"Look At Me" ~ Fjords, Fatalities And The Dark FeminineReviewed by Brian E. Erland, 2007-12-16
Note: Swedish with English subtitles. Requires a multi-region DVD
player to view in the America's.
Released in '02 `I Am Dina' is a beautifully filmed Brontesque
styled film that is so out of the norm it appears to have created a
genre unique unto itself. The constant juxtaposition of the idyllic
rural lifestyle of 19th century Northern Norway and the magnificent
Norwegian vistas worthy of a National Geographic travelogue are
indeed a striking contrast to the dark, supernaturally tinted,
psycho-sexual drama that slowly unfolds before its stunned and
unprepared audience. Accompanied by a superbly crafted script and
superior performances all-around one is left to wonder why such a
film has lanquished in obscurity for the past five years.
Maria Bonnevie delivers a haunting and unnerving performance in the
role of Dina. Her tormented, otherworldly countenance is both
frightening and beautiful and the camera makes good use of her
features with continual close-ups of her expressive face. If there
were ever a pair of eyes that could gase into a mans soul these are
the ones. Other personal favorites in the film are; Soren
Saetter-Lassen as Lorch, Mads Mikkelsen as Niels, Christopher
Eccleston as Leo and of course the legendary Gerard Depardieu as
Jacob.
Gotta see Maria BonnevieReviewed by Len Plasske, 2007-06-27
This film is worth seeing just for the performance of Ms. Bonnevie - what an intense creature (and absolutely gorgeous to boot). The landscape is an effective backdrop to the lithesome beauty of Maria...