Elsker dig for evigt (Open Hearts) (2002)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Rubia Carolina .

  
  Late influence of Dogma 95. The Dogma certification in the opening credits had a strange effect on me, as going against the movement itself. Dogma 95 manifesto is very interesting, but it's reflection on contemporary cinema and on film as art and not illusion are not new… More
  Late influence of Dogma 95. The Dogma certification in the opening credits had a strange effect on me, as going against the movement itself. Dogma 95 manifesto is very interesting, but it's reflection on contemporary cinema and on film as art and not illusion are not new (Italian neo-realism, cinéma vérité) as it's not only avoiding technical manipulations that we will be able to reach the "naked cinema". Most background music are definitely an artifice to manipulate spectator - I won't mention visual effects, let's keep it simple - but in the same way we can find truth beyond technique, we can be duped by so-called reality (how true can a documentary be?). "Elsker dig for evigt" can follow almost every rule of the manifesto, but it is still a fiction that will "work" on our emotional as any other film would. When "Le scaphandre et le papillon" and "Mar Adentro" focus more on the patient's vision, "Elsker dig for evigt" focus on how the paralysis affects other's life, on Cecilie's journey through her pain. Pay attention on the opening scene, final credits and song that goes together: "lighting is not acceptable, optical work and filters are forbidden". Was that supposed to work as a contradiction to reality or they are just there? "Music must not be used unless it occurs within the scene being filmed". And the song that plays when Cecile is sleeping in the hospital with Nikolaj, for example? If "reality" is one of its strong points - in lot of scenes, the lack of "superficial" acting let it more superficial as iit'd be in a play - "reality" had been better explored by names as Andy Warhol (Eat, Sleep, Kiss, etc ), John Cassavetes and Abbas Kiarostami, just to mention some, no matter if they shot in digital video or on film or if they used or not well-known technical devices. </br> </br>

• Luke B

  
  The best of the Dogme films I have seen. The film makes great use of the digital camera work and natural lighting really enthusing the film with a realistic quality rarely seen. It's similar to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days in its unflinching portrayal of a difficult subject in… More
  The best of the Dogme films I have seen. The film makes great use of the digital camera work and natural lighting really enthusing the film with a realistic quality rarely seen. It's similar to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days in its unflinching portrayal of a difficult subject in the most restrained manner. The emotions the film evokes and portrays are truly astounding. Mikkelsen gives one of the rgeatest performances I've ever witnessed. His confused doctor has trouble expressing himself with words but it's in the slightest flickering of eye movements that we can really see inside his soul. Open Hearts also has no fear in displaying conflicting tones. Where we see Joachim trying to read after being paralysed, not only is the scene sad and aggravating it is also bravely comic. Lie Kass also gives a very moving portrayal, even when acting like a bastard we never forget what he is dealing with but the film is never so arrogant as to assume how he feels. It's brave, complicated and a true portrayal of love and life and things not always working out the way you planned them.

• Mark A

  
  Lives are changed in an instant when a doctor's wife, Marie (Paprika Steen), accidentally runs down Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and he winds up quadraplegic. Marie's husband, Niels (Mads Mikkelson), offers comfort to Joachim's fiance, Cecile (Sonja Richter), which… More
  Lives are changed in an instant when a doctor's wife, Marie (Paprika Steen), accidentally runs down Joachim (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and he winds up quadraplegic. Marie's husband, Niels (Mads Mikkelson), offers comfort to Joachim's fiance, Cecile (Sonja Richter), which becomes something more than aid and comfort. A lot of raw emotions are on display here as Joachim at first pushes everyone away. By the time he comes to terms with his injury, Cecile has moved on, although unable to admit it to herself. Excellent production that pulled no punches. No one escapes unscathed. Each of these four people, plus Niels' and Marie's teenage daughter, Stine (Stine Bjerregaard), who blames herself for the accident, are put through the ringer and come out the other side forever changed but somehow equipped to go on. All of the various parts are rearranged but functional. A wholly believable tale, competent actors, and interesting camera work on a film from the Dogme school and directed by Susanne Bier. This viewer found it impossible to watch without empathy for each of the characters' torments.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"Open Hearts" starts out with Cecilie(Sonja Richter) and Joachim(Nikolaj Lie Kaas) being madly in love with each other and just engaged to be married. But their bliss is interrupted when Joachim is hit by a car driven by Marie(Paprika Steen) and he is… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"Open Hearts" starts out with Cecilie(Sonja Richter) and Joachim(Nikolaj Lie Kaas) being madly in love with each other and just engaged to be married. But their bliss is interrupted when Joachim is hit by a car driven by Marie(Paprika Steen) and he is paralyzed from the neck down. After he is informed of his condition, Joachim is bitter and seeks to push Cecilie away. She in turn seeks solace with Marie's husband, Niels(Mads Mikkelsen), who is a doctor at the same hospital.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Open Hearts" is a powerful movie about some very flawed characters behaving in believable ways. There is not a false note in the entire film as it deftly avoids any traps it could have fallen into. My only problem is that we never see any of Cecilie's friends and she does seem rather isolated for a young woman.[/font]

• Daisy M

  
  I loved the story. It's beautiful, touching, human and above all it's real. The characters are real human beings who need love and comfort and attention and someone who listens to them, take care of them, or just hold them? All the actors delivered excellent performances.… More
  I loved the story. It's beautiful, touching, human and above all it's real. The characters are real human beings who need love and comfort and attention and someone who listens to them, take care of them, or just hold them? All the actors delivered excellent performances. The script, as usual, is the key here. also the dialog that has kept the movie interesting. The people come off as humans engaged in the difficult situations of life. Cecillia for seducing a married man in order to feel wanted, and Niels for caving to his mid life urges at the cost of his family. I was not used to dogma movies, but this one seems to work for me.