In a world where retaliation is king many cruel things abound – from those believing they have all the power and from those trying to teach them otherwise. Conflicting opinions of what is right and wrong often create cause for argument, and when put into context under extreme circumstances you create a much stronger story. That’s what In A Better World gives us – a somewhat subtle confrontation of mindsets and beliefs.

Two plots run parallel during the film; Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) works as a doctor in an African camp, where he operates on women mutilated by the village’s tyrannical leader. At home in Denmark, he deals with his separation with Marianne (Trine Dyrholm) while their son Elias (Markus Ryggard) deals with school bullies. When Elias gains a friend in Christian (William Johnk Nielsen), the boys discover they can stand up for themselves but aren’t prepared for the road it takes them down. We’re subject to some horrific ideas – that kids can plan extreme revenge from sites on the Internet and tyranny comes in all forms.

The complexity of each character is shown sympathetically through Anders Thomas Jensen’s screenplay, as we explore the important lessons they learn with them. It’s not issues we’re unaware of, but rather those we seem to disregard for one reason or another. Susanne Bier intricately shows us the pain that comes with love and how confronting intimidating people can be just as much being the bigger man as getting revenge. The cast is faultless, with Dyrholm and Persbrandt particularly strong as a couple trying to create a safe world for their children. Following the boys may be more intriguing because their choices are far from what we would expect, but this film triumphs as a questioning yet beautiful tale of showing the consequences of our actions and what we can teach each other.

Verdict:

Worthy of its Oscar win, In A Better World is a powerful piece of cinema.

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In A Better World screens as part of the 2011 Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival. Read all of our BAFF11 coverage here.

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