La chica de la aguja

Swedish director Magnus von Horn demonstrates his mastery when it comes to creating a disturbing and controversial film that is even more impactful because it is based on real events.

It's engaging, but it will also turn off quite a few.

With its more than deserved nomination for best international film, this Danish film that takes us to post-war Denmark hides a disturbing story accompanied by a direction without caution by Magnus von Horn , who in each shot, in each frame and in each decision takes us towards a sinister door from which it is difficult to recover once we understand the whole path hidden in this wonderful script. With a black and white staging that accentuates much more the dark side of a humanity that does not know of time, but of evil, which is magnified by some secondary characters that surround our protagonist in the most bizarre and distressing that one can appreciate.

It's a movie that, if you accept the challenge, will grab you and make you live a corrupted experience with a brutal story that leaves nothing to be desired but to question how timeless a story like this can be, but if you're not willing to take on that challenge, it's a movie that will make you have a bad time every time.

A protagonist who provides a light.

Victoria Carmen Sonne's performance is the key to keeping us determined to follow this story. The actress takes all the recognition in her interpretation of a character who has suffered, beaten down and forgotten in every sense. A character that captivates you and despite all the evil that surrounds her, it is a sigh of light that the Danish actress delivers on screen. We can also add a supporting character like Trine Dyrholm who also steals all her moments with a sinister character who really manages to cause fear between the bizarreness of her behavior and her madness.

Mature cinema.

A mature film that is not afraid to be controversial in form and content and that, with a direction that follows the same path, leaves the feeling that it is a film that has a lot to tell and a lot to exploit in terms of its reception by the viewer. Its director consolidates himself as a director of weight and daring, which makes it more interesting than it already was.

Conclusion.

One of the best international films of the year, without a doubt, Danish cinema once again demonstrates the narrative strength it has and a director who once again positions his name as one to always follow. A sinister proposal that leaves you disturbed when you discover its twists and its real intentions, a film for the brave.

"Inspired by true events." Four words that will knock the wind out of your lungs as the film fades to black.

In the dirt and smog of 1919 Copenhagen emerges this atmospheric, haunting portrait of one woman's descent into the grim reality of impoverished motherhood.

In the age of short attention spans that are worringly shortening, von Horn's dark film may be a little slow for the average modern movie goer. But for those who can engage with it, what awaits is a black and white cinematic feast with imagery reminiscent of silent movies that is both a treat for the eyes and a dagger to the heart.

This movie has some of the scariest scenes I've seen in any film this year, even compared to the best horror movies of 2024. The first act feels like a darker, more chilling version of Anora. It starts with themes of survival and desperation, as a working-class woman in post-WWI Copenhagen finds an opportunity to change her social class. But the story evolves into something much deeper, diving into ethical dilemmas around motherhood, sacrifice, and the difficult choices women face when their options are limited.

And yet, there's even more to unpack in this stunningly shot, expertly crafted period drama. It's about moral ambiguity, isolation, loneliness, societal stigmas, female agency, power dynamics, and the lingering impact of war. The only thing holding it back for me is how heavy-handed it gets with the subject of abortion, especially in the final speech, which felt a bit out of place.

It hit me hard with bricks of sadness and empathy for the main character, thanks to Vic Carmen Sonne's incredible performance as the lead. Every other actor is equally impressive. The black-and-white cinematography is breathtaking, the music is hypnotic, and the overall production is top-notch. With all its dark and heavy themes, this movie is an absolute blast to watch. Highly recommended!

Yes, it is a little slow in its pace and one needs to get used to the rhythm of the film. That said, it is probably watched without any distractions in the cinema, not at home with a smartphone nearby.

The movie itself is a strong remnider of how rigid and cruel social norms and legislation can be. What I really liked was the ambivalence of the characters portrayed. The evil in the world didn't stem from some fetishised indidivual background, but from the power of capital - after all, it is the material inequality, displayed by the true villain of this movie, the mother of the rich fabric owner, which lays the ground for individuial cruel action. A more equal society would have not give birth to needs such as killing the offsprings of the poor and forgotten.

I didn't know what the story was about, so everything was a surprise to me. There are some shocking scenes that at first that made me dislike this movie a lot. But at the end, and when I realized it was based on a true story, it made me reflect on human nature, who the real monsters are, how our lives are impacted depending on our social economical situation and how there are good people even when we judge them at first by their appearance or their small bad behaviors. It is a movie that makes you reflect, and it will stick to your mind for some time, I believe. It is worth a try, I would not indicate it to everyone, some people will think it is unbearable to watch.