Clearly achieving authenticity was a priority for writer and director Nils Malmros when he was making 'At Kende Sandheden'. Not only were the surgeries in the film really performed by him (he is an ex-assistant surgeon) but his attention to detail in the visuals and writing is apparent. Shot entirely in black, white and gray ''At Kende Sandheden' moves back and forth in time between the early 1900s, the 1940s and the 80s. The film tells the story of Dr. Richard Malmros a successful surgeon whose use of a chemical substance while performing surgery became the center of a legal battle. We are given glimpses of his childhood that reflect the poverty of his family and he came to become a doctor, his youth when he started his career and married and as an elderly when he's to face trial. Director Nils Malmros skillfully directs the film. The film looks quite polished but that works in creating the environment. I also found the lack of colour effective as it stressed on the time period and kept the viewer focused. The cinematography, score, art direction and the performances by Jens Albinus, Lasse Brovst Andersen and Søren Østergaard are are first rate.
Needless to say, ''At Kende Sandheden' is partially autobiopic for director Malmros. This is his way of presenting his father's point of view and I liked that he closed the film with an open ending, letting the viewer decide after presenting another perspective.
