Det som ingen ved

Amor patriae nostra lex - The love for our country is our law. This quote tells what it's all about, though telling more will reveal too much before you enjoy the film.

A Danish/Swedish thriller directed by Danish films grand auteur Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, with Anders W. Berthlsen in the main role. we also meet other great actors. Ghita Nørby as his mother and the Norwegians Maria Bonnevie, Baard Owe, and Danish Lars Mikkelsen and Sonja Richter in supporting roles. They all do a terrific job, under the skilled hands of Kragh-Jacobsen. Script written by Rasmus Heisterberg and the director.

It's a political thriller with a tension that is great. It's up-building is conventional, but effective. I would say spot on, since it's still a mystery that is being solved here, a more difficult storytelling would also make it more difficult to follow.

The start of the film takes us to a tragic holiday house fire in 1988, where Thomas loses his girlfriend. We also understand that the sister was involved in getting hold of secret documents which could compromise something important. Then the film jumps to 2008, which is "today" in the film. Today Thomas works a children's entertainer, much to his daughter's disapproval. Then the story immediately picks up.

Taught, tense, exciting, well made thriller, which could have had a way better ending. Flawless photographing and nice camera work, still makes this well worth a watch.

Scandinavian countries, Sweden and Denmark in particular, are famous for their thrilling and profound crime films, many of them have obtained further fame through US or British remakes. Det som ingen ved is more than okay example of the said genre, but, knowing their living standard and level of general security and corruption, it is hardly to believe such harsh events and solutions can be implemented in those countries.

Leaving this aside, though, we can watch a decent thriller, with some predictabilities, but not annoying ones. As for performances, they are good at least (Anders W. Berthelsen as Thomas Deleuran, Ghita Nørby as Ingrid Deleuran, Lars Mikkelsen as Marc Deleuran, for example); yet I have to admit, that Berthelsen is not at the level of e.g. Mads Mikkelsen or Nicolai Lie Kaas to me, able to fill out long scenes alone. As for his character, it was not too plausible that a man engaged at children shows would become a witty spy within a short space of time. Anyway, all in all, the film in question is a creation providing taut moments within less than 1.5 hours.

... still pretty good. And better to do something by the rules/decent I guess, then doing something completely new but awful. To go into the story would spoil the movie, especially if you have seen you're fair share of thrillers. But for a small look into the story, look into the synopsis here on this site.

A believable turn of events and good characters (actors). This is somewhat of a nice turn for European cinema, in imitating American thriller cinema. If you just watch one European thriller this year, than this is the one to go! ;o) Seriously though, a good movie that deserves to be seen (I'm even convinced that there will be an American remake!)