Worlds Apart (film)

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Movie
German title Worlds Apart
Original title To Verdener
(Two Worlds)
Country of production Denmark
original language Danish
Publishing year 2008
length 105 minutes
Rod
Director Niels Arden Oplev
script Niels Arden Oplev
Steen Bille
production Thomas Heinesen
music Jacob Groth
camera Lars Vestergaard
cut Anne Østerud
occupation

Worlds Apart or To verdener ( Danish original title, literally translated: Two Worlds) is a Danish film by director Niels Arden Oplev , written by Oplev and Steen Bille . The film, based on a true story, shows the life of 17-year-old Sara ( Rosalinde Mynster ) as a Jehovah's Witness , who falls in love with 23-year-old Teis ( Pilou Asbæk ), who is not a Jehovah's Witness. The film was shown to the public for the first time on February 22nd, 2008 at the Berlinale 2008 and was nominated by Denmark for an Oscar in the category Best Foreign Language Film in 2009 .

action

Sara Dahl is a 17-year-old student and baptized Jehovah's Witness. Her parents Andreas and Karen are also members of Jehovah's Witnesses, as is her younger sister Elisabeth, who is being baptized . Both sisters are zealous Witnesses and also help their little brother August understand the teachings of their religion . One evening after the meeting overheard Sara part of a conversation in which her parents talk about how they with the elders have spoken, because there is a problem.

Andrew committed adultery and thus cheated on his wife, which is considered one of the highest sins by Jehovah's Witnesses. Although Andreas deeply regrets this and also confesses to his daughter Sara what happened, his wife Karen cannot forgive him and wants a divorce. The children, especially Sara, are suspicious of their mother's attitude, after all, the religious community has also forgiven him. Although he lost his office as an elder, he was not disfellowshipped because of his repentance. Because of this, the children decide that the mother should leave the house.

Sara's friend Thea is also a Jehovah's Witness, but places less emphasis on the guidelines of her faith. So she invites Sara to a party in a disco. At this party, Sara also meets Teis. Since Sara has never drunk alcohol, she vomits after a few drinks and wants to go home. Teis accompanies them and so they get to know each other better.

Sara arranged a chat with Teis shortly afterwards. Since Sara doesn't like to be seen with Teis, the two go for a walk. Sara meets her older brother Jonas in a shop. He asked about the well-being of the family that wants nothing to do with him because he came from the ranks of Jehovah's Witnesses excluded was.

Sara tells Teis that she is a Jehovah's Witness, whereupon Teis exposes her. Sara drives home frustrated. She tells her father that she studied with Thea; he must not know that she has met an unbeliever. The next day Teis apologizes to Sara. She forgives him and visits him again. During this visit, Sara Teis tells what it means to be a Jehovah's Witness. She forgets the time and missed the train home. Teis persuades her to sleep with him. That evening the two get closer and kiss. Sara and Teis are a couple.

In order not to let this get exposed, Sara asks Thea for her help. But when Sara's father Andreas asks Thea where Sara was, Thea tells him the truth. When this Sara asks about it, Sara confesses everything to him. Andreas immediately calls in the elders so that they can lead his daughter back on the right track. After a meticulous questioning, the elders decide that Sara would not be punished, but that she must break up with Teis immediately - by letter. Sara writes the letter, totally unhappy and desperate.

After a short time there is a meeting between the two, in which Sara confirms her decision. She doesn't want anything more from Teis.

But he realizes that Sarah loves him and attends one of the meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, which Sarah also goes to. He pretends to be interested in the faith to be closer to Sara. Sara is very happy that Teis is taking this step and can now see him from the elders, as long as she does not get intimate with him.

Sara's feelings for Teis grow stronger and stronger, so that she throws her concerns about her belief overboard and has sex with Teis. She decides to move in with Teis and pretends to live with her mother. Sara covers this. Sara and Teis move into a house.

After a quarrel with Teis - who confesses to Sara that he actually doesn't want to know anything about her faith - Sara gets in touch with her brother Jonas again. He is totally surprised that Sara contacts him despite the ban and assures her of his help.

After a short time, Sara's sister Elisabeth realizes that Sara lives with Teis. After the elders visit Sara and Teis, in which the elders explain the consequences of their way of life, and the visit from her father, who breaks off contact with her, Sara feels increasingly bad.

When she is then excluded, her sister no longer wants to have anything to do with her and her friend Thea also treats her like air, she realizes that she cannot lead a life as a non-witness in her hometown. With a heavy heart she separates from Teis. Shortly afterwards, she learns that her friend Thea died in an accident. Andreas, Sara's father, gives the funeral speech for Thea, during which Sara also tries to say goodbye to Thea. In the speech, Andreas points out Thea's strong belief and conviction that she should refuse blood transfusions in any case. Sara openly settles accounts with her father in a conversation after this address.

Sara's brother Jonas is no match for life as an outsider of Jehovah's Witnesses. He becomes an active Jehovah's Witness again. Sara herself moves to Copenhagen to study there. She wants to be a teacher.

Awards

  • Berlinale 2008 (Berlin International Film Festival), February 11, 2008
  • Tribeca Film Festival, April 2008
  • Transilvania International Film Festival, Romania , 4th June 2008
  • Espoo Film Festival, Finland , August 21, 2008

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ bp: Denmark sends sectarian drama into the Oscar race. 2008, accessed December 30, 2011 .

Web links