Okay

I spent two hours trying to find a good film in Foop! in Covent Garden when I bumped into this one last weekend. First thing I thought was "mmm.. A Danish film could be interesting... Why not? All I have to say is that for me was a really boring film, not just because the overseasoned script was made of the most stupid and predictable topics ( a father with a terminal illness + a know it all teenager+ an unfaithful hubby+ a gay brother about to be father with 2 lesbians... Come onnnn!!! What else???)..but because the film, despite the great performance of the main actress, is boring, is bland, it goes nowhere and has no sense of rhythm at all. Regarding the music, I better keep shut up or I think I will end this post with an ulcer.

Solid kitchen sink drama with Paprika Steen in her first starring role, and none too soon. She is excellent as a harried mother and wife who upon learning that her father is terminally ill, invites him to stay at her family´s already small apartment for his remaining weeks. Steen carries the film a long way, but is supported by a great cast: Ole Ernst has his best part in years as her grumpy, but ultimately goodhearted dad, Troels Lyby generates sympathy as her unfaithful husband and Molly Egelind does well as their teenage daughter. Jesper Christensen is also very good as an emotionally detached doctor, and Nikolaj Kopernikus turns in a finely tuned performance as Paprika´s gay brother. His first reunion after eight years with his estranged father is a memorably funny scene. Occasionally heavy subject matter is given equal doses of black humor and realistic drama, thanks to writer Kim Fupz Aakeson´s script and Jesper W. Nielsen´s directing. ***

Even though I had never heard of the director or the writer of this movie, I didn't hesitate to give it a try. The main reason for that is that I like most Scandinavian movies, because they always tell stories that are recognizable and often also touching without being too soppy. The second reason why I decided to watch it was Paprika Steen. I've seen her in four movies so far and until now I've never been disappointed by her performances or the movies that I saw her in...

"Okay" evolves around the lives of several members of one family. Nete is employee, housewife, mother,... all in one and is able to combine all this thanks to perfect and efficient planning. But all this suddenly changes when her father becomes very ill. They are told that the man has only three more weeks to live and almost certainly not any longer. Although her father doesn't really want it, she insists that he comes to live with her and her family the few weeks he has left, so he can die with his family around him. But her father is a difficult man and when Nete tries to start a dialog between him and his gay son (her brother) who he hasn't seen or spoken in eight years, his presence puts even more strain on the family's everyday life. They all do their best to cope with the situation, but when her father doesn't die after three weeks and even seems to get better, the bomb explodes. Nete's husband starts an affair which breaks up their marriage, her teenage daughter starts to rebel and her father's health gets worse again. When he's admitted to hospital and dies there alone, Nete's entire structured life appears to collapse, but it's then that she finds a new way of life and leaves the control freak in her behind.

What almost always strikes me in this kind of (Scandinavian) movies is the realism of the many characters. This is a family like your own or like that of the neighbors. They don't have a perfect life, they too have their problems and worries... That's something that I sometimes miss in American movies. Too often those families seem quite artificial and are not always very realistic.

The fact that I noticed the realistic family life in this movie also has a lot to do with the excellent performances by all the actors of course. Paprika Steen was excellent once again, but I also enjoyed the performances of all the other actors. Take for instance Ole Ernst who plays her father. With already 80 movies on his record, this man is a real veteran in Danish cinema and with his role in this movie he proves why he is so popular. He's a very talented actor who gave away an excellent performance in this movie. I haven't seen much else of his work so far, but I'll try to change that as soon as possible

Overall I would like to say that this movie proves that not every good movie from the 'North' has got to be a Dogme-movie. This too is a very realistic movie that has a great story and some very fine acting to offer. The only thing that I don't really understand is why it is called a comedy. Personally I can't say that I had a good laugh with it and I believe this is a pure drama. In my opinion a few funny lines still don't make a comedy. However, that's no reason not to like this movie. I really liked it a lot and I give it a well deserved 7.5/10. In my opinion it certainly doesn't deserve any less.

Whatever you see in Danish movies right now seems to be likeable. Their relation dramas are real dramas, but almost always on a level everybody knows from their own lives.

This is another great appearance by Paprika Steen, not aware of how much she dominates her family with her flashing eyes, including her dying father. She doesn't understand why everybody flee, but they prefer that instead of confronting her.

Great performances also by Ole Ernst and Troels Lyby. This is a piece of reality, but dramatic all the same.