Denmark
ADAM’S APPLES
(ADAMS AEBLER)
2005, Anders Thomas Jensen, Denmark, 94 min.
With Mads Mikkelsen, Ulrich Thomsen, Paprika Steen
The Lord certainly does move in mysterious ways in this blackly comic, often hilarious, and ultimately touching parable by prolific writer-director Jensen (MIFUNE, AFTER THE WEDDING). The versatile Mikkelsen plays a country cleric with a fondness for hiring paroled convicts, the most recent being surly skinhead Adam (Thomsen), who keeps slugging away at the other cheek that his ridiculously Pollyannaish benefactor keeps turning to him. It all seems part of some perverse divine plan, with the churchyard apple tree a key ingredient, and the increasingly exasperated Adam may be just the man to get the Job done. In Danish with English subtitles. Preview courtesy of Outsider Pictures, U.S. 35mm widescreen. (MR)
Saturday, March 17, 3:30 pm
Tuesday, March 20, 8:15 pm
AFTER THE WEDDING
(EFTER BRYLLUPPET)
2006, Susanne Bier, Denmark, 122 min.
With Mads Mikkelsen, Sidse Babbett Knudsen, Rolf Lassgard
A 2007 Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, AFTER THE WEDDING confirms Bier (BROTHERS, OPEN HEARTS) as one of the world’s top filmmakers, unsurpassed at creating rich, multilayered relationship dramas that combine personal and social dimensions. This powerful and affecting film stars the brilliant Mikkelsen (CASINO ROYALE) as Jacob, a dedicated social worker in India who reluctantly returns to Denmark to humor a rich donor (Lassgard) whose daughter is getting married. . . and whose wife (Knudsen) summons up ghosts from Jacob’s past. In Danish, Swedish, Hindi, and English with English subtitles. Preview courtesy of IFC Films. 35mm. (MR)
Immediately following the screening, the audience is invited to a closing night reception hosted by Whole Food Market.
Note: No free passes or blue tickets will be valid for the closing night film.
Thursday, March 29, 6:30 pm
THE BIG DAY
(DEN STORE TAG)
2005, Morton Arnfred, Denmark, 94 min.
With Louise Mieritz, Nikolaj Steen
In this breezy romantic comedy, Anne (Mieritz) is a professional wedding planner whose company is called The Big Day. While dealing with reluctant and squabbling clients, she’s also planning her own marriage to longtime fiancé Simon (Martin Bryggman). A chance to land the high-profile wedding of two TV personalities promises to send The Big Day’s stock soaring, but Anne finds herself most inconveniently falling in love with the celebrity groom (Steen). In Danish with English subtitles. 35mm print courtesy of The Danish Arts Agency. (MR)
Saturday, March 3, 3:00 pm
Wednesday, March 7, 8:00 pm
FLIES ON THE WALL
(FLUERNE PA VAEGGEN)
2005, Ake Sandgren, Denmark, 92 min.
With Trine Dyrholm, Lars Brygmann
Foul odors are a motif in this camera-haunted conspiracy thriller that literalizes the old saying about the state of Denmark. Celebrated filmmaker My Larsen (Dryholm) is hired by the Liberal Party to make a documentary about their rising star Svend Balder (Brygmann). But when My starts falling for Balder, then discovers that he may be mixed up in corruption and murder, then realizes that someone is filming her, her status changes from fly on the wall to sitting duck. In Danish with English subtitles. 35mm print courtesy of The Danish Arts Agency. (MR)