After the Wedding(Efter brylluppet)

After the Wedding is a 2006 Denmark film by Susan Bier. It tells the story of Jacob Pederson, a a teacher, and manager of an orphanage in India. He is sent news of possible funding and leaves to Copenhagen, Denmark. What he doesn't know, is that an appointment with fate, waits for him there.

In Denmark we meet Jorgen Lennart Hannson, a very successful business man, who seems to have it all. A beautiful wife, thriving company, fantastic home, and family. His eldest daughter, Anna, is to be married soon. These two worlds meet in Jorgen's office. It is here that Jacob has arrived to show his presentation to attempt to acquire the aforementioned funds. Jorgen, who seems uninterested in the details, begins to befriend Jacob, and invites him to his daughter's wedding. It is at this wedding that the story begins to unfold, and the drama begins. To go any further into details would be spoiling the story, as a great many things start to reveal itself, and it has long lasting effects on all involved.

The acting in this movie is top notch. Take for the instance the portrayal of Jorgen, played by Rolf Lassgard. He comes across as an obnoxious lout, who's money and power have seemed to taken his view of reality away. He gets what he wants, and anybody that stands in his way will get eaten up, but, beneath that big exterior lies a man that has so much more going on internally that can at first be imagined. His solution to the problems he has may seem unorthodox, but, his heart is in the right place. It's as if he sees the different elements, in his life, from a business person's perspective. Move one thing out, and replace that with something equally, or even more capable of running the company. Also of note are the performances by Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Jacob. It's interesting that you see his character as a caring person, who is putting the needs of his orphanage first. It's only when he reaches Denmark that you realize, he has a checkered past, and there's reason why he is more about helping others now, as opposed to when he was younger.

This movie definitely has a style all its own. There are close ups that are so beautifully shot and those shots only help to add intimacy, or awkwardness to a scene. The use of the "jump cut" is prevalent in this movie as well. Those cuts add to the moments where the technique is used. Susan Bier does a fantastic job with her camera work. It goes hand in hand with the editing techniques used. Also, the story by Bier and the writing by Anders Thomas Jennsen are noteworthy. There is almost a soap opera feel to the story. This isn't a put down by any means. It's just that when you get to the meat of the story, you get a reveal coming from the left and the right, and it leaves you a bit shocked, which soap operas are infamous for. Great drama, and a great movie.