Open Hearts Reviews

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'.

European cinema at its best

A remarkable film, from opening credits to closing - this film had me absorbed - the acting was terrific, the simple plot very realistic and the soundtrack beautiful - if you like gritty drama - this is for you!!!

Did I miss something?

I don't mind a love story, but that it was not! Drama, maybe? Yes, but pointless. My advise - Put it at the bottom of your list (if you really must) and watch it midweek! You will have no problem pressing the pause button for a tea break.

Dogme Drama

Susanne Bier's entry into the Dogme 95 project is a relatively straightforward tragedy by comparison with some of the other Danish films made under the lo-fi manifesto.

Sensitive performances from the all the main cast maintain sympathy with the often selfish actions of people caught up in a cycle of infidelity following a car crash. The camera work simply lets the performances speak for themselves.

At times a little like a more simplistic take on Almodovar's Talk To Her, Open Hearts is by no means a masterpiece – its thematic exploration is predictable and its characters recognisable archetypes. But for those interested in seeing whether Dogme can do conventional this proves that it can.

Gritty Love Story

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. It doesn't pretend to be a big glitzy Hollywood movie and right from the start you know what you're getting is a down-to-earth tale of modern love/commitment/families and break-ups, from what can't have been a great glitzy Hollywood-style budget.

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.

Brought me to tears!

A superb film.

A doctor's wife knocks down a man with the family car, and the woman sends her husband to give counselling to the man's twentysomething girlfriend; with whom he starts an affair, ripping apart his family and plaguing them both with guilt.

Not exactly Saturday night stuff, but great performances, sure-footed direction and a very solid script make for a highly compelling experience, and offer real insight into relationships, desire and faithfulness. Rest assured, however: this is a mile from being just a girly movie!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Almost Spotless.

Just watched this for the second time after about a year's gap, expected to be disappointed, and still found myself gripped and deeply moved. The acting is very fine indeed. The characters are fascinatingly complex. The situations manage to be everything you've seen many times before but somehow feel totally fresh. Aside from a couple of unnecessary directorial flourishes which I feel spell things out too much, this director really knows how to tell a story and take her actors to extraordinary places...

If you like to get your teeth into real, intense, truthfull, emotionally engaging drama, PROPER drama rather than the easy superficial skimming we normally have to settle for in most English language movies / tv, then this is for you.

And there's a whole bunch of top class Danish directors out there at the moment, not just Lars Von T and Thomas Vinterberg (Festen).

If you haven't already, check out Bier's 'BROTHERS' ; 'IN YOUR HANDS' AND 'MINOR MISHAPS' (My two personal favourites, and I think as good as 'OPEN HEARTS'), then check out 'ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS' (Quirky relationship drama/comedy), 'INHERITANCE' (Gripping big business drama), 'ALLEGRO' and 'RECONSTRUCTION' - all rentable from this site.

I tell you, there' s a little film Renaissance going on over there...

gritty drama

gritty drama, very down to earth, excellent acting

v good

excellent danish drama which is extremely well acted.at first i warmed to the character of cecille,then strangely disliked her very much by the end of the film.