ankerdorthe

This movie is being sold as a comedy and that was what I expected to see. To my (very positive) astonishment it proved to have a much wider range of appeal. There were very amusing episodes and dialog, but mainly to me it appeared to be a movie about growing up (even if late in life). Hannah's emotionally been on the run since in her youth she backed out on a chance to fulfill a dream of singing publicly. She's pretending to herself that she is content with her married family life, but when she accidentally meets the leader of an American baptist choir and he volunteers to direct her little, amateurish parish choir dams starts breaking in her mind. She (and the audience) is confronted with existential questions of self confidence and faith. This is all dealt with in a way that You start forgetting this is just a movie and not real life. It ends on a feel-good level, but not all conflicts are solved. And when: not always like one would suspect.

The script is based on english novel placing incident on Channel Islands. Transferred to danish island doesn't make it more plausible, but it's quite entertaining as it goes along. Notable for using german and english actors playing national character and for giving danish comedian Dirch Passer one of all too rare serious parts. He demonstrates more depth than he is usually allowed and his eminent skill to show emotions by very limited use of mimicry - a skill that was later sadly overshadowed by his being typecasted as a loud wild gesticulating clown.

In the summer of 45 this film was shot as the bodies of executed resistance-fighters were still not quite cold. It is done with great respect for their achievement, but still with a very realistic touch (except for the escape, I think). So close to the war it conveys the thoughts and feelings of the insecurity and longing for an end to the german occupation of our country.