Den man älskar

Of all the four letter words in language, love is arguably the most difficult to explain – simply because it means different things according to each person, and individual situations. This story explores one such situation: why does a battered woman still love her abuser and seek to return to him?

By way of comparison, see my review of The Indian Runner (1991), where Viggo Mortensen plays the distraught Vietnam veteran unable to adjust to life at home, and who batters his long-suffering girlfriend. Unaccountably, she still clings to him, despite his abusive behavior. Implicitly, the narrative blames the effects of the Vietnam war.

Not so with this story: in a world that's been (and still is) largely patriarchal for millennia, it takes a brave writer, director and actors to try to find an answer; and an answer that makes some sense, even if viewers don't agree with it. The setup for the story starts at the end, with Alf (Rolf Lassgard) contemplating what had happened as he searches for his wife's ashes at a wooded cemetery. His voice-over permeates the flashback plot and narrative, thereafter.

Essentially, his now-dead wife, Lena (Sofia Ledarp), was battered terribly by Hannes (Jonas Karlsson) before Alf even knew her. As a result of his abuse, Hannes undergoes detention and psychological rehabilitation; and, upon release, he is permanently prohibited from all contact with Lena. During his rehab time, Lena meets Alf, who falls deeply in love with her and helps her to recover from her near-catastrophic experience with Hannes. All seems in order for Lena and Alf, except for two things, however: when released, Hannes still lives in the same city, and, by coincidence one day, Lena sees Hannes shopping at a local market. From that point, the story spirals down to the tragic climax.

The cinematography, editing and actors are excellent, showing how anticipation, doubt, surprise, indecision, fear and mounting dread work wonderfully on viewers' expectations. I'd seen Rolf Lassgard in many movies, always enjoying his commanding performances; Sofia Ledarp and Jonas Karlsson, though, are newcomers for me. The three form the core of the story, but the supporting cast is more than adequate.

In fact, I think the casting for the majors is near perfect: Lena is diminutive, emphasizing her fragility and vulnerability; Hannes is only somewhat bigger, but wild in temperament, easily enraged; Alf, by comparison, is a giant, the perfect protection for the frail woman he loves. Or so we think...

Nothing is ever as it seems, though – as much in real life, as in movies. Certainly, the story focuses upon a pervasive social disorder existing in most countries; but, it avoids the gross stereotyping of real events we read about in the media. Hence, as the story progresses, the viewer is kept in a constant state of suspense, trying to decide the crucial answer to the implicit question posed at the start: how did Lena die, and was she killed, and by whom?

The answers, however, might disappoint some because of the embedded ambiguity about human relationships; others might think cop out, though.

I don't think so because this is story: showing and telling as it should be, keeping up the viewer's interest to the very last frame. That it's all about the most fundamental emotion that we humans share is all the better. You won't have nightmares, but you'll think about this movie for quite a while, I reckon.

Highly recommended.

This is my third review in as many years. I was channel surfing just before I was going to bed and I chanced on this film. I do not like reviews that are novels within their own right so I will be brief.

Acting from the 3 main players, excellent. A moving story of how one issue is dealt with by different people in different ways. An emotional journey of love, drama and physiological issues. As for cinematography, well the film is so well written and the actors so well cast, your view is on the people portrayed in this film, the surrounding excluding a few poignant inanimate objects that are part of the film story, are made relevant without the loss of the actors integrity.

Easy to follow story that keeps you intrigued and glued to watching the film until the end, as it did for me keeping me up until 3 A.M.

I will watch again, as being a foreign film, I am sure I will pick up more on the second viewing and it is worth watching twice either way.

This is the seventh feature film by Swedish director Åke Sandgren. PROS: Great acting from talented Sofia Ledarp, Jonas Karlsson and Rolf Lassgård. Balanced, spot on writing by Danish Kim Fupz Aakeson. CONS: A bit predictable at parts.

Great movie slow to start with much soon made ground!!!!!!! Made you keep thinking has he changed??? Will he ever change and then when he had the violent outbursts against men i thought Nope!!! It's still in there somewhere...... my big question is did he die??? Did she die???? Or both???

Conjugal violence has often been treated in the movies; the Hollywoodian style of "sleeping with my enemy" starring Julia Roberts and " enough" starring Jennifer Lopez were not that much convincing ,gambling on the show and on turning the viewer into a voyeur .

"Den man älskar" avoids this trap : all one sees is photographs of the beaten wife taken at the hospital ,and the bedridden victim .

Anti-Hollywoodian to the core, the film may turn off some viewers ; after she's found comfort and true love again with another good man, the heroine ,helped by the police,keeps her torturer at bay ...for a while ...

But ,relatively speaking, the heroine looks sometimes like Charlotte Rampling in "portiere di notti" (Liliana Cavani , 1973) : a former prisoner of a concentration camp fascinated by her nazi hangman (Dirk Bogarde) she meets again in Vienna ,sexually attracted to him .

That's what happens to the heroine:in spite of her new husband's love and affection , she cannot help but being slowly but inexorably attracted by her former flame ;this may infuriate some viewers , in spite of the "moral" ending -perhaps imposed by the producers- The viewer does not leave the movie unharmed : he feels as uneasy as the bewildered husband walking in the graveyard ; the movie is a long flashback .

The question is : is it really a plea against beaten wives? Although interesting ,for that matter, the movie remains an ambiguous statement.