Search - I Am Dina on DVD

"Look At Me" ~ Fjords, Fatalities And The Dark Feminine

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 12/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Note: Swedish with English subtitles. Requires a multi-region DVD player to view in the America's.

Released in '02 `I Am Dina' is a beautifully filmed Brontesque styled film that is so out of the norm it appears to have created a genre unique unto itself. The constant juxtaposition of the idyllic rural lifestyle of 19th century Northern Norway and the magnificent Norwegian vistas worthy of a National Geographic travelogue are indeed a striking contrast to the dark, supernaturally tinted, psycho-sexual drama that slowly unfolds before its stunned and unprepared audience. Accompanied by a superbly crafted script and superior performances all-around one is left to wonder why such a film has lanquished in obscurity for the past five years.

Maria Bonnevie delivers a haunting and unnerving performance in the role of Dina. Her tormented, otherworldly countenance is both frightening and beautiful and the camera makes good use of her features with continual close-ups of her expressive face. If there were ever a pair of eyes that could gase into a mans soul these are the ones. Other personal favorites in the film are; Soren Saetter-Lassen as Lorch, Mads Mikkelsen as Niels, Christopher Eccleston as Leo and of course the legendary Gerard Depardieu as Jacob."