After the Wedding (2006)

Netflix ventured almost a full five stars in suggesting this to me, probably because that's what I gave The Hunt. Both are recent dramas, take place (mostly) in Denmark, and star Mads Mikkelsen. But that's about where the similarity ends.

The action in AtW begins in India, where protagonist Jacob has been an orphanage manager. He doesn't miss Denmark, because it has a lot of rich people, whom he resents despite having to persuade some to give to his cause. One rich man, Jørgen (Rolf Lassgård, who resembles Gérard Depardieu with a stronger bass), offers a big donation on rather bossy conditions that bring Jacob not only back to Denmark but to the wedding of Jørgen's daughter, Anna.

There Jacob and Jørgen's wife, Helene, stare at each other, and Jacob then stares more at Anna. When Anna mentions that Jørgen is actually her stepfather, Jacob steps outside. It took me a minute to figure out the implications of all this, but it shapes events for the rest of the movie. Jacob surmises that Jørgen knew what he was doing with such manipulation; the question is why. Surely not mere kindness from a rich man! Only near the end do we get the full answer.

To call the story credible is a slight stretch. The setup requires a number of unusual factors, such as Jacob becoming so untraceable that his Danish associates largely write him off for dead. Nevertheless, given the premises already in place when the film begins, what happens from then on looks quite realistic. For all the arguments, no character is fully right or wrong. Basically the major ones come across as jerks with hearts of gold, which applies to many people I know, including possibly myself. Jacob could stand to reevaluate his assessment of socioeconomic moral differences; we don't know for sure that he does, but there's a good chance he will in time.

I sensed no misfires in acting or direction. Lassgård might put on the best performance, but others aren't far behind. I appreciate the screen time given to Helene and Anna, even if they never talk to each other about something other than a man.

The Hunt still wins more of my favor, but I might more readily recommend AtW. It's more bittersweet, with the emphasis on "sweet." A welcome relief for me in that regard.