Directed by Susanne Bier
Dust is blown into open tents and there is a long queue for the pitifully inadequate open air hospital in an African refugee camp. Danish physician Anton (Michael Persbrandt) is trying to save the life of a pregnant woman who has been cut open by the ‘Big Man’ of the nearby village. Bound by the Hippocratic Oath, Anton is faced with a quandary when the monstrous warlord turns up for treatment. Meanwhile, back in Denmark, his eldest son Elias (Markus Rygaard) is being bullied at school. Although he is dedicated to saving the world or a small part of it at least, he is separated from his wife and far away from the son who needs his help to deal with the constant bullying. While the contrast between the harsh African desert and the lush Danish countryside is marked, the dilemma of how to fight injustice is shared.
Christian (William Neilsen) is a new student at the school, having moved from London after the death of his mother from cancer. He has been left with his grandparents while his father Claus (Ulrich Thomsen) returns to London to sort out his affairs and is angry at the injustices of the world. Christian and Elias become friends when Christian faces up to the bullies but Elias struggles with the amount of violence required in the name of seeking revenge. Just as tensions reach boiling point in the refugee camp, the boys’ plans for revenge also seem to be heading towards disaster.
This is an extremely powerful film as director Susanne Bier throws the audience into the middle of the parallel dramas to see the problems of fighting injustice on both the large and small scales. In a Better World is an absolute masterpiece and screens at UWA’s Somerville 10-16 Jan and at ECU’s Joondalup Pines 17-23 Jan.
Lezly Herbert
***
