Silent Heart
{{short description|2014 film}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Silent Heart
| image = Stille_hjerte_(Silent_Heart)_2014_Bille_August.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| native_name = Stille hjerte
| director = Bille August
| producer = Jesper Morthorst
| writer = {{Interlanguage link multi|Christian Torpe|da}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| music = Annette Focks
| cinematography = Dirk Brüel
| editing = Anne Østerud
{{Interlanguage link multi|Janus Billeskov Jansen|da}}
| studio = SF Film
| distributor = {{plainlist|
- Level K (Scandinavia)
}}
| released = {{Film date|2014|09|20|Spain|2014|11|13|Denmark|df=y}}
| runtime = 98 minutes
| country = Denmark
| language = Danish
| budget = {{Currency|13|DKK2}} mio
| gross =
}}
Silent Heart ({{langx|da|Stille hjerte}}, Quiet heart) is a 2014 Danish drama film directed by Bille August, and starring Ghita Nørby, Morten Grunwald, Paprika Steen, and Jens Albinus. The film was nominated for the 2015 Nordic Council Film Prize.
Plot
A family of three generations gather over a weekend to say goodbye to Esther who suffers from an incurable disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and with the help of her husband Poul has chosen to pursue euthanasia when the weekend is over. But as the end approaches, the mother's decision becomes more and more difficult to handle for the daughters Heidi and Sanne, and old conflicts come to the surface.
Cast
- Ghita Nørby as Esther
- Morten Grunwald as Poul
- Paprika Steen as Heidi
- Danica Curcic as Sanne
- Jens Albinus as Michael
- Pilou Asbæk as Dennis
- {{Interlanguage link multi|Vigga Bro|da}} as Lisbeth
- Oskar Sælan Halskov as Jonathan
Themes
The topic of August's film is euthanasia. The film is a family drama about three generations coming together over a weekend to say goodbye to their wife, mother, mother in law, grandmother and friend.
Release
The film premièred 20 September 2014 at the San Sebastián International Film Festival where it received a 20 minutes standing ovation.{{cite web|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/kultur/film/bille-augusts-nye-film-er-om-aktiv-doedshjaelp-mig-handler-det-om-vaerdighed|title=Bille Augusts nye film er om aktiv dødshjælp: For mig handler det om værdighed|author=Nicolas Stig Nielsen|work=DR|date=21 September 2014}} It was released theatrically in Denmark 13 November 2014.{{cite web|url=http://filmz.dk/bille-augusts-stille-hjerte-faar-premiere-paa-prestigefyldt-filmfestival|title=Bille Augusts "Stille hjerte" får premiere på prestigefyldt filmfestival|work=filmz.dk|date=8 August 2014}}
Reception
Film critic Morten Piil in {{Interlanguage link multi|Filmmagasinet Ekko|da}} gave the film 5 out of 6 stars and wrote: "All in all, Silent Heart is Bille August's most complete film since The Best Intentions."{{cite web|url=http://www.ekkofilm.dk/anmeldelser/stille-hjerte/|title=Stille hjerte|work=ekkofilm.dk}} Jonathan Holland for The Hollywood Reporter wrote positively from San Sebastián that "After the disappointing Night Train to Lisbon, Heart signals a return to form for the former Oscar-winner Bille August, who here explores with practised ease and an alertness the emotional truth of the dynamics of an ordinarily neurotic family in an extraordinary situation. Accessible without being easy, and played to perfection by a superbly directed cast, Heart looks set to beat at festivals and in the European arthouse."{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/silent-heart-stille-hjerte-san-734814|title='Silent Heart' ('Stille Hjerte'): San Sebastian Review|author=Jonathan Holland|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=23 September 2014}}
Jay Weissberg for Variety on the other hand wrote that "Silent Heart is a standard-issue tearjerker about a dying matriarch gathering her family around on the weekend she plans to off herself. The only surprise is when the script goes from merely stereotyped to spectacularly silly with a late revelation that would feel idiotic even in a farfetched 1940s meller."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-silent-heart-1201321830/|title='Silent Heart' Review: Bille August's Euthanasia Drama Sad for the Wrong Reasons - Variety|work=Variety|date=6 October 2014}}
{{Portal|Film|Denmark}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|3335048}}
- {{DNFt|86590}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes | id=stille_hjerte | title= Stille hjerte }}
- {{Danskefilm|TYPE=f|2238}}
{{Bille August}}
{{Bodil Award for Best Danish Film}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silent Heart}}
Category:2010s Danish-language films
Category:Films about diseases and disorders
Category:Films about euthanasia
Category:Films directed by Bille August