As a child, a freak accident causes her mother's death, and Amanda Jean Kvaklan's father is stubborn in his grief. He blames her and has as little to do with the rest of her upbringing as possible. All grown up, Maria Bonnevie is more than a bit unhinged and unnaturally interested in death. She's very unconventional, and some of the people around her don't approve of her behavior, while her father, Bjørn Floberg, remains detached.
Gérard Depardieu, a friend of her father's, asks for her hand in marriage, but Maria refuses, declaring him an "old fogie." When her father slaps her, she responds by headbutting him and doing far more damage than he did to her. She's a free spirit and a force to reckon with. In the very next scene, she strangles a childhood friend. This is not a likable character, and these scenes set the tone for an odd, violent movie. This is a Norwegian movie, so if you've seen Norwegian cinema, you know they can get a little weird.
When Maria is finally wed to Gérard, it's a bit of a tragic scene. She doesn't love him and she's incapable of realizing that he used to be younger and still has the heart of a young man. He loves her and tries to be tender with her, but she knees him in the groin, insults him, and humiliates him in front of his family and friends. He's not in the entire movie, and he's replaced by other love interests. Just as in real life, romance doesn't always help a person grow, and Maria has to travel her journey by learning from life experiences, not just by falling in love. This isn't a horror movie, and it's not the scariest movie I've ever seen, but it is a little strange, so prepared if you decide to rent it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and upsetting scenes involving a child, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
Gérard Depardieu, a friend of her father's, asks for her hand in marriage, but Maria refuses, declaring him an "old fogie." When her father slaps her, she responds by headbutting him and doing far more damage than he did to her. She's a free spirit and a force to reckon with. In the very next scene, she strangles a childhood friend. This is not a likable character, and these scenes set the tone for an odd, violent movie. This is a Norwegian movie, so if you've seen Norwegian cinema, you know they can get a little weird.
When Maria is finally wed to Gérard, it's a bit of a tragic scene. She doesn't love him and she's incapable of realizing that he used to be younger and still has the heart of a young man. He loves her and tries to be tender with her, but she knees him in the groin, insults him, and humiliates him in front of his family and friends. He's not in the entire movie, and he's replaced by other love interests. Just as in real life, romance doesn't always help a person grow, and Maria has to travel her journey by learning from life experiences, not just by falling in love. This isn't a horror movie, and it's not the scariest movie I've ever seen, but it is a little strange, so prepared if you decide to rent it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence and upsetting scenes involving a child, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.