The winner for best foreign language Oscar in 2010, In a Better World was a worthy recipient. Two parallel story lines are used very effectively by director Susanne Bier. A Swedish doctor who lives in Denmark also works in the Sudan treating mostly poor and abused women. Anton is a good man who is separated from his wife, Marianne because of an affair with another woman.
Their 12 year old son, Elias is bullied at school and is defended by Christian, a new kid in his class with problems of his own. His mother has died of cancer and he blames his father for her demise. He has used a knife to threaten the bully and Christian hides it while denying the presence of a weapon to both their parents and the police. Anton also breaks up a fight between his younger son and another boy and is later slapped by the kids father, as he tries to teach his children to turn the other cheek.
Back in the Sudan, the good doctor returns and is forced to treat a warlord who has caused so much misery but Anton refuses until his armed bodyguards leave the area. After some unpleasantness, doc finally loses his temper and drags his ungrateful patient out to a crowd where payback soon occurs.
The final chapter brings together Christian and Elias with a revenge scheme on the man who slapped Dr. Anton in the face. They build a bomb to blow up his car, but the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry; as the saying goes, so watch this thoughtful drama with your heart and mind and you will not be disappointed.
Their 12 year old son, Elias is bullied at school and is defended by Christian, a new kid in his class with problems of his own. His mother has died of cancer and he blames his father for her demise. He has used a knife to threaten the bully and Christian hides it while denying the presence of a weapon to both their parents and the police. Anton also breaks up a fight between his younger son and another boy and is later slapped by the kids father, as he tries to teach his children to turn the other cheek.
Back in the Sudan, the good doctor returns and is forced to treat a warlord who has caused so much misery but Anton refuses until his armed bodyguards leave the area. After some unpleasantness, doc finally loses his temper and drags his ungrateful patient out to a crowd where payback soon occurs.
The final chapter brings together Christian and Elias with a revenge scheme on the man who slapped Dr. Anton in the face. They build a bomb to blow up his car, but the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry; as the saying goes, so watch this thoughtful drama with your heart and mind and you will not be disappointed.