Adams Äpfel (2005)
23KAdams Äpfel: Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen. With Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Bro, Paprika Steen. A neo-nazi sentenced to community service at a church clashes with the blindly devotional priest.
“This was a wonderful surprise at the (Cleveland) CIFF, a well-made dark comedy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAdam is a neo-Nazi on a sort of Danish u0026quot;probation for reprobatesu0026quot;, where societyu0026#39;s sinners are given a gradual re-introduction to public life under the guidance of Ivan, a parish minister. Adam needs to negotiate a u0026quot;programu0026quot; for his several weeks stay; despite his efforts at being arch and cynical Ivan takes him totally in seriousness, setting u0026quot;baking an apple pieu0026quot; as Adamu0026#39;s goal. A battle of wills ensues between Adam and Ivan, with wonderful comedic support from Gunnar (Nicolas Bro in another wonderful role) the ex-tennis player and Khalid (Ali Kazim) as a not-yet-reformed terrorist.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEveryone is coping here, but the central character is clearly Ivan (perhaps the funniest Iu0026#39;ve seen Mads Mikkelsen!). He comes across as u0026quot;Panglossu0026quot; with a twist: u0026quot;everything is for the bestu0026quot; in this world only in that the devil conspires to make everything a test of manu0026#39;s faith. He is completely deluded yet completely steadfast. This rational irrationality is perhaps the greatest challenge to Adam; no matter what he does Ivan retains his faith to a point where the comedy simply takes another course.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNot to give away the delight of this comedyu0026#39;s surprises, the characters cope with life, each other, are exasperated and exasperating, consistently inconsistent the trials of Job are well played out in this barely disguised absurdist romp.”
