Instintos Diabólicos

I saw this film in Paris last year. Going in, I didn't know what to expect, I knew the film wasn't French, but I didn't know it was Norwegian until I saw the Norwegian flag waving away in the background of one of the early scenes. I was fully expecting to read the French subtitles, but by happy coincidence the film was in English. Now I know many here have complained about the poor use of English in the film, but I don't recall it being that bad (although I admit it has been a year since I've seen it). I just recall that the actors sounded like non-native English speakers speaking English, which by nature is going to be imperfect. Actually, that's not true I know many non-native English speakers who speak English TECHNICALLY more correct than native speakers. When that happens THAT'S when I'm likely to complain about the awkwardness of the actors in regard to language. If you're writing your thesis, OK use technically perfect English. But, in real life it's all about slang!

ANYWAY! Back on point: I liked this film. It's NOTHING like the films you'd see being produced in the US, even the independent ones. But the best way i can sum it up is to quote some random guy I overheard outside the theater when asked what the film was like: "Très bizarre!"

Norwegian Herbjørg Wassmos bestseller is turned into an unorthodox costume drama by the director of "Night Watch", Danish Ole Bornedal. Overwrought, but fast paced drama tells the story of Dina, a young girl who was way ahead of her time, and her influence on the men in her life, her stern father (Floberg), husband Jacob (Depardieu, in great form), and Russian lover Leo (Eccleston, sporting as dubious a Russian accent as Sean Connery did in The Hunt for Red October...). Dina is played by Maria Bonnevie, who turns in a wild-eyed, over-the-top performance that is alternately frightening and fascinating (think Liv Tyler with a bad caffeine addiction). Major liabilities are the shifting accents, due to the film´s cast of mostly Northern European actors. This is a distraction, and would have worked better just sticking to Norwegian actors, but then, no one would probably go see "I Am Dina". Many Danish character actors appear in bit parts; you can spot them by their dodgy accents...although Sætter-Lassen and Mikkelsen stand out positively as cello tutor Lorch and the treacherous bookkeeper Niels. Beautiful locations and lush cinematography by Dan Laustsen, a Bernard Herrmann-inspired music score by Marco Beltrami help this a long way. Plenty of sex and violence that you wouldn´t find in a Merchant-Ivory working of the same theme, the film is more reminiscent in tone and execution to Luc Besson´s "Joan of Arc", but just as uneven.

Best scene has young Dina introduced to the magic of the cello. 6/10.

I don't really like to write reviews but I've read the one for this particular movie and I can't let others read it and think the movie is as bad as it is accused of being.First of all I've read the book by Herbjorg Wassmo and there is a reason why the original dialog is "my momma left me",Dina is after all like a child.The film simply emphasizes the same aspects as the book.The acting is not at all bad,Maria Bonnevie is simply great,intense and embodies the exact spirit of the wild gray-eyed flamboyant teen.An 18-year-old woman with eyes as old as stones.If you have the opportunity to watch it I strongly recommend you do because it can change your perception on life.You find yourself asking do the people around me exist or is the world full of insipid people who I should look through? Dina's character is simply magnetic and you can't help not being attracted to her and hating those who get to be around her while you can't.I especially enjoyed the scenes where she plays the cello,seeing her hold it between her thighs,seeing her possess it like she does with everything from her horses to men.And some of the most enjoyable scenes are the ones where Dina is either in the presence of Lorch or Tomas,fascinating characters themselves each addicted to Dina in his own way.I loved this movie and I wouldn't recommend it if I wouldn't know you will too.

This is a truly brilliant film. The storyline is fantastic; Herbjørg Wassmo is a very good author. The film is emotionally very strong, and some of the scenes are not for the faint hearted, but nevertheless it is worth seeing. The dialog is English, however most of the actors are not, it is evident that some of the actors are not used to using the English language in their line of work (not everybody goes to Hollywood) and therefore the accents are a bit off so to speak, but this does not make the film any less brilliant. It is my opinion that the actors have had the chance to show just how good they are at ACTING, rather than their ability to pronounce the English language. This is absolutely a film worth seeing, even if you're English and the actors are not!

I feel I must disagree with the previous review of this film. The title of the move is, after all "I Am Dina," and not "We are the people who live and interact with Dina." The fact that the director of this film does not indulge in a more in-depth exploration of the supporting characters is to be expected, as the premise of the movie is that it allows us to witness the world through Dina's eyes, to see the effect other people have on her, and to a lesser extent, the effect she has on them. In this way, the movie is an astounding success. The masterfully crafted dialogue allows for the unique, if subordinate, personas of the supporting actors to shine through while not overpowering the focus of the story: an achingly real, beautiful woman who fights a personal struggle on both the internal and external fronts. This is certainly not a movie for every one. At times, it leaves one feeling as a guest in the imagination of the director as he reads an excellent book; as such the movie deserves an audience that is capable of being swept away by a story.