Un jour et demi

This movie is fantastic, the script, the characters, the acting, the realism. We (a Brit and a Dane, if relevant) enjoyed it immensely. There are so many twists and turns where you wonder in amazement at how well the story is told and then remember that this is because it's a true story.

On some of the poor reviews, it sounds that the reviewers who find the story or the characters unrealistic haven't realised that this is actually based on a true story and not a typical Hollywood script where characters have to fit certain stereotypes of either good or bad (never some of both), victim or perpetrator or hero, etc.

This movie started out well with a tense and engaging scene in which a troubled young man (Artan) kidnaps his estranged wife (Louise) at work. The background to their estrangement is hinted at in this first scene and gradually revealed throughout the movie. The highlight is a dramatic and very entertaining encounter with Louise's parents in which much is exposed about the family dynamics. Unfortunately the movie doesn't sustain these heights and indeed I was losing interest by the end and feeling frustrated that so little was explained about Artan's back story.

If you're looking for a realistic, emotional family drama that feels like it's being played out in real time you'll probably enjoy this movie. However, if you're looking for a thriller or a psychological drama that keeps you guessing you'll probably be disappointed by the end.

The acting and photography are excellent throughout. Fares Fares is wonderful as the police negotiator with his usual understated, compassionate presence that any fan of the Department Q films will appreciate.

This is simply one of the better Swedish movies that I have seen in a long time. It is an emotional ride both for the viewer and for the main characters and the script is very well done: Very believable. Me being a father of course makes the story all the more emotional.

The main characters are played by excellent actors and I would especially like to mention Fares Fares and Alexej Manvelov who has done a lot of excellent work before.

Swedish movies nowadays are often very hollow and empty and the main motive for them is to showcase as much diversity as possible. This movie also has diversity, in a way, but in this case it makes sense. And the actors are chosen for the simple fact that they are good actors, and nothing else.

The movie only seems like it takes a day and a half--it's only an hour and a half but I couldn't make it to the end, anyway. What a horrible premise.

Take the two least-suited people to get married and bring a child into the world, and then add a gun and a car and a whole lot of stupidity, and you've got this . . . Thing.

The protagonist is so far from sympathetic that the story is blown from the first couple of days (by which I really mean minutes). He has the boneheaded stolidity of Lou Reed trying to go straight. He can't be talked to. He is basically a victim of toxic patriarchal masculinity, but he doesn't play that in a way to invite the audience into his predicament. Instead he makes stupid choice after stupid predictably stolid boneheaded choice, what he thinks a man should do. He and his wife holler at each other a lot. As my Mom would say, "she's no prize, either."

The cop driving the car is kind of good--looks like maybe a version of Triton with that beard! He suffers the trials of Job, and I can only hope (because I just couldn't make it to the end) that he survived to take on some other unbearable burden of an assignment. Maybe he'll guard the Ferry Cross the Mersey or Cross the Styx.

Spartacus Super Bowl says, "well, it's kind of an attractive trainwreck."

No pun intended - obviously a bit more than just issues. Not sure if you read what this is about (I never do before I watch a movie), but this takes it to another level. And you wonder where it is going to go next - again no pun intended.

Fares Fares - I've come to admire him as an actor. He is soft spoken, slow and subtle. And while this movie of course has ... let's call them explosive scenes, it still manages to have some solace. Not often of course - but his character is able to diffuse quite a lot.

And not only is he starring in this, but he also is directing. It's not easy doing both jobs, but he proves he is more than capable. Including some things from personal experience I assume - being called discriminatory against foreigners while being one himself - or at least having parents that aren't native. He may have gotten the Swedish nationality. But this is not about nationalities, but about families and things that can go wrong ... every one has a secret ... still there are things one should never do, right? You may have gotten what I am trying to say here: there is some moral ambiguity ... you might be able to empathize a little bit with the bad guy ... that doesn't make you bad of course.