Anklaget

If Sofie Gråbøl gets any better than in this movie, it's scary!! I hope for her that she can keep on improving her acting, but I fear that she will be on a "Mission Impossible" if she has to do better than this performance. She is simply outstanding, and she singlehandedly saves the movie, when the script runs away with it round an easy Hollywood corner, that makes everything fit too well into script-mathematics. Just watched the extra material on DVD and was a bit embarrassed on behalf of director Jacob Thuesen, when after meeting the press at The Berlinale (Film Festival) he seemed surprised, that his audience wanted to talk about the subject of the film (incest), rather than the "filmtechnical matters" (which he had hoped for). Proves to me, that this was another film where the filmmakers aim for the perfect effective drama, rather than caring for what is on their mind and heart. Damn effective though - not least through the first 4/5 of the movie.

While the VERY last scene, of HENRIK in his Bath-robe, leaves one pondering about the message or intent..., this story's climatic build-up is -both- truthful and believable ! At first, tantalizing and intriguing for the first twenty minutes, the tension sets-in whence the councilors/lawyer's, is taken aback by HENRIK's attitude and questions ...; meanwhile we have the incredible interventions of (Sofie Grabol) NINA as a loving/warm/tender/sexually satisfied wife and mother ...; the (daughter's) STINE, mostly still-life presence and expressions are just incredible and beyond words ...! Mr. TROELS LYBY's presence & rendition is just extreme or too natural, Mrs. SOFIE GRABOL is just too much right as a Wife and Mother ... as well as a shining-out presence ... while either direction and photography are unquestionably good.

Shortly-put, this is {another} of a very limited number of quality films, with subject or renewing script's visualization ! P.S.: Sofie Grabol is a gorgeous and incredibly good actress. ... as proved with her lead in the recent "The Killing" three Danish TV's series ... !

If a kid accuses an adult of having done inappropriate things to her (in this case it is her, could also be him) .. well that adult is in quite some trouble. Not just in the justice system, but even if he gets a not guilty verdict ... but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

This has to be decided by the courts and there are things that do suggest what might be the truth behind it all. A very heavy drama, that does a really good job with the theme it chose to depict and have as central subject matter. Great actors and great twists and turns, even if you yourself may be aware of the "truth" early on (there is only one of two choices so guessing right is not really saying anything) ...

Normally the name of screenwriter Kim Fupz Aakesonon a Danish film is enough to make my blood freeze. His proletaristic, mind-numbing dialog (mostly consisting of ummmm.... f****... errr s***) is enough to drive me up the wall, and the terribly dull "everyday" (as if people died in car crashes or went insane were everyday things) stories were tiresome. So my expectations for this film were low. Yet I was to be surprised: Director Jacob Thuesen has turned the "everyday" story on it's head, and created a searing critique of the welfare state, the middle class, and society's (particularly the legal system) increasing dependence on experts, and their influence on people's lives.

Troels Lyby is amazing as the father accused of incest, and for once Aakeson's dialogue is fascinating and sharp. For a Danish film it is impressively edited and filmed, and the visual style (especially the unconventional character introductions) is fittingly cold and edgy. The only problem with this film is that it goes on for about ten minutes too long, and the fact that Sofie Graabøl is simply too tried and tested in this sort of film to be anything else than tiresome.

Overall, a greatly underrated movie. I might actually look forward to Aakeson's next film.

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. It's shocking, thought-provoking and skilfully made.

Not only does Anklaget deal with a taboo topic, incest (the father is accused of it), it also discusses the ways the human mind deals with such a thing (and they are a taboo on their own).

The movie is psychologically insightful. The most important insights don't come via much talk, but with elegant dialogue and the arrangement of scenes.

In many ways this is a one-of-a-kind movie. Terribly underrated.