Copenhagen

Like so many others I kept seeing this come up on netflix. However I was always put off by the poster. To me it looked like a hallmark wanna be. Boy oh boy was I wrong. This movie blew me away. Though I want to state up front that I did not find it perfect, and I did get a little uncomfortable at moments. However this movie masterfully handles the storytelling, filmmaking and even cultural aspects. I honestly think that had it not been for the fact that the age of consent in the U.S. Is 18 ( in Denmark it is 15), this movie would have made a star out of the director and the lovely leading lady. This young actress gives jaw dropping performance.

I would also like to point out the beautiful camera work. The long dolly shots and creative use of light are amazing. While I do wish that the lead actor could have given a more original performance and been less stereotypical. The same statement also goes for a hand full of the supporting cast. However those things do not take away from all of the wonderful points of the film.

Highly recommended

Shot in the beautiful city of (you guessed it) Copenhagen, Denmark, the film follows 28-year-old William (Gethin Anthony) as he searches for his grandfather with nothing to guide him besides a letter—written in Danish, which William can not read nor speak—that his father wrote around 40 years ago. After his best friend Jeremy (Sebastian Armesto) and Jeremy's girlfriend (Olivia Grant) leave him to search the city on his own, William enlists the help of a local girl, Effy (Frederikke Dahl Hansen), to aid him in his search. The two begin to form a budding romance, until William discovers that Effy is only 14 years old. Though Copenhagen begins as a search to find one's family, it soon becomes clear that it's far more important to find one's self. Through William's character, Raso paints a vividly accurate portrait of having to mature and develop as one travels through their 20s. Both Anthony and Hansen give remarkable performances, artistically presenting a great deal of sentiment. I personally prefer to remain eternally seven, but Raso gives a great argument on the benefits of growing up.

When I picked up this movie, I thought how two different age people touring around Copenhagen looking for someone can be interesting for 90+ mins. However, I never felt bored with the whole movie. In fact, the movie draws my attention so deep that you feel you are in their situation. The movie also shows how truly beautiful Copenhagen is.

True talents to both characters but the real gem is how the director/writer crafted those intriguing small talks between them. This movie is an art.

Stayed up late and watched this film.. bad decision, for I could not put it out of my mind, thinking about what I would say regarding it. If you're like me, you probably watch quite a few indy and foreign films, so there's more a possibility of coming across individuals you know little or nothing about involved in their effort. With this film there are several exceptional talents displayed. It's a great experience, because when you see the person again, you'll easily remember the first time you saw them. It's impossible now to ever forget this performance of Frederikke Dahl Hansen, she is just awesome.. binged.it/1sYfR1m .. Twenty years old she's playing the role of a very bright, awkward/shy-at-times, fourteen year old girl.. falling hard in love for the first time (with a guy twice her age). It's a standout, career-starting display of top notch talent, at times you see each part clearly. For a young actor her age, to be portraying a character so much younger is the big challenge, and give credit to her being selected for the role. Now although she will without question be in many more productions, you will always see a part of her as Effy (and we have another Effy.. if you haven't seen 'Skins'..watch it). Gethin Anthony also deserves much praise, his complex character again being played to perfection.. good portion of us wondering how he was going to come through it all in the end. It's a truly wonderful little film, one you'll definitely look forward to viewing again.

Copenhagen is a nice little movie. And actually would be a really good one if it wasn't for the male lead Gethin Anthony. I was shocked that he actually is a trained actor because his acting his horrendous. I have no other word for it. For the whole movie he is simply not capable of delivering any kind of emotion. I never one second believe his bad boy stick. His facials, his attempts to deliver dialogue are so cringe worthy. Wait till you get to the scene with him on a payphone. I literally buried my face in my blanket.

Frederikke Dahl Hansen on the other hand is the exact opposite. You immediately know that acting comes natural to her and even when she has moments where she seems not really sure how to deliver a certain line you can tell that this is just a matter of experience. She and the beautiful scenery makes this movie worth wile. With a better male actor it could have been so much more.