A Day and a Half

This movie started out well with a tense and engaging scene in which a troubled young man (Artan) kidnaps his estranged wife (Louise) at work. The background to their estrangement is hinted at in this first scene and gradually revealed throughout the movie. The highlight is a dramatic and very entertaining encounter with Louise's parents in which much is exposed about the family dynamics. Unfortunately the movie doesn't sustain these heights and indeed I was losing interest by the end and feeling frustrated that so little was explained about Artan's back story.

If you're looking for a realistic, emotional family drama that feels like it's being played out in real time you'll probably enjoy this movie. However, if you're looking for a thriller or a psychological drama that keeps you guessing you'll probably be disappointed by the end.

The acting and photography are excellent throughout. Fares Fares is wonderful as the police negotiator with his usual understated, compassionate presence that any fan of the Department Q films will appreciate.

Really put things in perspectives! A very thought provoking, original, unique, interesting and intense thriller. With a realistic and genuine ambiance and atmosphere.

Fares Fares (both as director and as a actor), Alma Pöysti and Alexej Manvelov does a amazing job!

Its a very captivating thriller! It really captures the viewer into the ongoing thrilling crime drama and family drama.

Soundtrack is really good!

One of those few thrillers that actually feels genuine.

Filming is very good!

A very good and original thriller

Wery well made, except it fails sometimes with the writing.

I truly recommend it!

This movie is fantastic, the script, the characters, the acting, the realism. We (a Brit and a Dane, if relevant) enjoyed it immensely. There are so many twists and turns where you wonder in amazement at how well the story is told and then remember that this is because it's a true story.

On some of the poor reviews, it sounds that the reviewers who find the story or the characters unrealistic haven't realised that this is actually based on a true story and not a typical Hollywood script where characters have to fit certain stereotypes of either good or bad (never some of both), victim or perpetrator or hero, etc.

The movie only seems like it takes a day and a half--it's only an hour and a half but I couldn't make it to the end, anyway. What a horrible premise.

Take the two least-suited people to get married and bring a child into the world, and then add a gun and a car and a whole lot of stupidity, and you've got this . . . Thing.

The protagonist is so far from sympathetic that the story is blown from the first couple of days (by which I really mean minutes). He has the boneheaded stolidity of Lou Reed trying to go straight. He can't be talked to. He is basically a victim of toxic patriarchal masculinity, but he doesn't play that in a way to invite the audience into his predicament. Instead he makes stupid choice after stupid predictably stolid boneheaded choice, what he thinks a man should do. He and his wife holler at each other a lot. As my Mom would say, "she's no prize, either."

The cop driving the car is kind of good--looks like maybe a version of Triton with that beard! He suffers the trials of Job, and I can only hope (because I just couldn't make it to the end) that he survived to take on some other unbearable burden of an assignment. Maybe he'll guard the Ferry Cross the Mersey or Cross the Styx.

Spartacus Super Bowl says, "well, it's kind of an attractive trainwreck."

Spoiler, I love slow-paced and confined drama where we take the time to know the story of each character.

This movie is all about issues in a couple culminating to the father kidnapping his ex-wife and his daughter.

All the actors are excellent, the rythme is slow but tense.

Don't expect any crazy turn as this on point with a realistic scenario (I think it's based on a true story). At the same time, it is not boring as the protagonist are going through multiple stage during the movie.

If you are looking to an emotional experience, diving into human life difficulties, this can be a movie you will enjoy.

If you are looking for something less true to reality but more entertaining, please look for something else.

This movie somehow remember me of Locke, which is another great confined drama, which share tons of similitude.