User reviews

Bille August's first film in Danish, since he won the Academy Award for best foreign language film in '89 for Pelle the Conqueror, is a lackluster affair. On the plus side it's very picturesque and the two leads (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen and Søren Sætter-Lassen) are quite good (especially Hjort Sørensen in the titular role) but we never really get under the skin of the characters.

What could've been a great exploration of one of Denmark's most famous painters, an examination of turn-of-the-century marital problems, a fine period piece or even a decent love story, is neither. It's a sub-par script with no development and, frankly, a quite boring film. Unless you're really interested in Danish painting and beautiful scenery, I'd stay clear of this one.

What a wonderful surprise, a film and people of which I knew nothing of, expecting a "girlie" movie! Only through my love of Scandanavian cinema did I agree to view this wonderful movie by Bille August. The very beautiful Brigitte Hjort Sorenson entrances as Marie, the wife of Denmark's most famous painter, PS Kroyer, wonderfully played by Soen Saetter- Lassen, in the early 20th. century. A bewildering story of love and insanity - grandeur in scale with exquisite Scandanavian scenery, stylishly photographed by Dirk Bruel. The story takes place in both Denmark and Sweden and depicts a good insight into the lifestyle of the rich and famous. A must see for lovers of great cinema!

the sensitivity, the atmosphere, the music,the costumes and inspired acting. the mixture of ash and hope after its end. the virtue to be fresco of a society more than portrait of a life.Birgitte Hjort Sorensen does a great job as lead character and the game of nuances exploration, the science for transformation of detail are the good points for success of a touching film who is far to be remarkable but remains a nice experience. a film about woman's condition, about art and about the family , it has a special form of charm who reminds more than presents. adaptation of a novel, it is a form of descending in the heart of a world. with high precision, with beautiful care. and that could not be a real surprise. only mark of a great director return.

a trip in atmosphere of end of century in Danmark. a case. delicate details. good acting. inspired images. and the absence of roots. in fact, a kind of drawing, seductive, inspired, proposing a family drama, remembering another versions of Madame Bovary or Anna Karennina, work of a remarkable director, good occasion for Birgitte Hjort Sorensen to reflect her art but losing the essence of the solitude of characters, defining, more, the social impact of decisions, ignoring the step to more than a beautiful film . the music, the costumes, the delicate construction of the lead characters traits are really admirable. descending in the heart of a world, it preserves the flavor of a period. the characters are symbols and that fact transforms Marie Kroyer in a nice experience for viewer.