in a road accident that leaves Richter's fiancé, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, paralysed from the neck down. The most intriguing thing about this story is the way director Susanne Bier explores the inevitability of the attraction, while refusing to blame either Mikkelsen for betraying his family or Kaas for driving Richter away through his rage and bitterness. Although all the performances are exceptional, it's the fact that all of the characters are portrayed as worthy of our compassion that makes this drama so compelling.
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Heartfelt drama of love and loss, and the unexpected event that can alter many lives, told in the plain, straightforward manner of a Dogme film
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Most helpful member's review
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17 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Less is more in another Dogme 95 film...
'Open Hearts' is another successful addition to the Dogme 95 stable of films. The plot is nothing new, similar to Lars von Triers' 'Breaking The Waves' - although not as downbeat - , but the performances lift this film into a five star rating.
As is usual with films made following the Dogme 95 manifesto it has the feel of a documentary about it (due to the use of hand held cameras - so no widescreen), and you really get to feel you are following real people and their lives through tragedy and love.
The plot concerns the effect a road accident has on the five main characters - a doctor, his wife and eldest daughter and two young lovers - and how their relationships develop and change throughout the movie.
If you've seen the other Dogme 95 movies - 'Festen', 'The Idiots' and 'Italian for Beginners' - then I would reccomend havng a look at 'Open Hearts'. If you haven't seen any Dogme 95 films then start with this one and move onto 'Italian for Beginners' before tackling 'Festen' and 'The Idiots'. -
Most recent members' review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Left me cold I'm afraid
I'm a fan of Susanne Bier and dogme films, but not this film. Just didn't find it convincing. The acting is impeccable but the story doesn't ring true.
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News and features
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Things We Lost In the Fire
- 29 Jan 2008
Audrey (Halle Berry) has forgotten to invite Jerry (Benicio del Toro) to the wake. It's a terrible oversight - he was Brian's best friend - but an understandable omission. She never understood the relationship. Nobody likes to see a loved one hanging out with a junkie. Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier has established a reputation for weighty character dramas on the back of the Dogme title Open Hearts, Brothers, and the Oscar-nominated After the Wedding. Her first US movie (shot in Vancouver,... Read more
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