Featured Audience Ratings

• Aditya G

  
  "After the Wedding" (2006) begins on the streets of Mumbai, India, where several orphaned, homeless children are queuing up for food, courtesy 'Anand Orphanage and School', assisted by Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen) who has taken up the cause. He teaches in the school… More
  "After the Wedding" (2006) begins on the streets of Mumbai, India, where several orphaned, homeless children are queuing up for food, courtesy 'Anand Orphanage and School', assisted by Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen) who has taken up the cause. He teaches in the school attached to the orphanage, and is a favorite with the children there. The initial scenes make one wonder if this is yet another 'poverty porn' focusing only on the dirty underbelly of India and projecting it to be a country worse than it actually is (Think "Slumdog Millionaire"). But any negativity formed in the beginning is quickly quashed with what follows. [img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mblQAOhw04o/UD4jQE_DMVI/AAAAAAAAC7k/FMczjcc0jmw/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h29m54s58.jpg[/img] The orphanage is clearly falling short of funds. A silver lining is seen, as some tycoon in Denmark, by the name of Jorgen Hansson (Rolf Lassgård), has agreed to offer a huge sum of money as donation to the orphanage, but only on the condition that Jacob travel to Denmark personally, meet with Jorgen and then return with the necessary funds and paperwork. This tiny detail offered in the beginning, highlights the whimsical nature of the wealthy businessman's offer, and immediately hints at a catch, so we begin to brace ourselves for an early twist. Any surprise quotient, then, is automatically reduced to half. [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1bCwEJ7NFQE/UD4jPWAscwI/AAAAAAAAC7A/umHl4x-LZGk/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h24m50s92.jpg[/img] Jacob travels to Denmark, leaving behind his shanty life, albeit promising one of the orphan boys, Pramod (Neeral Mulchandani), who he has brought up and loves like his son, that he would be back in a week. Once in Denmark, Jacob is given red carpet treatment; a personal airport pickup, a luxury suite in a posh hotel, and later a meeting with the man himself; who takes a look at the project put together by Jacob (a videotape detailing the activities of the orphanage), but seems to be more interested in having a drink with him. Jorgen turns off the tape halfway, leaving Jacob stumped and disappointed, but proceeds to invite Jacob to the upcoming wedding of his daughter Anna (Stine Fischer Christensen). The unsuspecting Jacob accepts the invitation and shows up at Jorgen's plush mansion, the venue of the wedding. But a series of startling discoveries at the wedding and after it, make this visit to Denmark, a life-changing experience for Jacob..... [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b1A8JMmajpg/UD4jPVtQ-_I/AAAAAAAAC68/d5abgQJQNNE/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h26m33s99.jpg[/img] Writer-Director Susanne Bier's screenplay shows great promise, at least in the first half, thanks to the periodic revelations. Some dark secrets are revealed at regular intervals, and thus the pace is well maintained 'til then, although the film revolves only around four major characters. There are great moments of power-packed drama, sometimes intense, sometimes warm, sometimes awkward; mostly the uncomfortable encounters between characters are very naturally captured; it couldn't get more real than that. The director knows exactly how the characters would emote under the circumstances, and thanks to the terrific actors, it's all well done and earnestly acted. The cinematography is somewhat grainy, mostly devoid of the usage of special lighting, and is shot on a handheld camera, reminiscent of the style of the Dogme 95 movement first initiated by Lars Von Trier. It is no surprise that the filming of the entire wedding sequence very much reminds of that in Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves". [img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HTA3knrs-14/UD4jP_FqUaI/AAAAAAAAC7M/FXds327fPr0/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h27m35s206.jpg[/img] It is the extreme close-ups of eyes, lips, hands, and even some facial hair that come across as an eyesore. There are way too many close-ups that just weren't required and suit neither the genre, nor the subject matter. In fact they take away from the scenes somewhat, by not showing us the visage of the actor during a scene, when his/her reaction or emotion is vital to the scene. It is in the latter half, that the drama begins to shed the subtlety, when the most important twist of the story is revealed, and the film dips into mawkish melodrama giving rise to histrionics and gawky over-sentimentality! The major twist is itself a cliché and a bankable ingredient for a weepy soap opera. But there are other events that follow, and at such timings, that you can't help but think that the screenplay is taking an emotionally manipulative direction, by forcing some events that just weren't necessary, but used merely because they, somehow, serve as good excuses to make the proceedings sappier! [img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fxES_AXSjsg/UD4jQHUCWgI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/dW-gklcdRVg/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h29m14s177.jpg[/img] That said, it is indeed noteworthy, how almost all the characters are very well written; they have a lot of depth and more importantly, the initial impression that is created about them, takes a drastic turn in some key events, and we are forced to see them in a different light. Of course, the convincing dynamics of the characters, are owing to the choice of actors that are immensely talented. Mads Mikkelsen brings a range of emotions to the otherwise stoic Jacob who is taken aback when he first learns of the shattering truth that hits like a bolt of lightning. Ditto for the mixed emotions and the inevitable awkwardness he displays, later, in one of the best directed scenes of the film. Rolf Lassgård is brilliant as the drunk, but loving father and business tycoon, whose real intentions, and hence the kind of person he is, becomes clear only later. Stine Fischer Christensen is cute and does a commendable job as the daughter Anna who gets a double whammy of deceit. And then we have Sidse Babett Knudsen as Helene, who finds herself in an extraordinary situation, by a twist of fate, following a seemingly strange coincidence, and a past that refuses to let go. It is a classy performance indeed. What "After the Wedding" needed was a steady grip and restrained tone, that it maintains in the first half of the film, despite the plot contrivances, after which it nosedives into unnecessary melodrama and starts to come undone. Too bad, really! [img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zaF0XRUTaG8/UD4jQR3SkdI/AAAAAAAAC7U/uf4aBrbiUSc/s608/vlcsnap-2012-08-29-19h41m35s159.jpg[/img]

• Jan Marc M

  
  After The Wedding is a meaningful tale of two fathers sharing the same challenges on love, family, sorrow, and irony. A potent strong argument on life affirmation and fatherhood with sophisticated story, cinematic style, and performances. Lovely, surprising, and dignified.

• Sarah G

  
  A film that really delves deep into the psyche of a family struggling with the family secret that gets revealed, only to reveal another. Some strong performances in Susan Bier's Danish drama, including Mads Mikkelsen of Casino Royale fame and Rolf Lassgard. Although, you can see… More
  A film that really delves deep into the psyche of a family struggling with the family secret that gets revealed, only to reveal another. Some strong performances in Susan Bier's Danish drama, including Mads Mikkelsen of Casino Royale fame and Rolf Lassgard. Although, you can see the plot coming at times, the direction and writing really reveals something extrodinary in these characters that you can relate to. Bier also gives us as an audience, small glimpses into important frames coming in the film, like small pieces in a puzle waiting to come together. Subsequently, developing each character accordingly so that we end up knowing all characters incredibly well. There are also many close-up shots of the characters, which adds to the emotion that these characters feel. One excellent film indeed. *Recomended Watch*

• Cassandra M

  
  I knew nothing about this film before going to see it except that it was Oscar nominated and starred Bond's 'Casino Royale' foe Mads Mikkelsen. But I'd heard good things and despite it being a day so sunny in April that you should really spend it in the park I… More
  I knew nothing about this film before going to see it except that it was Oscar nominated and starred Bond's 'Casino Royale' foe Mads Mikkelsen. But I'd heard good things and despite it being a day so sunny in April that you should really spend it in the park I ventured into the dark cinema. All I can say is that I am so, so glad I did as this has to be one of the best films I have seen this year. Jacob (Mikkelsen) runs an orphanage/school in India that due to funding will have to close if they don't do something quickly, cue a phone call from Denmark where a millionaire is looking to invest some money in a good cause and Jacob has no choice but to go home and try to win over the mystery funder. Cut to Copenhagen and the very rich living of Jorgen and his family, a self-made millionaire Jorgen is preparing for the Wedding of his daughter and as his family gather round the mansion we see that he has a pretty good life. Cut back to Jacob who after living in squalid conditions in India for so long is struggling to understand the swish hotel he's been booked in for his visit. When the two meet to discuss the investment Jacob is over enthusiastic but Jorgen is nonchalant and pre-occupied with the weekends approaching festivities, so much so he decides to conclude the deal on Monday and seeing as Jacob is here on his invitation with nothing to do all weekend he decides to ask him to attend the wedding. So far so seemingly normal. It is at this point that the film takes some dramatic turns and through a series of unexpected events, a few skeletons in closets, the past and emotive performances, becomes a really deep and moving piece of cinema. I don't want to spoil it by saying anymore about it except it's nothing short of brilliant. I haven't seen a film for ages that deals with such negative and positive issues with such compassion and integrity without being hammy or over the top. The direction is flawless, the music is fitting and the cinematography is almost dogma in style but with a certain crispness to it. The performances are outstanding and it's not hard to see why it was Oscar nominated and won countless awards. The way the script is superbly written it reminded of 'Secrets and Lies' by Mike Leigh in the way it captures humans acting realistically in real situations. By the time the film starts to conclude the tissues were coming out to wipe away the tears of sadness and joy, which is a very powerful position to be in for any film, and the audience left the auditorium into bright sunshine glad like me that they'd had chance to see this amazing piece of cinema.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Susanne Bier. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen. The film may seem like many Hollywood films released each year, but the problem with those… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Susanne Bier. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen. The film may seem like many Hollywood films released each year, but the problem with those is that they don't succeed in making us care for there characters and the films just turn out to be average, After the Wedding is a rare film that is done brilliantly. The films starts with Jacob, a man from Denmark who owns an orphanage in India and he has dedicated his life to these kids, especially one in particular. When it appears that the orphanage is on the verge of closure due to lack of funding, an unusual offer comes along. A billionaire businessman from Denmark, offers him a donation, but he also has to come to his daughters wedding. He approves and soon finds out the secrets of this family. Susanne Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen turn in a brilliantly written, character study that also provides its fair share of twists, deceit and lies among these characters. But that is the strong point of this film...character. The film moves slowly in parts but Bier and Jensen deliver these characters with such humanity and depth, we learn to both care for and hate these characters and when 'sentimental' moments arise, it isn't forced, it certainly bought a tear to my eye. Bier is also behind the camera and she works brilliantly with her characters, she stays up close and personal with them and allows them to shine in the most perfect moments. The performances here are absolutely outstanding, Mads Mikkelsen proves to be quite subtle and brilliant in his role, his eyes are really captivating, but the lady to mention is Stine Fischer Christensen. A beautiful young actress, but one with shocking power and depth in her role, she helps to pack an emotional punch in a lot of scenes. The film does appear melodramatic at first glance, but the filmmakers have done what Hollywood fails at and that is making it refreshing, intense, emotional, full of character and very real. Definitely deserving of its Academy Award nomination. <p><b>87/100</b>

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"champagne is poured... secrets are spilled."</i> A multi-millionaire wants to know how much his money can really buy in this drama from Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier. Though born and raised in Denmark, Jacob Peterson (Mads Mikkelsen) has made a life for… More
  <i>"champagne is poured... secrets are spilled."</i> A multi-millionaire wants to know how much his money can really buy in this drama from Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier. Though born and raised in Denmark, Jacob Peterson (Mads Mikkelsen) has made a life for himself in India, where he runs an orphanage for homeless children. While Jacob cares little for money, raising funds is part of the responsibilities of his position, and when he learns that Jørgan (Rolf Lassgård), a wealthy Danish businessman, is willing to donate four million dollars under the condition that he meet with him in person, Jacob grudgingly hops a flight back home. Once in Denmark, Jørgan insists that Jacob attend the wedding of his daughter the next day; at the celebration he meets Jørgan's wife, Helene (Sidse Babett Knudsen), whom he recognizes as someone he knew many years ago. As Jacob finds himself revisiting a past he would prefer to forget, he discovers that Jørgan has an ulterior motive for bringing him to Denmark -- the wealthy man is in poor health, and while the donation will help ease some of his guilt over a life of avarice, he's also looking for someone to take over as Helene's husband after he dies. <b><u>Review</u></b> Sweet sorrow permeates through Susanne Bier's Oscar nominated "After the Wedding", a quietly testing film that tepidly breaks free from the shackles of the Dogme manifestos to deliver an incredibly subtle celebration of family. Paternal pacification is as good a reason as any to explore with overwhelming and eloquent sentimentality when Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen) is arm-twisted into returning to his native Denmark to seek out funds for his orphanage's young charges in India. He meets with the seemingly magnanimous Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard, filling the screen with his sheer presence), a millionaire that invites him to his daughter's wedding and in the process sets the wheels of redemption into motion. Bier's most prominent work thus far is also her most joyous when she bravely evokes the goodness in her characters, working the circumstances to peel away the layers of tacit human desires and destructive pride. Blessed with superlative performances across the board, a particularly inspired turn by Mikkelsen serves as Bier's dramatic lynchpin for her film's gentle twists and turns. But even its sudsy plot developments work well in Bier's kinetic and expertly crafted dreamworld, which despite its otherworldly state still manages to disclose the bare and conspicuous design of mortality and compassion.

• Bruce B

  
  Beyond any shadow of a doubt the very best movie I have ever seen. This writer has captured every emotion that a person can have. I listen to it in Dutch with English Subtitles. Even the still shots had meaning you just have to think about them. Every actor should be an award winner.… More
  Beyond any shadow of a doubt the very best movie I have ever seen. This writer has captured every emotion that a person can have. I listen to it in Dutch with English Subtitles. Even the still shots had meaning you just have to think about them. Every actor should be an award winner. Oh yea its in the collection.

• Luke B

  
  My second Bier film in as many weeks and an obvious sign she is no fluke artist. Her style of camera work is impeccable. As it drifts into extreme close-ups and hand held hypnotic beauty. The film may rely on a series of great coincidences but it soon straightens them out and offers… More
  My second Bier film in as many weeks and an obvious sign she is no fluke artist. Her style of camera work is impeccable. As it drifts into extreme close-ups and hand held hypnotic beauty. The film may rely on a series of great coincidences but it soon straightens them out and offers up a highly emotional drama. People are complex and we see a vast array of painful moments portrayed with absolute perfection. Mikkelsen is again stunning and all the relationships are wonderfully built upon.

• Lanning :

  
  Who cares? The only time I was actually moved by this film is at the point where Lassgard expresses his true feelings about dying. I mean just barely moved. It's just not enough. One of the most ploddingly predictable scripts in recent memory. Don't waste time on this… More
  Who cares? The only time I was actually moved by this film is at the point where Lassgard expresses his true feelings about dying. I mean just barely moved. It's just not enough. One of the most ploddingly predictable scripts in recent memory. Don't waste time on this one.

• Gordon A

  
  Well acted family saga with a big debt to Festen but with a strong enough narrative to distinguish itself. The use of my favorite Sigur Ros track at a key moment helped me warm to the work but the frequent use of close-up seemed a little forced and some scenes are somewhat… More
  Well acted family saga with a big debt to Festen but with a strong enough narrative to distinguish itself. The use of my favorite Sigur Ros track at a key moment helped me warm to the work but the frequent use of close-up seemed a little forced and some scenes are somewhat melodramatic..

• Mark A

  
  A powerful, highly emotional, multi-layered story that plays out with total honesty. The film is a study in contrasts, between the abject poverty of working with orphans in India and the almost obscene wealth of a successful business man in Denmark. It sets the highly idealistic Jacob… More
  A powerful, highly emotional, multi-layered story that plays out with total honesty. The film is a study in contrasts, between the abject poverty of working with orphans in India and the almost obscene wealth of a successful business man in Denmark. It sets the highly idealistic Jacob (Mads Mikkelson) against the very rich and very powerful Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard). It pits the needs of the family patriarch against the needs of his family. And it juxtaposes the security of the familiar against the sheer terror of facing the unknown. Like an onion, each layer of the film peels away to reveal even more layers of complexity as it unfolds. The acting is superb! The two aforementioned actors are complemented by Sidse Kbudsen as the wife of Jorgen and Stine Christiansen as their delicate daughter. The cast was so well matched, one could easily believe in the tangle of relationships and the fallout as each new connection was exposed. The script constantly amazed with its ability to reveal that which we realized we already knew without the viewer being conscious of the knowledge until that moment. And the actual filming was often breathtaking. The use of extreme close-ups, especially of the characters' eyes, served to illuminate the complex emotions that were being just barely held in check. Susanne Bier, the director who also wrote the story from which the screen play was adapted, has delivered a masterful film that relies on honest emotions to tell its story, and great entertainment.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "After the Wedding", a much needed grant is promised to an orphanage in India on the condition that one of the aid workers, Jacob(Mads Mikkelsen), return to Copenhagen to meet with the benefactor, Jorgen(Rolf Lassgard). At first he is very reluctant… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "After the Wedding", a much needed grant is promised to an orphanage in India on the condition that one of the aid workers, Jacob(Mads Mikkelsen), return to Copenhagen to meet with the benefactor, Jorgen(Rolf Lassgard). At first he is very reluctant but eventually gives in. But once Jacob gets there, he finds that the grant may not be as guaranteed as he had come to believe, Jorgen wanting a few days to review the proposal. In the meantime, he invites Jacob to the wedding of his daughter, Anna(Stine Fischer Chistensen), to Christian(Christian Tafdrup).[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]With "After the Wedding", Susanne Bier makes another emotionally devastating movie, keeping the emotions very real, without repeating herself. This time, there is an emphasis on the disparity between the poverty of India and the opulence of Denmark(or anywhere in the West for that matter), personified in the excesses of the wedding ceremony. Bier takes a less cynical view of idealists than Lars von Trier, even if she does not entirely let everybody off the hook. In conclusion, while one can always care for people away frome home, the old country is never entirely left behind.[/font]

• Grant B

  
  After having seen Susanne Bier's latest film, "In A Better World" (which won the Oscar for best international film), I had expected a lot from her past work. Actor Mads Mikkelsen is in the lead role as a man working as a humanitarian aid in India, but he leaves back… More
  After having seen Susanne Bier's latest film, "In A Better World" (which won the Oscar for best international film), I had expected a lot from her past work. Actor Mads Mikkelsen is in the lead role as a man working as a humanitarian aid in India, but he leaves back to Denmark to receive further funding for his operations. While in Denmark, his life gets flipped on its side as he desires to return to India, but finds himself reunited with a former lover and her new family. This movie really speaks for itself, and still follows many of the Dogme 95 rules (which looks and works beautifully), but the storyline (though interesting) had far too many obvious parallels that were oddly never addressed. It would have been fantastic if Mads Mikkelsen's character, with his experiences, could have left an impact and mended together a broken end in the family that he interacts with in Denmark, but instead his character seems to not even comprehend that he could fix a young marriage from dissolving. This is a great actor's film with fantastic performances, but acting alone cannot make a great movie. Though I do recommend this film, the movie feels like a test-film for Susanne Bier's far superior film "In A Better World" from this year.

• Nicolas K

  
  A beautiful and powerful drama, with great cast and solid direction.

• Daniel P

  
  A complete surprise (well it would be I suppose since I watched it not knowing anything about it), <i>After The Wedding</i> is an unusually shot and very energetic film with a great cast and an absorbing story. <p>Jacob, who devotes his life to helping… More
  A complete surprise (well it would be I suppose since I watched it not knowing anything about it), <i>After The Wedding</i> is an unusually shot and very energetic film with a great cast and an absorbing story. <p>Jacob, who devotes his life to helping poverty-stricken children in India, is summoned to his homeland of Denmark by an extremely wealthy businessman, Jorgen Hannson, who is looking to donate some of his money to worthwhile projects, and is interested in Jacob's work. Jorgen advises Jacob that he will take some time to consider how best to donate his money, and in the meantime invites Jacob to stay on and invites him to his daughter's wedding. Jacob soon begins to suspect all is not as it seems when he recognises someone at the wedding and secrets and motivations begin to become clear. <p>Well acted by everyone, in particular Sidse Babett Knudsen who is positively luminous, cleverly paced and inventively filmed, <i>After the Wedding</i> veers a little too much into sentimentality in the final section, but the characters are so well written that despite this slight lapse and a too-slow ending, it remains compelling, compulsive viewing.

• William G

  
  Cast keeps Danish melodrama from working up too much lather.

• Daisy M

  
  The film is like a jigsaw puzzle that has been started but not completed. As the story progresses, pieces are added to the puzzle one at a time. It is a little slow some times. It is a movie that you can see at any time. The plot seems to come out late, which I think is a great idea… More
  The film is like a jigsaw puzzle that has been started but not completed. As the story progresses, pieces are added to the puzzle one at a time. It is a little slow some times. It is a movie that you can see at any time. The plot seems to come out late, which I think is a great idea and gives the film some style. You don't really know what is to happen and where the film will take place at all. Mads Mikkelsen has great presence on screen, I loved him in Casino Royale. He is just marvelous in this movie.

• Dimitris S

  
  Brilliant melodrama from Bier,a renovator of touching scenes,roaring upheavals inside the souls of close interrelations.The core of this film lies to the characters,primarily speaking because Bier is calmly emphasizing on the hushes and inner voices.A pity for this creator deserves… More
  Brilliant melodrama from Bier,a renovator of touching scenes,roaring upheavals inside the souls of close interrelations.The core of this film lies to the characters,primarily speaking because Bier is calmly emphasizing on the hushes and inner voices.A pity for this creator deserves more than a Hollywood career.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings