good back-story, and good acting

A Disappointing Continuation

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

As an actor myself, you see films where you just don't care about the obstacles and challenges of the characters'. With Copenhagen, one of those little gems you find every so often on Netflix (NZ in this case), I was emotionally invested in all the main characters'. Self discovery in abundance here, particularly with Will (Gethin Anthony), who succumbs to the charms of 14 year old 'Effy', touchingly portrayed by Frederikke Dahl Hansen. I'm sure she has a bright career ahead of her. Poignant moments' of familial connection (or lack of) draws the viewer in against the picturesque backdrop of Denmark. A real discovery to find the principal males', Will and Jeremy (Sebastian Armesto) are both English. I am so glad I stumbled across this beautiful piece of film-making. It is a piece of hope, regret and ultimately, a reminder of how life is too short and that sometimes, it takes someone else to open our eyes to the possibilities.

The first thing I should say outright is that the performance of Frederikke Dahl Hansen was completely enrapturing - and ultimately, she was the star of the film. Far more likable in character than her co-star, to the point you almost feel like the film would have been better centred with the main plot around her, rather than Gethin Anthony's character. I feel like the plot itself was OK, with family ties being sought by two very different characters midst the beautiful backdrop of Copenhagen. The problem was that the male lead's character was fairly detestable, and that led to a lack of sympathy from me as the viewer with his back story. Towards the end there were signs of some redemption in his own behaviour as he starts to care about Effy. However I think the writers should have softened his character more to make the audience feel a bit more connected to him. This is why I have scored a 6 as he is a key part of the film and I truly think that his characterisation was off beam. I understand his lack of maturity is one of the key elements of the character (to fit in with his relationship with Effy), but this needn't have been done in such a coarse way.The above said, the film is absolutely worth watching. Dahl Hansen produces a superb performance combining both a wisdom beyond her 14 yr old life, with a hint of teenage naivety that sees her attach to William. I also think whilst Gethin Anthony's character isn't very likable, he does gel well with Dahl Hansen and we see some great scenes that are very memorable; the Karaoke scene, the awkward discovery of her age and the theme park ride among them. There is a gorgeous scene when we see them cycling the streets of Copenhagen (with the possibly underused Jeremy character) that is verging on euphoria. I've not been to Copenhagen, but seeing this film has definitely made me want to go.So 6 out of 10 is my final score. With a better written lead male, this could have been a 9 or 10. On the topic of the underage aspect, the film addresses this fairly well and shows that it is not unduly bypassing it. We are somewhat led to believe that their companionship has transcended their ages, with the dangers of that relationship highlighted well in the row scene between William and Jeremy - one of the more interesting scenes with the two male characters involved. So go see it, but see if like me you feel one half of the critical relationship just needed re-configuring.

Copenhagen is the story William an American , William , who is on holiday in Europe and at the same time looking for the grandfather he had never met but he struggles because he has a terrible attitude problem , that is until he meets Effy a young woman who want's to help him. the problem is she's a lot younger than he thought. This is a pretty good indie film that covers a taboo subject very well . The acting is very good , especially from Frederikke Dahl Hansen and although you find yourself really not liking William you do admire the way he handles the predicament he is. It makes you think how you would handle the situation and shows how easy it can be to get in a lot of trouble.7 out of 10

***warning, possible spoilers*** this movie should be studied in film classes: you watch it, enjoy it, but don't really realize the effectiveness of the writer and director until later. Here is what happens: 1. An analogy best explains this film: we have all probably seen a video of a master with his dog. Sitting in front of the dog is the most delectable treat imaginable to the dog. The dog does nothing even though every fiber of its being wants to gobble up that treat. It is waiting for its masters command. The Masters here are the writer and director, the dog is the male lead. The girl is the treat (and not in a prurient sense). She says she will be 15 (the age of consent) "in a few days". He wants to pounce (But not in a sexual sense even though there is obvious physical attraction). 2. The age difference is not for shock value. It is a very effective plot device relating to 1 above. 3. They are alone in a hotel room, both drunk (largely at his insistence). She is the aggressor. The reality is he cannot believe she is only 14 and repeatedly says that throughout the movie. She tries to seduce him, taking off her blouse and kissing him which he appears to accept. 4. The "masters" do not outright state that they did not sleep together but instead, more effectively, make that clear by: they both wake up in bed fully clothed (she must have put her top back on) in sharp contrast to his other many dalliances where he graphically wakes up with a naked partner; just prior to this he turns down an offer that most males his age dream about – two beautiful drunk girls try to drag him back to their hotel for a threesome. Instead of going with the women, he is much more concerned about having hurt the girl's feelings and rushes out of the bar, leaving the women, to try to call the girl and apologize for acting like a jerk. So, the attraction is not about sex per se. there is much more to his feelings for the girl and he is clearly conflicted. He does not sleep with her.5. There is more to him than meets the eye: he is in Denmark to find his grandfather and understand why he was abandoned by his father. The girl, with a great heart and overlooking the fact that he is superficially an insensitive jerk sees something deeper in him and embraces the cause of him finding his past and takes it upon herself to help him. 6. The girl, is far more substantial and mature than the women he has been sleeping with (who is really older, the girl or his earlier partners?). She too, has a troubled family but is very close to her mother and wants to help him resolve that part of his life. 7. In one effective scene, he simply glances down a street and sees a father briefly interacting with his son (short and effective). 8. The most effective scene in the movie: she takes him to a museum. She brings him to a dark corner where there is a bust. She tells him she has never brought anyone there before. She stands next to the bust. It is an exact image of the girl. She tells him she is really hundreds of years old and he says the bust is 1500 years old. This scene is a metaphor for what the movie accomplishes. After 1500 years, here she (who posed for the bust) is here again, resurrected, with the human traits that allowed us to survive over those 1500 years: the yearning for family, love, and a striving for happiness even in an imperfect world. In other hands this might seem corny, here it is movie-making genius.