Twist and Shout
Film poster
Directed byBille August
Written byBjarne Reuter
Bille August
Based onNår snerlen blomstrer
by Bjarne Reuter
Produced byPer Holst
StarringAdam Tønsberg
Lars Simonsen
Camilla Søeberg
Ulrikke Bondo
CinematographyJan Weincke
Edited byJanus Billeskov Jansen
Music byBo Holten
Production
companies
Per Holst Filmproduktion
Palle Fogtdal A/S
Distributed byKærne Film
Release date
  • 26 December 1984 (1984-12-26)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryDenmark
LanguageDanish

Twist and Shout (Danish: Tro, håb og kærlighed) is a 1984 Danish drama film directed by Bille August. It was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival where Lars Simonsen won the award for Best Actor.[1] The film saw a release in American theaters in 1986.[2] Twist and Shout was also selected as the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 58th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[3]

The film is adapted for the screen from the novel "Når snerlen blomstrer" by Bjarne Reuter. The story is part of a trilogy and is a sequel to the 1983 film Zappa; the story is followed by the novel "Vi der valgte mælkevejen". Twist and Shout revolves around a bunch of young people in the 1960s suburbs of Copenhagen.

Plot

The plot follows two best friends, Bjørn (Adam Tønsberg) and Erik (Lars Simonsen), and their coming-of-age in 1963 Denmark against the backdrop of The Beatles becoming an overnight sensation throughout Europe. Bjørn is pursued by Kirsten (Ulrikke Bondo), who has her mind set on marriage, but Bjørn instead falls for Anna (Camilla Søeberg). The somber Erik cares for his home-bound mentally ill mother while his strict father rules his life. Erik desires Kirsten, but she's unattainable to him. Pregnancy, a horrific illegal abortion, an engagement party, and a revelation about the rectitude of Erik's father leads to a climax of events, and Bjørn and Erik must stand up to controlling adults.[4]

Cast

Reception

The film has a score of 80%, based on 5 reviews, on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.[5] In a brief mixed review, Roger Ebert awarded the film two and a half stars.[6] Critic Desson Howe noted although there was nothing particularly special about the film's plot, the on-screen charisma of the four young leads elevated the film.[7] Janet Maslin of The New York Times gave a positive review, writing both Zappa and Twist and Shout "draw their strength from the portrait of an arid, conventional Danish society that Mr. August uses as these stories' implicit backdrop".[2] Michael Wilmington of The Los Angeles Times also praised the film and said it gives "a realistic look at adolescent love and its harrowing consequences, a stark portrayal of the horrors of family life, and a bitter but clear-eyed look at social barriers, the dangers of compromise and the vulnerable bonds of friendship".[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b Maslin, Janet (26 September 1986). "A BOUNTIFUL FALL SEASON FOR NEW YORK FILMGOERS; 'TWIST AND SHOUT,' FROM DENMARK". New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  3. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  4. ^ "Twist and Shout (1984)", IMDb. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Twist and Shout", Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  6. ^ Ebert, Roger (19 September 1986). "Twist and Shout movie review (1986)". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  7. ^ Howe, Desson (12 June 1987). "Twist and Shout (NR)". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. ^ Wilmington, Michael (22 August 1986). "MOVIE REVIEW : A DARK VISION IN 'TWIST AND SHOUT". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 November 2021.

External links

Films directed by Bille August
Danish submissions for Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
Categories