OPEN HEARTS A film review by Steve Rhodes Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes RATING (0 TO ****): ***
In OPEN HEARTS (ELSKER DIG FOR EVIGT), an accessible and touchingly genuine film by Susanne Bier, tragedy begets tragedy and eventually, perhaps, just perhaps, something good as well. The film is a romantic drama that turns conventional formula on its head, with characters refusing to play by the cinematic rulebook that defines the range of proper reactions to certain events. The acting is so natural that you'll swear the actors are cheating by not acting at all.
Cecilie (Sonja Richter) is an attractive and effervescent, 23-year-old blonde. Madly in love with her boyfriend, Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), she looks forward to their upcoming marriage. Stine (Stine Bjerregaard) is a teenage girl who is riding in the car on her birthday with her mom, Marie (Paprika Steen). As they hurry along, Marie's car hits Joachim, turning him into a quadriplegic and devastating all of their lives.
Seeking solace, Cecilie turns with increasing frequency to Niels (Mads Mikkelsen), Marie's husband and a doctor at the hospital where Joachim is staying. Niels feels a certain obligation to comfort her since his wife was the cause of Cecilie's situation. With emotions running raw, unbreakable bonds appear to be in danger of breaking, and impossible bonds just might form.
Angry at the world for his condition, Joachim becomes intolerable, lashing out at anyone who dares come into his hospital room. His character turns into the only unsympathetic one, but that will change.
Most reviewers will probably feel obligated to tell you more, but I'll resist. Suffice it to say that things don't work out quite the way they normally do in the movies. The result feels less like a motion picture than it does real life.
OPEN HEARTS runs 1:54. The film is in Danish with English subtitles. It is rated R for "language and sexuality" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, March 14, 2003. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the Camera Cinemas.
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