Incoherent is the word I feel best describes my experience with this movie. Ole Bornedal simply wanted too much and accomplished too little in a movie jam packed with events but no background to explain them. I would have preferred he had left out a few and dwelled more on the characters. Apart from an intimidating Dina, who is portrayed brillantly by Maria Bonnevie, most other characters pop up and disappear without much focus on their inner mechanics. Most are simply treated as props. I must say, however, that Bjørn Floberg as Dina's father does an excellent piece of acting in bringing the character so much anger and ill feelings.
The locations and the craftsmanship of the movie in general, is admirable. Beautiful settings and what many have described as postcard like sceneries. A movie that could have touched its audience but failed nonetheless.
Many have criticized the choice of language in this movie but I really don't think it did much harm, hearing a bunch of Nordic actors (and a French) speak English. Perhaps some of them might have been more comfortable speaking their mother tongue and thus acted more naturally, but who knows?
The locations and the craftsmanship of the movie in general, is admirable. Beautiful settings and what many have described as postcard like sceneries. A movie that could have touched its audience but failed nonetheless.
Many have criticized the choice of language in this movie but I really don't think it did much harm, hearing a bunch of Nordic actors (and a French) speak English. Perhaps some of them might have been more comfortable speaking their mother tongue and thus acted more naturally, but who knows?