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Hævnen (2010)

Directed by:
Susanne Bier

INTERNATIONAL TITLE
In a Better World

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Hevnen

COUNTRY
Denmark

GENRE
Drama

RUNNING TIME
118 minutes

Produced by:
Sisse Graum Jørgensen
Written by:
Susanne Bier
Anders Thomas Jensen


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Anton Mikael Persbrandt
Marianne Trine Dyrholm
Claus Ulrich Thomasen
Christian William Jøhnk Nielsen
Elias Markus Rygaard
Sofus Simon Maagaard Holm -
Lars Kim Bodnia

 

Review

Revenge, and its often spiraling characteristic, is the overbearing theme of this quite powerful Danish film directed by Susanne Bier and written by Anders Thomas Jensen, their fourth collaboration. Hævnen is a beautifully shot film, with Bier's usual simmering intensity running through it. And as the actors' director that she has proven herself to be, she elicits brilliant performances out of her strong cast, not least the two child actors, William Jøhnk Nielsen as Christian and Markus Rygaard as Elias. Still, Hævnen is not Bier's most accomplished work. Although it tackles timeless issues, and does so with poise, compared to her best works, the film lacks cohesion – a point of convergence – that would lift the individual elements and give the film a truly lasting impression.

Copyright © 15.02.2025 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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