I liked this movie, but it made me reflect on how crazy and wrong the prison system is, even in a place like Denmark. I know many disgree, but I think that prison should be somewhere you go to become a better person, to find back to who you really are. Not a place to hae your soul tormented and your spirit crushed.
This movie manages to show a world where you either do what it takes to survive, or you are destroyed. Some times you do what it takes, but you are unlucky or someone tells a secret to the wrong person, and you are still destroyed. In between all the violent "masculinity" and bullying, there are moments of humanity, like the friendship between Rune and Rashid and the seeming care the men have for a couple of birds.
I liked the fact that we don't get to know too much about how Rune ended up in prison. He could be any regular guy, and that is the whole point.
17 Reviews
Real prisoners and correctional officers
michaellundmilo14 September 2014
Very nice film that really shows how the life in prison can be. Many of the prisoners are real bad guys, and some of them have actually been to prison in the very same place that the movie is shot before the prison closed in 2006.
Also the main correctional officer Kim, is a real officer that actually used to work in the very same prison, and is now working in Denmarks newest high security prison that opened in October 2006.
The movie shows a very harsh environment, just the way it actually was. When you watch it you get a real feeling of what it would be like to be in prison.
Today the old prison is operating as a museum and many parts of the building has been left untouched since the last inmates were moved to the new prison.
Also the main correctional officer Kim, is a real officer that actually used to work in the very same prison, and is now working in Denmarks newest high security prison that opened in October 2006.
The movie shows a very harsh environment, just the way it actually was. When you watch it you get a real feeling of what it would be like to be in prison.
Today the old prison is operating as a museum and many parts of the building has been left untouched since the last inmates were moved to the new prison.
An emotionally tough prison story
augjes28 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I first have to say that i'm not a professional critic. It is very hard for me to find the right words to describe any form of art.
43 is my age and maybe i have seen many movies in my life. The movies i saw the day before 'R' were 'The good, the bad, the weird' and 'I saw the devil'. The first was very good fun and the latter from the same director gave me a feeling of: I don't want to witness this. I'm getting to old for this kind of excitement.
So with that feeling in mind I red the summary of 'R'. I had also seen 'un prophete' (great movie btw). Comparisons here. Masterpiece there. etc etc. I had to see it.
The feeling of not want to witness this stayed until the opening scenes with the shady music, and Rune going up the stairs. And stayed with me until the end. After seeing this movie a week ago I still want to cry. I now realise that the director bathed me 99 minutes in powerlessness.
This movie literally gave me, besides a sadness that stretches and stretches, a genuine fear for the prison system in my own socially secured country.
Musically this is a movie that won't disappear in the shadows of more stylistic films like 'The deer hunter', 'Once upon a time in the west' and more recently 'There will be blood'. All with their masterpiece defining music scores.
In the prison the camera captures the non existing distance of stares: of guards, inmates, grandmothers, Rashid and Rune. And what this did to me emotionally, was something i never experienced so profound before.
A movie that makes your heart cry is one thing, but to go beyond that and mix the acting with this kind of realism is very special.
The last fifteen minutes with Rashid played with my sympathy for the main character and was a big switch but made also clear that the story doesn't stop. And with that last zoom out the fridge door closes again.
Can you compare Radiohead with The Beatles. 'R' is in my opinion emotionally in a league of it's own.
But keep in mind my age. Maybe i'm just approaching a midlife crisis where crying gets easier, and tears just trouble my judgement.
43 is my age and maybe i have seen many movies in my life. The movies i saw the day before 'R' were 'The good, the bad, the weird' and 'I saw the devil'. The first was very good fun and the latter from the same director gave me a feeling of: I don't want to witness this. I'm getting to old for this kind of excitement.
So with that feeling in mind I red the summary of 'R'. I had also seen 'un prophete' (great movie btw). Comparisons here. Masterpiece there. etc etc. I had to see it.
The feeling of not want to witness this stayed until the opening scenes with the shady music, and Rune going up the stairs. And stayed with me until the end. After seeing this movie a week ago I still want to cry. I now realise that the director bathed me 99 minutes in powerlessness.
This movie literally gave me, besides a sadness that stretches and stretches, a genuine fear for the prison system in my own socially secured country.
Musically this is a movie that won't disappear in the shadows of more stylistic films like 'The deer hunter', 'Once upon a time in the west' and more recently 'There will be blood'. All with their masterpiece defining music scores.
In the prison the camera captures the non existing distance of stares: of guards, inmates, grandmothers, Rashid and Rune. And what this did to me emotionally, was something i never experienced so profound before.
A movie that makes your heart cry is one thing, but to go beyond that and mix the acting with this kind of realism is very special.
The last fifteen minutes with Rashid played with my sympathy for the main character and was a big switch but made also clear that the story doesn't stop. And with that last zoom out the fridge door closes again.
Can you compare Radiohead with The Beatles. 'R' is in my opinion emotionally in a league of it's own.
But keep in mind my age. Maybe i'm just approaching a midlife crisis where crying gets easier, and tears just trouble my judgement.
R is for Rune
jotix1001 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Rune, a young criminal serving time, is transferred to a new prison where he must use his wits in order to survive. Not long after entering the facility, Rune is viewed as a good subject to bully by the most experienced criminals in his new home. Rune establishes himself as a new force after attacking an Albanian inmate by order of The Mason, one of the prominent inmates, who seems to control what is going on inside.
Meeting Rashid, another man at the prison, gives Rune an ally that will stay true to him. Devising a plan to smuggle drugs, brings him to the attention of Mason's superior, the powerful Carsten. It will be only a question of time before Rune is found out.
The atmosphere of "R" is bleak, at best. Comparisons to Jacques Audiard's "A Prophet" comes to mind since both premises deal with behind the scenes life at a high security jail where men are thrown together and must be strong to survive. This Danish entry is co-directed by Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer. The strength of the film lies in the ensemble playing the directors got from the strong cast they amassed. It is not a film for those weak at heart, prison life being what it is, it shows in vivid detail what goes on behind bars, when criminals must survive, one way, or another.
Johan Philip Asbaek, who plays Rune, makes a great impression in the way he approaches the role. Dulfil Al-Jabouri is seen as Rashid, the only friend Rune finds in that milieu. The supporting cast is excellent, mainly Omar Shargawi and Roland Moller. The oppressive atmosphere of the prison is capture in vivid detail by the cinematographer, Magnus Northenhof Jonck whose gritty photography is one of the real assets of the film.
Meeting Rashid, another man at the prison, gives Rune an ally that will stay true to him. Devising a plan to smuggle drugs, brings him to the attention of Mason's superior, the powerful Carsten. It will be only a question of time before Rune is found out.
The atmosphere of "R" is bleak, at best. Comparisons to Jacques Audiard's "A Prophet" comes to mind since both premises deal with behind the scenes life at a high security jail where men are thrown together and must be strong to survive. This Danish entry is co-directed by Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer. The strength of the film lies in the ensemble playing the directors got from the strong cast they amassed. It is not a film for those weak at heart, prison life being what it is, it shows in vivid detail what goes on behind bars, when criminals must survive, one way, or another.
Johan Philip Asbaek, who plays Rune, makes a great impression in the way he approaches the role. Dulfil Al-Jabouri is seen as Rashid, the only friend Rune finds in that milieu. The supporting cast is excellent, mainly Omar Shargawi and Roland Moller. The oppressive atmosphere of the prison is capture in vivid detail by the cinematographer, Magnus Northenhof Jonck whose gritty photography is one of the real assets of the film.
A real and tough man's man's world...
searchanddestroy-115 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I was astonished after the viewing of this authentic masterpiece. In the theatre, there were nearly only men. No gals. And you can guess why...
No gals in this fierce movie, one of the best and most terrific of all times, concerning inmates, in the joint. The can. Oh, UN PROPHETE will remain a powerful film, I won't deny it, but this one is far more pessimistic, dark, bleak. THe scheme is almost the scheme, without the short lengths we could have in Jacques Audiard's feature.
Everything here seems real, authentic, it doesn't seem that the characters are actors, but actual inmates and wardens.
An absolute must see.
No gals in this fierce movie, one of the best and most terrific of all times, concerning inmates, in the joint. The can. Oh, UN PROPHETE will remain a powerful film, I won't deny it, but this one is far more pessimistic, dark, bleak. THe scheme is almost the scheme, without the short lengths we could have in Jacques Audiard's feature.
Everything here seems real, authentic, it doesn't seem that the characters are actors, but actual inmates and wardens.
An absolute must see.
A Danish version of Un Prophete that isn't as good.
Duncan_C18 June 2010
aw this film at it's press screening this morning at Edinburgh International Film Festival. I'd heard it was meant to be the next 'Un Prophete'. Certainly if you haven't seen 'Un Prophete' you may well think this film is brilliant. Those that have seen 'Un Prophete' however may go away a little bit disappointed. There is just too much that is the same in both films. Both the films explore the tough inner workings of a prison from the point of view of a new comer. We are not told why this main character is in prison, only that he maybe stabbed somebody. He seems to be a good guy who is trapped working for a gang in prison. He's made to do tasks he doesn't want to do so he isn't treated like dirt, or killed. there is also another gang in the prison made up of Albanians etc
etc
.etc
.
It's the same old prison story that's getting told over and over. It is however a solid story so it's what they do with it that matters.
They succeed in creating a likable main character that we sympathise with and support. They show how gritty and corrupt a Danish prison is. They do the whole thing with sexy camera angle's and expert editing.
I was enjoying the movie, until I began to feel it wasn't going anywhere, then near the end we switch character perspective and follow a different character for the last fifteen minutes. For me, the story ends with our main character, I'm not interested in seeing his friend story for another 15minutes, that just didn't work for me. I saw others shifting uncomfortably in the audience as well. When the second end does come though it does hit with impact. I found myself wanting to look away as it was fairly intense.
The film is on some levels very good, the soundtrack is perfect, well there's no songs just an intense score. The acting is amazing, the set is great, editing brilliant, script, pretty flawless. It's the story that just didn't grab me like it should've. There was nothing I hadn't seen before. It was a classic prison movie, done better than most, but not as good as 'Un Prophete' and 'Shawshank'. I was blown away by some shots in the film which were just incredible.
'Un Prophete' for me is the best prison movie, it has everything, it is long, but justifiably. R is shorter at 90 minutes, but it was the end that spoiled it for me. If R had come out before 'Un Prophete' I'd probably like it better, but R doesn't explore much that 'Un Prophete' doesn't. I just wasn't interested in the last 15/20minutes. It's a shame, a lot of work has obviously gone into the film. It is still worth seeing. However I'd recommend most people just stick with 'Un Prophete'.
www.duncansreviews.wordpress.com
www.duncancowles.com
It's the same old prison story that's getting told over and over. It is however a solid story so it's what they do with it that matters.
They succeed in creating a likable main character that we sympathise with and support. They show how gritty and corrupt a Danish prison is. They do the whole thing with sexy camera angle's and expert editing.
I was enjoying the movie, until I began to feel it wasn't going anywhere, then near the end we switch character perspective and follow a different character for the last fifteen minutes. For me, the story ends with our main character, I'm not interested in seeing his friend story for another 15minutes, that just didn't work for me. I saw others shifting uncomfortably in the audience as well. When the second end does come though it does hit with impact. I found myself wanting to look away as it was fairly intense.
The film is on some levels very good, the soundtrack is perfect, well there's no songs just an intense score. The acting is amazing, the set is great, editing brilliant, script, pretty flawless. It's the story that just didn't grab me like it should've. There was nothing I hadn't seen before. It was a classic prison movie, done better than most, but not as good as 'Un Prophete' and 'Shawshank'. I was blown away by some shots in the film which were just incredible.
'Un Prophete' for me is the best prison movie, it has everything, it is long, but justifiably. R is shorter at 90 minutes, but it was the end that spoiled it for me. If R had come out before 'Un Prophete' I'd probably like it better, but R doesn't explore much that 'Un Prophete' doesn't. I just wasn't interested in the last 15/20minutes. It's a shame, a lot of work has obviously gone into the film. It is still worth seeing. However I'd recommend most people just stick with 'Un Prophete'.
www.duncansreviews.wordpress.com
www.duncancowles.com
wow
ruud-358 January 2011
This film is compared to un prophete, i understand why, but is is right to do that. I saw both movies on the same day at the international film festival in Rotterdam and R Rocked me and the audience really out of our chair. In fact it was the first movie where during the Q and A with the director nobody left the space. The reason i don't want to compare both movies is also that because i saw them on the same day. After this stunning, violent roller-coaster watching the long une prophete is not easy and won't be honoust towards une prophete.. But nevertheless this film took me fully, with amateurs and old inmates in roles, it is breathtaking, raw, dark and intense. Nothing is too much, nothing is too long, nothing is to thin, its a fantastic movie who deserves a big audience. For those who are interested in the rates i gave to Une Prophete, it's an 8, but i still want to see both movies again, but not on the same day anymore. What a ride it was and thank you for producing this masterpiece, which is in my all time top 10 whatever other people think of it
brutal prison drama
SnoopyStyle27 July 2016
Rune Pedersen is a new inmate in a tough Danish prison serving a two-year sentence. He's threatened by the brutal inmates and the harsh guards. He becomes the lowest member of the white gang. He works out a way to smuggle into the prison with the help of Muslim Rashid. He starts to get more luxury from his gang. Then he gets squeezed by the ruthless Bazhir.
It's another tough prison movie of drugs, brutality, and racial division from Europe. It is heartless, ugly, and relentless. There is a change in protagonist from Rune to Rashid in the last act. It's a place where brutality works and the monsters rule.
It's another tough prison movie of drugs, brutality, and racial division from Europe. It is heartless, ugly, and relentless. There is a change in protagonist from Rune to Rashid in the last act. It's a place where brutality works and the monsters rule.
Confined
kosmasp13 August 2015
Prison movies are hard to make. Though the good ones seem effortlessly. And while you can file most of them as dramas (like this one), they almost feel like a sub-genre. Pacing is always key, which this movie proves can handle very well. It's not fancy, but what prison actually is, it's more down and dirty.
The relationships explored make sense in this. And while we may not get all the answers from this movie, the characters are mysterious enough, but also engaging enough for us to care. And that's quite a feat for a movie about criminals and their just (?) punishment. Arguing if prison is the best solution for some or if it works as a whole is a completely different matter.
The relationships explored make sense in this. And while we may not get all the answers from this movie, the characters are mysterious enough, but also engaging enough for us to care. And that's quite a feat for a movie about criminals and their just (?) punishment. Arguing if prison is the best solution for some or if it works as a whole is a completely different matter.
'R' follows a character it's hard to care about.
forzaeva14 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
So, our main "protagonist" is thrown inside a prison nobody would ever want to visit.
This review contains spoilers...!
It doesn't take long before the tougher prisoners - 'Mureren' in particular - target him, put him in place, force him to jump through their hoops and accept whatever crap they throw his way... Rune being alone and having no chance to defend himself, doesn't have much choice.
Following a failed drug-smuggling deal, Rune is screwed because he now owes money he can't cough up. 'Mureren' has it in for him - he did stab a friend of 'Mureren' on the outside... So it's time Rune is put out of his misery.
Were we really supposed to care about this guy? I found no reason to root for Rune... He's hardly any better than them, just weaker. Sure, the guy who wastes him is a typical thug - a scumbag member of a gang of scumbags who all belong in there, so I'd give some credit to the actors portraying these low-lifes.
Since the movie could be a somewhat realistic portrayal of life in places like this, props go where they are due.
But it's just bleak. And like Rune - of little redeeming qualities.
This review contains spoilers...!
It doesn't take long before the tougher prisoners - 'Mureren' in particular - target him, put him in place, force him to jump through their hoops and accept whatever crap they throw his way... Rune being alone and having no chance to defend himself, doesn't have much choice.
Following a failed drug-smuggling deal, Rune is screwed because he now owes money he can't cough up. 'Mureren' has it in for him - he did stab a friend of 'Mureren' on the outside... So it's time Rune is put out of his misery.
Were we really supposed to care about this guy? I found no reason to root for Rune... He's hardly any better than them, just weaker. Sure, the guy who wastes him is a typical thug - a scumbag member of a gang of scumbags who all belong in there, so I'd give some credit to the actors portraying these low-lifes.
Since the movie could be a somewhat realistic portrayal of life in places like this, props go where they are due.
But it's just bleak. And like Rune - of little redeeming qualities.
Great prison drama
grantss18 March 2019
I love these type of Movies
tunesplitter27 November 2020
Happiest citizens in the world live in Denmark...
panta-423 March 2021
Happiest citizens in the world live in Denmark... I guess they forgot to interview those in the prison system!
Tormented souls, violence and prove of "masculinity", bullying, corruption, drugs... everything wrong is here... and two men stand out for a short time: Rune and Rashid! Trying to survive in an environment where death is a daily possibility.
Rough world depicted by masters Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer, who wrote and co-directed this film!
Tormented souls, violence and prove of "masculinity", bullying, corruption, drugs... everything wrong is here... and two men stand out for a short time: Rune and Rashid! Trying to survive in an environment where death is a daily possibility.
Rough world depicted by masters Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer, who wrote and co-directed this film!
Misleading ending of the movie.
jacklyn_lo19 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
We must understand that just as the "Lights" obey the Laws, the "Darks" must obey the Laws too. Laws help us to evolute and to move forward.
In the film "R (2010)", being loyal to his "godfathers", Rune invents a profitable business scheme, beneficial to many. At a certain moment, a third party set him up, and he became a debtor.
No one from the mature prisoners-"godfathers" gives him an idea of how to deal with the situation. Instead, losing their money without any chance for return, they spend additional resources such as energy, time and risk to murder this guy.
The death of the protagonist is the most absurd idea of the film, which is rare to find!
We have to understand that although "Darks" are harsh, they are not stupid and they take their benefits much more seriously than "Lights". Eliminating a valuable resource as Rune is the same for them as to chop the branch on which they sit. After all, he is of all trades, and who instead of him would do all dirty job?
Another weird thing is that the greedy third party is correctional officers.
They not only put on risk a human life for the little fat but they also ready to jeopardize their careers and stable earnings.
After all, they are a hired labour force and must inform the higher authorities about every severe case of violence. In their turn, their bosses must report each death to the higher authorities and so on.
Also dooming one of the best prisoners to death would be destructive for the prison's discipline and structure. Again, those matters are tightly controlled from the higher instances.
In conclusion.
Each film supposed to teach us something, but which lesson could be learned from this misleading movie?
I'd like to recommend to this story's creators to take a more demanding approach for their projects for the benefit of viewers and themselves.
The plot would be much stronger if instead of murder the "godfathers" implements a punishment for Rune where they would benefit from.
For example, they would force him to pay the interest rate on the debt and therefore make a slave from him. Slavery is one of the "features" of Dark; therefore, it's natural for "godfathers". Rune, in turn, would have invented a way to outwit them.
In the film "R (2010)", being loyal to his "godfathers", Rune invents a profitable business scheme, beneficial to many. At a certain moment, a third party set him up, and he became a debtor.
No one from the mature prisoners-"godfathers" gives him an idea of how to deal with the situation. Instead, losing their money without any chance for return, they spend additional resources such as energy, time and risk to murder this guy.
The death of the protagonist is the most absurd idea of the film, which is rare to find!
We have to understand that although "Darks" are harsh, they are not stupid and they take their benefits much more seriously than "Lights". Eliminating a valuable resource as Rune is the same for them as to chop the branch on which they sit. After all, he is of all trades, and who instead of him would do all dirty job?
Another weird thing is that the greedy third party is correctional officers.
They not only put on risk a human life for the little fat but they also ready to jeopardize their careers and stable earnings.
After all, they are a hired labour force and must inform the higher authorities about every severe case of violence. In their turn, their bosses must report each death to the higher authorities and so on.
Also dooming one of the best prisoners to death would be destructive for the prison's discipline and structure. Again, those matters are tightly controlled from the higher instances.
In conclusion.
Each film supposed to teach us something, but which lesson could be learned from this misleading movie?
I'd like to recommend to this story's creators to take a more demanding approach for their projects for the benefit of viewers and themselves.
The plot would be much stronger if instead of murder the "godfathers" implements a punishment for Rune where they would benefit from.
For example, they would force him to pay the interest rate on the debt and therefore make a slave from him. Slavery is one of the "features" of Dark; therefore, it's natural for "godfathers". Rune, in turn, would have invented a way to outwit them.
Not as good....
mahon-finbar15 February 2014
I went to see this after I saw the trailer last week because I love the Scandinavian TV series that have been shown in Europe over the last few years. BTW, these series have been rated as "getting over the sub titles hangup" on TV....!!
Anyway, I loved Borgen which starred some of the same people.
However, although the acting/actors were first rate, and the photography good, if sombre, as it should have been, the story was trite.
I haven't see Le Prophete to which it is compared, but I have seen Shawshank. I cannot understand the comparison with Shawshank, a much better movie, not really on the same subject, except superficially.
It was gritty, nasty, illustrating well how low people can sink. So? As a movie supposedly about life in prison it was disjointed, bitty, disconnected. The general story line was clear, drug dealing in prison, but the relationships, the deals and the dealing, were poorly dealt with.
As was said in the previous reviews the last 20mins was hard to take, being so far from the rest of the movie.
For a production team with such a good filmography this is out of line.
Anyway, I loved Borgen which starred some of the same people.
However, although the acting/actors were first rate, and the photography good, if sombre, as it should have been, the story was trite.
I haven't see Le Prophete to which it is compared, but I have seen Shawshank. I cannot understand the comparison with Shawshank, a much better movie, not really on the same subject, except superficially.
It was gritty, nasty, illustrating well how low people can sink. So? As a movie supposedly about life in prison it was disjointed, bitty, disconnected. The general story line was clear, drug dealing in prison, but the relationships, the deals and the dealing, were poorly dealt with.
As was said in the previous reviews the last 20mins was hard to take, being so far from the rest of the movie.
For a production team with such a good filmography this is out of line.
Very Well Done!
friendofbeaver13 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Great story, acting, photography, and pacing. This film displays that greed, brutality. and other base features of Human Nature, under pressure, have few limits. There are grim softening themes, too. The comedic parakeet soccer match, the family visits, the poker game, yard scenes, and the two "R"s futile "buddy" exposition are placed precisely. The terse dialogue kept this "subtitle reader" intrigued.
I taught GED and other curriculum at an Ohio Correctional Facility with much less violent criminals and there were "Pod Fathers" that controlled the flow of contraband and supervised "look-outs" and distractions on a similar, yet less severe level. I have worked with colleagues who were part of the game.
Minus one for all the sloppy safety practices in a violent ward.
I taught GED and other curriculum at an Ohio Correctional Facility with much less violent criminals and there were "Pod Fathers" that controlled the flow of contraband and supervised "look-outs" and distractions on a similar, yet less severe level. I have worked with colleagues who were part of the game.
Minus one for all the sloppy safety practices in a violent ward.
worst prison movie ever
mikkellynge26 February 2011
Worst movie, i have seen in a long time.
This film about Horsens Stateprison seems unimportant and the problems the film displays are shallow. The plot is boring and seen before. But worst of all the film leaves you with one question! and that is: have I just wasted 1 hour and 35 minuts of my life on nothing.
It seems like the only thing a movie needs to get good reviews these days, is for the film to end badly, its almost like nobody likes happy endings these days, with that said these movie doesn't even leave you with a higher meaning, there is no need to analyse its just a plain boring movie about absolute nothing else but to tell how hard it is to be in prison. YAWN!!!
This film about Horsens Stateprison seems unimportant and the problems the film displays are shallow. The plot is boring and seen before. But worst of all the film leaves you with one question! and that is: have I just wasted 1 hour and 35 minuts of my life on nothing.
It seems like the only thing a movie needs to get good reviews these days, is for the film to end badly, its almost like nobody likes happy endings these days, with that said these movie doesn't even leave you with a higher meaning, there is no need to analyse its just a plain boring movie about absolute nothing else but to tell how hard it is to be in prison. YAWN!!!
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