The Art of Crying (Kunsten at græde i kor) poster & wallpaper
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Jannik Lorenzen, Jesper Asholt, Julie Kolbeck, Hanne Hedelund, Thomas Knuth-Winterfeldt ... see more see more... , Gitte Siem Christensen , Rita Angela , Bjarne Henriksen , Sune Thomsen , Tue Frisk Petersen

An 11-year-old boy who is desperate to maintain peace in his explosive homestead and prevent the family business from being stolen out from under his father's nose blithely commits a series of atrocio... read more read more...us acts in director Peter Schønau Fog's dark family drama. Allan's father is a psychotic milkman. When the intrusion of a rival family threatens to deepen Allan's already fathomless woes by plunging his family into financial destitution, the disturbed youngster resorts to morally reprehensible revenge tactics as he begins showing signs of inheriting his father's madness. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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83% liked it

1,742 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Peter Schønau Fog

Release Date: September 9, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (128)

  • falcons84
    April 24, 2007
    falcons84
    I saw this at its world premiere last year! I'm not quite sure what to think of this movie, though - it portrays a very disturbing view of mental and physical abuse and manipulation in a small-town Danish family, with a chillingly convincing performance from the film's young star... read more.

    The story is an even sicker twist of the family abuse saga theme, with young Allan responding to his father's suicidal tendencies and manic depressiveness in a horrific way. I'm not sure who's more twisted in the end, and I felt a quiet horror watching the descent of this family.

    Here's my original review on IMDB: I had the privilege of watching this at its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Fest, and it's always great to discover new talent. Here, it's not just the discovery of Peter Schonau Fog, but also of the tremendous cast, especially young Jannik Lorenzen, who plays 11-year-old Allan to perfection with his cheeky bewilderment, and eventually with a heavy disappointment that accompanies his loss of innocence. The film reminds me of Schlondorff's The Tin Drum with its rather disturbing, yet comical theme of children growing up entirely too quickly, although The Art of Crying is, in my opinion, far more beautifully poignant as it is told through Allan's eyes.

    Henry (Jesper Asholt) is a milkman whose nightly suicide attempts and constant hysterics have driven his wife to taking sleeping pills every night to avoid him, and his son to university out of their sleepy rural village in Denmark. Henry's young son Allan (Lorenzen) adores him, and begins performing a series of bizarre acts in order to win his father's happiness, seeing nothing wrong with his father's manipulative actions and dysfunctional family dynamics.

    I enjoyed this portrayal of the tension between the rural and the urban, seen in Henry's interactions with his educated son Asger, his daughter Sanne's boyfriend the "moped rowdy" Per, and his neighbour the Buddes, who have introduced self-service at their rival grocery store. It's a compelling tale, grippingly suspenseful as you wait to see what Henry and Allan will do next, yet disturbingly funny as you watch Allan delight in the most unpleasant things (just as long as they make Henry happy). Strong performances all around, and a neat debut for Schonau Fog!

View All The Art of Crying (Kunsten at græde i kor) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard James Havis
November 28, 2007
Richard James Havis, Hollywood Reporter

This slice of Nordic doom and gloom envelops the gruesome behavior of its subjects in a jaunty charm.

Jonathan Holland
October 6, 2006
Jonathan Holland, Variety

Refreshingly unconventional pic tackles its taboos with compassion, grace and wit. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
January 10, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Helmer Fog tries to treat his dysfunctional family saga, about incest and child abuse, in darkly humorous way like Solondz' Happiness, but the dry humor may not translate and viewers may see Denmark's... Full Review

S. James Wegg
January 10, 2008
S. James Wegg, JWR

... Fog and cinematographer Harald Gunnar Paalgard show just enough of these incestuous moments to spark outrage, but never sink to cheap sensationalism ... Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
March 1, 2007
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

Peter Schønau Fog's Danish hot-potato The Art of Crying is a failure, mostly for its desperate sense of trying. Full Review

David Nusair
September 10, 2006
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...most viewers will be left furiously scratching their heads. Full Review

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