The main premise of this story is eerily reminiscent of other films such as "The Deer Hunter" and "Coming Home" but that's where the similarity ends because this is a script that definitely has it's own heart and priorities. Story takes place in Denmark where we see Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) who's a Major in the military but before he ships off to Afghanistan he picks up his brother Jannik (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who has just been released from prison after committing assault on a woman. Michael has always been the levelheaded one of the two and has succeeded in pretty much everything in life but Jannik is the opposite and is considered the black sheep of the family.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Michael's wife Sarah (Connie Nielsen) has never really liked Jannik before but she and her two daughters starts to change their minds when he starts to help out around the house after Michael ships out for duty. Meanwhile, a helicopter in Afghanistan is shot down and Michael is taken prisoner by Afghan rebels and it doesn't take long before Sarah and the family are informed that he has been killed. While a prisoner Michael is forced to kill another soldier with a steel pipe in order to stay alive but after he is found by friendly forces he doesn't mention the terrible act that he performed. Michael returns home but he's definitely a changed man and haunted by his behavior in the prison camp and his relationship with Sarah and their daughters starts to suffer. He starts accusing her of sleeping with Jannik but the final blow comes when their oldest daughter proclaims that she doesn't like her father and likes Jannik instead!
Written and directed by Susanne Bier this film trudges on material that's already a bit familiar but her script does possess it's own air of freshness to the point where the viewer isn't sure where it's conclusion will end up. The ending is ambiguous and it should be because anything that would even remotely resemble something neat and tidy would compromise Bier's effort and (in effect) turn this into another "one of those" films. This does possess three solid performances that each stand on it's own and it's good to see Nielsen in a more complex role. After serving as eye candy and as the love interest in Hollywood fare she's finally given a meatier role to perform in and let's hope it leads to other films such as this because she's a darn good actress. Thomsen is a sold actor (and terrific here!) but this film offers Kaas the opportunity for a breakout performance and with his brooding demeanor and rugged good looks he delivers the goods. While this film probably won't pop up on too many top ten lists it's still a pretty good effort that stays true to it's heart and gives three very good actors a chance to show their talent.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Michael's wife Sarah (Connie Nielsen) has never really liked Jannik before but she and her two daughters starts to change their minds when he starts to help out around the house after Michael ships out for duty. Meanwhile, a helicopter in Afghanistan is shot down and Michael is taken prisoner by Afghan rebels and it doesn't take long before Sarah and the family are informed that he has been killed. While a prisoner Michael is forced to kill another soldier with a steel pipe in order to stay alive but after he is found by friendly forces he doesn't mention the terrible act that he performed. Michael returns home but he's definitely a changed man and haunted by his behavior in the prison camp and his relationship with Sarah and their daughters starts to suffer. He starts accusing her of sleeping with Jannik but the final blow comes when their oldest daughter proclaims that she doesn't like her father and likes Jannik instead!
Written and directed by Susanne Bier this film trudges on material that's already a bit familiar but her script does possess it's own air of freshness to the point where the viewer isn't sure where it's conclusion will end up. The ending is ambiguous and it should be because anything that would even remotely resemble something neat and tidy would compromise Bier's effort and (in effect) turn this into another "one of those" films. This does possess three solid performances that each stand on it's own and it's good to see Nielsen in a more complex role. After serving as eye candy and as the love interest in Hollywood fare she's finally given a meatier role to perform in and let's hope it leads to other films such as this because she's a darn good actress. Thomsen is a sold actor (and terrific here!) but this film offers Kaas the opportunity for a breakout performance and with his brooding demeanor and rugged good looks he delivers the goods. While this film probably won't pop up on too many top ten lists it's still a pretty good effort that stays true to it's heart and gives three very good actors a chance to show their talent.