On soap

Overview:
Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen
Year of Production: 2006
Awards: Best Debut Film and Silver Berlin Bear of Jury Grand Prix at Berlin International Film Festival in 2006
Country: Denmark
Writers: Kim Fupz Aakeson, based on original plot by Pernille Fischer Christensen and Kim Fupz Aakeson
Director of Photography: Erik Molberg Hansen
Music: Magnus Jarlbo y Sebastian Öberg
Editor: Åsa Mossberg
Actors: Trine Dyrholm (Charlotte), David Dencik (Veronica), Frank Thiel (Kristian).
Production: Nimbus Films Aps, Garage Film, Stockholm Zentropa Entertainments 5, Hvidovre FilmGear, København, New Danish Screen, Talentudvikling; Lars Bredo Rahbek
Runtime: 102 min.

Resume:

Both Veronica and Charlotte have something in common: their lives are empty and lack meaning.

Charlotte, in the meantime, is asking herself whether her relationship with her ex boyfriend has any value, and she quarrels about the nature of true love. At the same time, as a consequence of the discrimination she experiences and sees in society Veronica is suffering a spiral of depression that leads her towards self destruction. As both lives collapse, each is to find they have the answers to the questions they both anxiously need and want to know. Their relationship helps them confirm their compassion, solidarity and love.

A key theme of the movie is solidarity. Both girls support each other in difficult times, as their best qualities counter the weakness’s of each other. What I personally don’t like is that Veronica’s personality is presented as very fragile, she is confused at Charlotte’s presence, although her desire to be a total woman seems to be firm, inviting the viewer to think that becoming a woman would finally stop her self destruction. Although all of their problems seem to disappear with their contact, their presence, or just a simple endearment, the question is could be because of their love, their confusion or simply their lack of experience? The film asks; could their sexual orientations or gender identity’s be changed, instead of love, and lead to the same result?

Without invalidating the film, I was a little disappointed with the conclusion. Instead of opening the multiple possibilities developed, it finishes by reducing them.

However, it is a good movie, with great cinematographic moments and very meaningful reflections, often proposed with Dogma’s cinematograph movement.