This is Norwegian director Erik Poppe's fourth feature film, and a film which many have had high expectations too. I must say this is a good film, but far from his best. I simply loved "Hawaii, Oslo" and "Troubled waters" which both was pretty much perfect film experiences. The debut film "Schpaa" was also very promising.
The script here is written by Norwegian author and screenwriter Harald Rosenløw Eeg, after a story by Erik Popp which is largely inspired by personal experiences as a war photographer.
We meet the great war photographer Rebecca (Juliette Binoche), living in Ireland, when she's home, that is. Because her relationship with her family is faltering due to her dangerous work, and many days away from home. She follows suicide bombers in Kabul, and rampage killers in Africa. Her husband is a marine biologist (Nicolai Coaster-Waldau), and he is very tired of her not being there, even when she's home. This is also affecting their two daughters.
Make no mistake. This is a good film, but I felt it lacked some tempo. The slow thinking pace may be correct to get the feeling, but the film loses momentum, and could easily be a disappointment for those expecting another Poppe masterpiece. Because this isn't. Well, it's an interesting theme, but what could have been a great drama is slipping away. It's not the actor's fault, because they are doing a great job.
The film is artistically beautiful, and the opening is really something which makes you speculate. I must admit I was a bit disappointed, since I reckon Poppe as the best Norwegian director ever. But this wasn't wholly fulfilling to me.
This won the Special Grand Prize of the jury at the 37th Montréal Film Festival 2013.
