TIFF Report: After the Wedding Review

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You will be forgiven if half way through After the Wedding - the third consecutive collaboration between director Susanne Bier and seemingly omnipresent and infallible writer Anders Thomas Jensen - you find yourself thinking that this may very well represent the high point of both of their enviable careers. Richly observed characters, effective camera work and incredible performances anchored by Mads Mikkelsen - who is his customary brilliant self - make the film a powerful piece of work, at once emotional draining and rewarding. Unfortunately it also loses its focus somewhat in the latter stages, spending too much time on secondary characters and away from the central trio, and while it still packs a sizable emotional wallop this is clearly a case where a touch of judicious editing would prove that less really can be more.

Mikkelsen stars as Jacob, a Danish man running an orphange in Bombay, his life completely devoted to caring for these very poorest of the poor. The orphanage is in serious trouble, however, in danger of running out of funds and being forced to shut down, turning its forty plus charges back out onto the street. Salvation appears to come in the form of Jorgen, a wealthy Danish businessman dangling a sizeable donation for the orphange but only under certain conditions, prime being that Jacob must first come to Copenhagen to meet with him. And once Jacob arrives Jorgen insists resolutely that Jacob must also attend the wedding of his daughter that weekend. To go too far beyond this would involve spoiling the plot but it can safely be said that there are clearly underlying issues to Jacob's reluctance to return to Copenhagen while Jorgen also is driven by ulterior motives.

After the Wedding takes a three pronged attack to its subject, driven forward by Bier's skill with camera and editing, Jensen's tightly observed understanding of human nature, and the cast's willingness to strip themselves utterly bare. Mikkelsen is the obvious example of this, being both Denmark's largest star and the film's lead, but he is matched every step of the way by his co-stars. Again, it is difficult to say anything for fear of saying too much but the film succeeds on all fronts, it's only significant failing being an over-wealth of rich performances that leads to a somewhat scattered final act with Bier giving each of her major players a significant moment or two - and it's hard to blame her when all of them are so good - rather than keeping the focus tight on the characters that brought us into the film right through to the end.

While both have shown skills in other areas the particular genius of Jensen and Bier together is their ability to rip apart the most sensitive of family interactions, digging deep into the hidden truths and pains that lurks just beneath the surface. It's a unique skill made clear in both Open Hearts and Brothers, their two previous collaborations, and their confidence and abilities in this area seem to be simply growing. After the Wedding is an insightful relationship drama that will leave you feeling battered and bruised but also recognizing the strengths of the ties that bind. Very highly recommended.