In A Better World: DVD Review
In a Better World
Rating: R16
Released by Vendetta Film
Golden Globe and Oscar winner In a Better World opens in Africa
with Mikael Persbrandt's Anton working as a doctor in a field
hospital and dealing with the fall out of a warlord and
combat.
Anton is the pacifist, preferring to take the moral high ground
rather than strike the first blow - but it's more difficult for his
son Elias back in Denmark. He's bullied by the school kids and a
bit of a loner.
One day, new kid on the block, Christian defends him - and a
friendship forms. But as the friendship grows, Christian, who's
recently lost his mother to cancer and is full of anger plots
revenge on those who would do him and his friends wrong.
And it all escalates with devastating consequences.
In a Better World is a powerhouse, slow burning drama.
With evocative cutaways (either in Africa or Denmark), there's a
real brooding intensity throughout - and while Persbrandt is good
as Anton, the film belongs to the kids - William Jøhnk
Nielsen as Christian and Markus Rygaard as Elias.
Both bring a real intensity to their brooding - Nielsen's
particularly subtle in his role as a kid who's experienced loss and
grief and doesn't know where to channel it.
Expect to become quickly engrossed in this drama - it's
multi-layered, subtle and deeply rewarding.
Extras: None
Rating: 7/10
