Speed Walking

What a great performance from Villads Bøye. And such an amazing script. It blew me away! And that scene from the funeral made my skin crawl. Such a mature character at such a young age, you definitely have something to learn from this story.

When I first heard about this film the only thing that was mentioned to me was the discovery of sexuality angle. Which is definitely a key theme. But this film also deals heavily with loss.

Things are going well for Martin. He is the best athlete in his speed walking group, his confirmation is coming up, and the girl that he likes is showing an interest back.

Then his mum suddenly dies. (This happens in the first few minutes of the film... this is not a spoiler) The rest of the film is about how Martin and his family deal with this loss. Martin is also dealing with his developing feelings for his best friend, which is causing him to question his sexuality.

So he is dealing with two quite significant things. And in all fairness to the actor that plays Martin... he does a fantastic job. I found him thoroughly believable and his range of emotion was brilliant for such a young actor.

I also liked that despite all the relationship drama... everybody still remains friends and supports each other. Plenty of people remain friends after such dramas, which is something that rarely seems to happen in movies.

This film did lose a star from me for the weird scene in the paedophile's flat. It was very random and quite unnecessary.

The film is mostly well acted (bar a couple of people) and the plot is actually quite believable... at least for the time period that it is set in. I'm sure modern audiences will probably find it odd. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was a really good movie. The performances were all around excellent but the young actor who plays Martin was absolutely amazing. The scene at his mother's burial would be Oscar worthy if this were an American film. But it is more than that very emotional and heartbreaking scene that makes this performance so fantastic. This actor creates a strong character of a young boy who deals with his mother's death better than his father and brother. He is the strong one in the family, the one who takes control of the situation and makes things happen, despite being the youngest. There are some frank sexual situations but that is not the main thrust of the film. It really is about the strength of this youngster in a difficult situation. With the wrong actor as Martin this film would not have worked. But they found a brilliant young actor who gives one of the best portrayals of a young adolescent ever filmed. Highly recommended.

True, the events go back into the 1970ies, but the film is new, seems realistic, and both the characters and performances are really something. Apart from Villads Bøye as Martin, who is really wow!, the film features - even in tiny roles - many excellent Danish actors and actresses known internationally, e.g. Sidse Babett Knudsen, Pilou Asbæk, David Dencik... The main background of the events is sad, but the Danes living in a small town somehow cope with it in their own, sometimes crazy manner, with fresh sexual liberation whiff in and around their lives. In spite of cruel world and sometimes odd ideas, there is still warmness around, and life goes on with its different angles - all this giftedly directed and performed.

A good stuff, really. I can hardly imagine such a film made and screened e.g. in the USA...

I saw this movie 2 days ago and I can't stop thinking about it. The story was interesting (somewhat uncomfortable at time) and compelling. The range of emotion from the actors, especially Villads Boye playing Martin, was what makes this film stand out. The scene with Martin and Kim was so tender and natural, I felt like I was watching them in real life. A grounded and deeply enchanting Martin, who in the end is the rock of the family. The one who makes this story so moving and so deep. His emotions, his friendships, his feelings are rooted in a wonderful soul that cares about his friends. Someone who understands how to pick up the pieces. With firm convictions and reassuring when the family needs him. The foundation that his father and brother need. All of the actors did a superb job in the film but Villads Boye as Martin had the standout performance. I didn't want the movie to end.