Genre:
I am satisfied that the location has moved to Kolding. Not that the location is of great importance, but it's nice that the filming wasn't either on Sjælland or Fyn.
It's one of those very cozy movies where characters misquote songs and where the au pair is a grumpy Pole, but where no one wishes each other any harm either. Several times there are hints that the atmosphere will slowly deviate from the comfortable and become a little more believable, but it never leads to anything. For example, throughout the film, a big deal is made of showing how unsympathetic the main character Katrine really is. She drums through people, neglecting their feelings, and constantly drinks her brother-in-law's beer, even though it's pointed out every time that it's not hers. She doesn't exactly exude the core qualities of a mother, but that setup builds to a pay-off that never comes, and that's how it is for the ensemble in general.
Although we are out in the province, this does not mean that the action must also be uncomplicated. The fact that the film takes place in Kolding is not even used for anything other than that the village roads have lesser-known names. The fact that Karoline lives above a café is barely mentioned, although it is somewhat unusual, and could have added a bit of a regional sense of place to the film.
It is hard to understand why an award-winning actor like Esben Smed is in it when he is mostly a glorified extra. His character has no impact on the plot, and I don't even think he talks to his sister-in-law, even though he's going to adopt her child. It's these little things that can easily be overlooked in a big drama, but when it's the characters that are at the center and the director has a background as an actor who knows that it's the little things that determine whether a character emerges alive or not, you just sit back in amazement.
There is a little too much "cream puff" about Fortunate Circumstances. The plot is indeed very good, but everything is just too comfortable and easy. If you had dared to move just a little bit away from the archetypes, it could also have resulted in an interesting journey with believable characters, and given the audience food for thought. The cast has previously shown that they can easily arouse great emotions in the audience, but for one reason or another, the emphasis is on fun, so that you are never allowed to doubt whether things will end well, because nothing gets allowed to go wrong.
- Comedy
- Family drama
I am satisfied that the location has moved to Kolding. Not that the location is of great importance, but it's nice that the filming wasn't either on Sjælland or Fyn.
It's one of those very cozy movies where characters misquote songs and where the au pair is a grumpy Pole, but where no one wishes each other any harm either. Several times there are hints that the atmosphere will slowly deviate from the comfortable and become a little more believable, but it never leads to anything. For example, throughout the film, a big deal is made of showing how unsympathetic the main character Katrine really is. She drums through people, neglecting their feelings, and constantly drinks her brother-in-law's beer, even though it's pointed out every time that it's not hers. She doesn't exactly exude the core qualities of a mother, but that setup builds to a pay-off that never comes, and that's how it is for the ensemble in general.
Although we are out in the province, this does not mean that the action must also be uncomplicated. The fact that the film takes place in Kolding is not even used for anything other than that the village roads have lesser-known names. The fact that Karoline lives above a café is barely mentioned, although it is somewhat unusual, and could have added a bit of a regional sense of place to the film.
It is hard to understand why an award-winning actor like Esben Smed is in it when he is mostly a glorified extra. His character has no impact on the plot, and I don't even think he talks to his sister-in-law, even though he's going to adopt her child. It's these little things that can easily be overlooked in a big drama, but when it's the characters that are at the center and the director has a background as an actor who knows that it's the little things that determine whether a character emerges alive or not, you just sit back in amazement.
There is a little too much "cream puff" about Fortunate Circumstances. The plot is indeed very good, but everything is just too comfortable and easy. If you had dared to move just a little bit away from the archetypes, it could also have resulted in an interesting journey with believable characters, and given the audience food for thought. The cast has previously shown that they can easily arouse great emotions in the audience, but for one reason or another, the emphasis is on fun, so that you are never allowed to doubt whether things will end well, because nothing gets allowed to go wrong.
