Om natten (2007)

Director:

Christian E. Christiansen

Writer:

Christian E. Christiansen (writer)

Release Date:

19 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

Christmas and New Year. Three girls between 18 and 20, are hospitalized with cancer. All three of them have serious problems...

Plot Keywords:

Cancer | Parent Child Relationship | Friendship | Hospital | New Year's Eve

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Julie Ølgaard	...	Stephanie
Laura Christensen	...	Sara
Neel Rønholt	...	Mette
Henrik Prip	...	Torben

Also Known As:

At Night (USA)
In the Night (USA) (informal English alternative title)

Runtime:

USA:39 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

Hard to watch--exceptionally well made

I saw this movie at a special showing by a local film society of all the Oscar nominated Live Action Shorts about a week or so before the Oscars were announced. Because of the timing, I don't know if OM NATTEN won the award or not, but I assume that it will. Part of this is because the film is so wonderfully made and part of this is because this seems like the type of film the committee normally loves--since it's so depressing and "deep".

The story is about three young women who have cancer. They are lonely and scared and turn to each other for support. Within the group is one young lady whose life if filled with regrets. In the past, she ran from her own mother's illness and hates herself for her weakness. Later, this theme becomes important to the women and plays itself out once again.

I saw this film with my teenage daughter and we both strongly disagreed on what we thought of it. She thought it was clichéd (reminding her of other films) and just not the type movie she'd like to see since it's about death and dying.

As for me, I was captivated by the exceptional writing and acting. As for the acting, I was impressed that the actors and actresses were able to cry and call upon such extreme emotions--it made it seem very real. And as for the writing, while it could have been clichéd, the interweaving of the two themes really made the film memorable. A wonderful but exceptionally difficult movie to watch.

By the way, how we both perceived the film might also have something to do with our life experiences. I had cancer years ago and so perhaps this is why the film had such impact on me.

UPDATE--Apparently I am lousy at guessing Oscars, as MOZART OF PICKPOCKETS just won the award for 2008.