Smukke mennesker

"Smukke mennesker" is being cited as the box office bomb of the year in Danish cinemas, but I was captivated by it. Its multiple story lines of connected characters and its somewhat bleak and depraved point of view have critics throwing up comparisons to this and that source of inspiration, but I found the characters and the themes of sexual identity engaging on their own.

I was particularly impressed by Sebastian Jessen in arguably the leading role as the attractive, even beautiful young man who seems to decide to spend his youth on his own, away from parents or obligations, selling sexual favours with little discrimination, but not without empathy. Mille Hoffmeyer Lehfeldt is equally daring as a school teacher who chases some kind of physical fulfillment after losing a breast to cancer surgery. Bodil Jørgensen ('Idioterne') comically retires from the company where the young boss doesn't know anything about her, then loses her husband on the same day and has absolutely nothing to do. Henrik Prip, who I have never before considered an interesting actor, makes his woman-abusing, self-hating, therapist-seeking character seem almost likable. The supporting cast make excellent contributions.

There are numerous surprising or poignant or plain funny moments, some of them cringeworthy like the meeting of the young man with the old widow - on her couch. The characters, flawed as they are, made me care. I could have done without the chapter headings, which gave the proceedings a pompous edge and seemed to slow down an otherwise well-edited film. The ending presents an absurdly coincidental chance meeting, but I was happy to see the story go there.

Well, the composition of the film is not apparently novel, the all major elements - direction, script and performances are so wittily and skilfully carried out that you become a viewer feeling both compassion and embarrassment. The mood and background are rather tragic, but the related events and statements make you giggle, at times involuntarily, and you realise that those crazy things and intertwines could possibly take place. Especially in smaller Western societies where official openness and actual reticence are often in deep contradiction.

All the characters are elaborated, performed well, with many small supporting roles played by known Danish actors. My most favourite were Bodil Jørgensen as Ingeborg and Sebastian Jessen as Jonas; I have seen their versatility before, and it was pleasant to acknowledge again that they are continuously good actors.

A must-see to all fond of modern Danish dramas. Even if you guess what happens next, the less than 1.5 hours pass smoothly and engagingly.

I am a devoted fan of the danish about-movies program 'Premiere'. Mikkel Munch-Fals, former host of the program, has made his first film: "Smukke Mennesker" With the directly converted English tittle: "Beautiful people".

My family and I went to the cinema to watch this on the premiere. Disappointing to see that we, four people, were half of the audience. What a shame! We enjoyed the picture, it had good acting, was well directed and photographed. Mikkel Munch-Fals has written himself a nice script. Four persons, all in someway strange, encounters each other. This leads to uncomfortable situations, those are at times grotesque. That said, there is also many funny moments through-out. Mikkel creates some breathtaking feelings. It also catches emotions pretty good. I walked out of the cinema with the feeling of having watched something quite extraordinary for a danish movie. If only it had a bigger audience.

I suggest you go see it, if you like twisted drama's. Interesting debut. I certainly hope there is more to come!