Christian H-N
I can see on the message boards, that this film does not come with English subtitles - only Danish for the hearing impaired, so foreigners don't get much help ... however, the Cinema version should have English subtitles.It is actually a great shame, because this film is not really about something special Scandinavian.Above all, it is good to see, that really good movies touching important themes can be done without a Hollywood budget.There is an old quote in Danish culture: "People say that Jeppe is drinking, but they don't say why Jeppe is drinking". This film illustrates this point very well.But the film is part of a trilogy, so maybe they make a boxed set in the future with English subtitles ... one can only hope.
Jan Knus
The Bench gives a no nonsense depiction of the way of alcohol. The road to early death. From an experienced and professional point of view the way is not shown 'alco-holistic' in surround angles with context feedback from soul to skinbut it is only scattered pictures from the surface: the face of the drinking man, his physical and verbal spasms, his loneliness among alcoholic peers, his mighty thirst, his negative emotions of anger, self hatred, cynicism, and then the sudden rebound of long forgotten family love.From the behavioristic technique of telling the story the audience might wonder what road of excess this man has wandered and why it did not lead to the palace of wisdom.But the film itself doesn't take at stand or offers a story or history of the man and his alcohol. The fixed point of view and the main character isthe Bench. So the story can not move and will not develop. It is sitting on the bench. The love drop to this dying life is only a blurb before the long goodbye. Good setting, good sitting, good acting. Good row of still pictures.Thus, though careful in its objective artistry excactly why it is not 'cinéma-vérité'the film is sentimental and deterministic. No source. No lesson. No hope. No change. In great art there is always hope. Especially in tragedy. Where you can track back and learn 'why?' In life it is karma. In literature poetic justice. This is also cinematic. Please the gods. Change the game.
DAVE BRADLEY (DAVID-BRADLEY)
I have now seen this film two or three times and am very impressed with the way it portrays life for a group of society's loser and how the main character in the film is forced to pull himself together and face the consequences of his past - something he just manages to do before his demise.Bænken is the first of a trilogy of film by director Per Fly. The second was " Arven" ( The inheritance )which was equally impressive but entirely different.The third and final film is called " Drabet" ( The Murder ) and is due for release next year . I'm looking forward to it.
Henrik Stender
Brilliant movie. Jesper Christensen puts his soul into this part as Kaj, who drinks so much, he's dying. Suddenly his daughter appears, who he has not seen since she was about 4 years, so she can't recognize him. She has a son now, and a violent husband. Kaj just hangs out with the locals on a bench, drinking beers and stronger stuff. He's sunken so low, he's negative towards everything and everybody. But now, where he has a grandson, he wants to pull himself up - to live again. But is it too late? It's so great to watch the similar reality these actors/actresses has put in their roles. Jesper Christensen really deserves some important awards for this part. I also enjoyed Halfdan E.'s score very much.
AD
