Customer Reviews

I Am Dina

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An epic in its own right, this movie is for those that like Babette's Feast, The Piano, My life as a Dog and other 'artsy' films. Set in a Norway that makes you want to grab the first flight out there, it's haunting story is of a cellist who lives life by her own rules from the age of 5. Not 'slow' like Babette's Feast, but with all the subtleties that we just don't get in most Hollywood movies. But not so intropective that you get lost on your own navel. Really a treat. The music, awesome, and the acting... well very good. To me, I put it up there with the likes of The English Patient, Frances, Indochine. You'll just have to get it and see for yourself. Honestly, it's one of those kind of movies ( I had the opportunity to see it in the theaters) that when it's done, you want more and you want to act on making your life more full. Cliché, but totaly carpe diem. Voila.

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.

If you're in the mood for something light and romantic watch something else, however if you're looking for something somber and brooding look no further.

My Rating: -4 ½ Stars-.

This is a haunting and engaging story about a young girl banished to a life of self torment, an only child denied the love of her father when she accidentally causes the death of her mother. The first moments of this film are riveting, soft and serene and then quickly blood curdling, as we see the young girl playing whimsically in the 1800s in mountainous Norway, only to accidentally drown her mother in a giant vat of boiling lye on the family's estate. This all happens in the first few moments of this film- it is explosive and mesmerizing, visually spectacular, highly disturbing and set against a soundtrack of enchanting music.

The tale follows the story of Dina, the tragedy that befalls her as a child and the life of disappointment and abandonment she subsequently is doomed to follow, a life spent yearning for the love of her father and discarding all other men as playtoys. We see Dina as a young girl, and then as a young woman. She scorns her femininity in much the same way she has been scorned for causing her mother's death and her life is one of betrayal, revenge, abandonment, and adultery. This is a film not of possibility but of mind numbing reality, the confused reality of a woman damaged to the core and her need to find a permanent love that will honor and obey, and validate her.

It is beautifully filmed and cleverly edited to create a visual journey as poignant and lingering as the sad and disturbing plight of Dina. This is definitely an interesting and unique film experience, perhaps at times more engrossing for the scenery, sound track and editing than for the story line.

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.

Based on the novel by Herbjørg Wassmoole, Ole Bornedal directed the drama I Am Dina. In Northern Norway during the 1860s, a little girl named Dina accidentally causes her mother's death. Overcome with grief, her father (Bjørn Floberg) refuses to raise her, leaving her in the care of the household servants. Dina grows up wild and unmanageable, with her only friend being the stable boy, Tomas (Hans Matheson)and finding in the cello her only silent partner. She summons her mother's ghost and develops a strange fascination with death as well as a fervent passion for living, as well as an indomitable character.

Family friend Jacob (Gérard Depardieu) encourages Dina's father to hire Lorch (Søren Sætter-Lassen), a tutor who introduces her to the cello. When Dina is old enough (played by Maria Bonnevie), she marries Jacob and moves to Reinsnes, a port he runs with his mother, Karen (Wenche Foss), and his stepsons Niels (Mads Mikkelsen) and Anders (Jørgen Langhelle). Niels doesn't like Dina's wild ways, or the fact that she has taken over accounting duties at Reinsnes. Dina's eccentric tendencies become even stronger, eventually leading Jacob into an accident of his own and bringing Tomas back into her life.

Potent and remarkable film, that deserves from you special attention due the marvelous script, stunning artistic direction and towering performances of all the cast. One may feel the undeniable visual narrative of Ingmar Bergman. But just for watching the enraptured performance of Maria Bonnevie would be by itself motive to watch this fabulous film that somehow was overlooked by most audiences and critics all over the world expect in Europe.

Watch it and you will experience a rewarding surprise.

One of the most captivating pieces of cinema I have ever come across, Dina is stunning, moving and beautiful. It brilliantly touches parts of the human psyche that other movies just dance around. And the acting is amazing.

But be forewarned, this film will haunt you.

This was a wonderfully directed movie, I don't know why it didn't do so well in the US. The actors did a splendid job, the music was great, and the plot was good. It would appeal to mostly women I think, as a dark drama from the iew-point of a woman.

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...

Even an hour was too much for me. Sorry, but I don't share the stellar opinions reviewed here; I was looking forward to this film based on those glowing reviews. It is a film with gorgeous cinematography, but that's about all. I had to suspend my disbelief right at the get-go. Which isn't a bad thing, but just didn't help in establishing a connection with anything in this film. Didn't like the little girl, nor the older version. In fact, I didn't like any of the characters. I've enjoyed some of Gerrard D's work, but overall find him comical to watch. Almost laughed out loud when Dina hops on him for the first time and stares in wonderment at his private parts. Would a virgin have all that fun the first time/s out? What always amazes me is the continuous double standard with full frontal nudity. Okay for the female to come straight at the camera, but the guy? Usually the artistic lights and shadows carefully covering. Overall, I don't know why I disliked this film so much except that, since Dina is the central character, if you don't connect on any level with her, you're sunk.

Just finished this and I barely know what to think. At some level I was confused but, at the same time, totally absorbed in its passion.

Here's the scoop. At a young age, Dina accidentally causes the death of her mother. Her father banishes her from the house and she is left alone in someone's attic, for some while, to suffer, alone, the horror of what has happened. She is gradually brought back into the house and tutored by a musician. He teaches her music, how to read, and tries to steer her into some degree of emotional normalcy. Her father wants little to do with her and she matures into a very interesting, wild and haunted individual.

Though there is somewhat of a story and character arc here, it is mostly episodic. You see Dina in various episodes throughout her life which explore her person. She has a constant wide (wild)- eyed look. She doesn't blink much. She's tough both emotionally and physically. She never wears shoes, not even in the winter. And that's saying something because this is set in a rural Norwegian town in the 19th century. She's an accomplished cellist and appears not only to be quite bright but cunning as well. She can pick up on the smallest clues to see what's happening around her. But she's haunted by her mother's death and this effects everything she does. Death always seems close at hand and her relationships with people in general, and men in particular, are wildly unpredictable.

This might be where I had a problem. I'm not certain what the writer/ director was trying to say. Yup. She's big time screwed up. But, even with her death obsession, she seems to be more alive than those around her. It's just I felt so little procession in the film. It seemed to be a bunch of set pieces strung together. Maybe I need to see it again to get the whole of it.

This film has a great look to it. The sense of period is played well. The cast is good. Maria Bonnevie is great as Dina. Gerard Depardieu, Chris Eccelston and Madds Mikkelson all do fine jobs. There is great passion in every frame of this movie. I liked it a lot and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys foreign films. I just couldn't find the core to it.