Italiensk for begyndere (2000)

Writer:

Lone Scherfig (writer)

Release Date:

8 December 2000 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Asistencia Opcional. Pasión Requerida. (Attendance Optional. Passion Required)

Plot:

Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner's course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Restaurant | Denmark | Minister | Widower

Awards:

20 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Anders W. Berthelsen	...	Andreas
Anette Støvelbæk	...	Olympia
Ann Eleonora Jørgensen	...	Karen
Peter Gantzler	...	Jørgen Mortensen
Lars Kaalund	...	Hal-Finn
Sara Indrio Jensen	...	Giulia
Karen-Lise Mynster	...	Kirsten, the real estate dealer
Rikke Wölck	...	Lise, the nurse
Elsebeth Steentoft	...	Kirketjener
Bent Mejding	...	Reverend Wredmann
Lene Tiemroth	...	Karen's Mother
Claus Gerving	...	Klaus Graversen
Jesper Christensen	...	Olympia's Father
Merete Voldstedlund
Henning Jensen	...	Leif, Karen's father

Also Known As:

Dogme # 12 - Italiensk for begyndere (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme LS (Denmark) (working title)
Italian for Beginners (International: English title)
Italienska för nybörjare (Sweden)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

112 min | Germany:118 min (Berlin Film Festival) | Italy:118 min | USA:118 min (Telluride Film Festival) | USA:97 min (DVD version)

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Language:

Danish | Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Ireland:15 (IFCO) | Hungary:14 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Avedøre, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Danmarks Radio (DR)

Trivia:

The film complies with several aesthetic principles of Dogme 95, including use of hand-held cameras and natural lighting.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the Christmas service, the congregation use the hymn book to sing "Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå". However, this song was not included in the hymn book of 1953 (which would be the one used in the movie) as it was not considered a "proper" hymn until 2003, when it was included in the newest version of the hymn book.

Quotes:

Olympia's Father: That sounds disgusting.

Movie Connections:

References Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Soundtrack:

O sole mio

A Delightful Romance in Dogma 95

In Denmark, six lonely persons are having Italian classes sponsored by the City Hall. Jørgen Mortensen (Peter Gabtzler) is a shy hotel manager who has a crush on Giulia (Sara Indrio Jensen), a young Italian woman who works in an Italian restaurant and is secretly in love with him. Olympia (Anette Støvelbæk) is a clumsy clerk of a candy shop, who lives with her sullen father and is in love with Andreas (Anders W. Berthelsen), a young widow priest recently arrived in town. And the hairdresser Karen (Ann Eleonora Jørgensen), whose mother is an alcoholic woman, who loves Hal-Finn (Lars Kaalund), an incompetent and aggressive bar manager of the hotel where his best friend Jørgen Mortensen works. I am not a fan of Dogma 95 movies (the movement which uses handheld camera, natural light and sound and no special effects), but in this delightful romance the actors are so spontaneous that indeed it works. This unconventional love story, with euthanasia, common people, losers in general, Danish persons speaking Italian, is actually a great romance. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): ` Italiano Para Principiantes' (`Italian For Beginners')