Open Hearts Movie Review:

Danish Delight

"Open Hearts," Denmark's official Oscar entry for best foreign language film, is produced in the authentic Dogme 95 format. This film is the real thing. As in all of these stylistic, realistic, Lars Von Trier motifs, it takes a bit of time to warm up to the shaky camera, square 16mm format and the documentary-like voyeuristic approach. Your patience pays off. It works this time. Celebrate that this is no "Celebration", a highly over-rated snot rag of a few years ago. Although, oddly, it counters the current euro disgust with the USA, and employs many all-American institutions like indie-country music in English, jealousy over marital infidelities, and shopping at IKEA.

This film takes its time to put us in the center of the trials and tribulations of love, marriage, infidelity, peer pressure, loyalty, professional attitudes, healing, trauma, pain, incorrigible teens, sugar-addicted tykes, steamy sex, Victoria's Secret modeling moments, ER hospital situations without any action by anyone, male piggery, Danish cuisine, birthday bashes, and car crashes (you can almost see Holly Hunter emerging with her horns out and David Cronenberg peering through a rear window).

If that sounds like a lot, it is. But, this film handles all of the elements with just the right pace and the director evokes a fine cast to pitch-perfect performances. The camera seduces us more and more as the story advances until you can actually feel what the characters are feeling. It gets lyrically intense. Like real life, there are no pat endings.

The dialog is not intellectually groundbreaking, but smart enough to fit the characters professions and home life. No pretensions, just craft and care in all aspects of the production. This is the film 'All the Real Girls' wanted to be and failed to achieve.

While there is real-life tension and tragedy, there are plenty of light moments and levity for a sweet balance. Pour a strong cup of coffee and enjoy every bite of this Danish. Damn the calories.

Copyright 2003 by

T R Black

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