Bænken (2000) User Reviews

AN INTERESTING FILM

[DAVID-BRADLEY · 8/10 · 18 November 2004]

I have now seen this film two or three times and am very impressed with the way it portrays life for a group of society's loser and how the main character in the film is forced to pull himself together and face the consequences of his past - something he just manages to do before his demise.

Bænken is the first of a trilogy of film by director Per Fly. The second was " Arven" ( The inheritance )which was equally impressive but entirely different.

The third and final film is called " Drabet" ( The Murder ) and is due for release next year .

I'm looking forward to it.

Rob a liquor store and descend into the bender from hell with Jesper Christensen...

[zoschenkooksanna · 8/10 · 21 January 2016]

Three men, a poor man, a rich man and an anything but average man, are in abominable situations, all of their own choosing, and they have to struggle to create something good out of it, no matter how insignificant and unimportant that good may seem to others. Per Fly's Danish Trilogy, begins here, with Baenken, and I found Christensen's poor alcoholic utterly convincing. Didn't recognize him. Felt every rasping draw of the astringent cigarette smoke, the throat retching gulp of every mouthful of borrowed beer and stolen liquor. His failed attempt to reestablish a relationship with his daughter, soul crushing. His battle to the death to do something, anything to redeem himself, incredibly moving, heroic. His masterful performance to some extent, overshadows the plot, the whole film. Followed by Arven, and Drapet to complete the trilogy.

Really good movie

[box247365 · 8/10 · 29 April 2005]

Here's a comment to this Norwegian Øysten guy! To me it sounds more like you have a problem with Danes in general and are just using the movie as an excuse to utter some very stupid remarks about Danish movies. You sound like a poor fellow with a self esteem problem. It's not our problem that Norway is not exactly the capital of film making right now. During the last 10 years or so Danish films have had an impressively high level of quality. Sure, there have been some not very good and some very bad movies, but the general level is high. If you take a look at the over-exposed American movies it's only a low fraction of those that are even worth mentioning and yet they are still dominating the cinemas everywhere, also in Denmark. Of course, the success of Danish films has made the fraction of American movies decrease a bit which is a very positive thing. In the 80's we excelled in extremely bad comedies so the last 10 years have been a giant leap forward. You can say what you want about the Dogma95 concept but it resulted in a series of good movies and a lot of fruitful discussions about film making in general. Now, Dogma95 has seized to exist (it was only intended to be officially "running" for 10 years) which is probably also a good thing because otherwise the concept could end up as a parody of itself. Dogma95 caused a little stir in the movie industry and rightfully deserves a note in movie history. It's like Lars Von Trier himself: You can love or hate him, but you cannot possibly ignore him.

Hard hitting drama.

[libertyvalance · 12 November 2002]

We've all of us seen them: the alcoholics wasting their lives sitting on our cities' benches. What we don't see is the drama behind the alcohol.

What struck me while watching Baenken is that it is all so believable and therefore the more painful to watch. The story of this film becomes less important than the leading character's death wish. His cynical attitude towards life and suicidal drinking habits are what sticks in one's mind.

Jesper Christensen is masterful in portraying the misery, the shame and hopelessness that go with alcoholism. The drinking bout in which he cries while lying wounded in his apartment is gut wrenching to watch.

Not an easy film to watch but definitely worthwhile if one has the stomach for it.

Fantastic and heartfelt portrayal of the edges of society

[prometheus-dk · 9/10 · 2 March 2003]

I was very skeptical when I first went to see this movie, I have never been a fan of political movies or movies with an overstated "message". This film however, proved to be neither. This is a refreshingly unsentimental portrayal of one of the members of society that we all would prefer to ignore. The main character, Kaj, is a wellfare client with no prospects, he once had a job and was making a life for himself, but now he is a broken down alcoholic with a genuine but thinly-veiled deathwish. He is masterfully portrayed by Jesper Christensen who, deservedly, won both the Bodil and Robert awards for his performance. Enter a woman who says she is his daughter and suddenly his world becomes complicated. What is so great about this film is that it never wallows in pity and heartfelt sympathies for its protagonists and neither does it become a political manifesto about the sufferings of the lower classes. This is ultimately a movie about a man, a man who may have made some wrong decisions in his life but nonetheless a human being like the rest of us. Per Fly spent a lot of time with people whose life resembles that of the characters in order to achieve a high level of authenticity. As a result the setting of the film is thoroughly believable and the characters equally so. This is the first film in Per Fly's trilogy about the classes in Denmark, the second movie about the upper class premiers this week in Denmark and the third, about the middle class will begin preproduction shortly.

Excellent drama about forgiveness and more

[Gyldmark · 10/10 · 29 November 2000]

Brilliant movie. Jesper Christensen puts his soul into this part as Kaj, who drinks so much, he's dying. Suddenly his daughter appears, who he has not seen since she was about 4 years, so she can't recognize him. She has a son now, and a violent husband. Kaj just hangs out with the locals on a bench, drinking beers and stronger stuff. He's sunken so low, he's negative towards everything and everybody. But now, where he has a grandson, he wants to pull himself up - to live again. But is it too late? It's so great to watch the similar reality these actors/actresses has put in their roles. Jesper Christensen really deserves some important awards for this part. I also enjoyed Halfdan E.'s score very much.

Coherence wanted..

[daugaard4-1 · 6/10 · 14 December 2010]

The movie is worth watching due to the acting of Jesper Christensen, who was rewarded greatly afterwards for his performance. Also smaller parts by Jens Albinus and Lars Brygmann are worth noticing.

The film lacks the simple ingredient: coherence, which is partially down to the terrible acting by Stine Holm Joensen (the daughter). And due her importance to the story this ruins a lot, especially the credibility of her character.

She also coincidentally moves in right next to her alcoholic father whom she hasn't seen for 19 years which doesn't exactly give the start of the film nor the storyline a lot of credibility either.

The development of the alcoholic Kaj might seem realistic from an objective point of view but because the actions preceding this development are non effectual you lose faith in the story. It is the sudden reoccurring of his daughter that ruins his daily routines and makes him act out of nature. Everything that happens to him throughout the movie is down to his daughter and grandson, the transition between father and daughter is therefore very important but unfortunately Stine Holm Joensen isn't convincing. The story has potential and could have been very great, especially considering the simplicity and originality of the film. BUT as successful an approach this might seem it also harms the film because it adds pressure and emphasis on the storyline and the acting, which the film simply isn't strong enough to carry. I actually laughed more than I was moved (mostly down to some really funny and clever lines) but I wasn't moved at times when I was supposed to. I didn't like the music of the film either. The red thread of it was confusing; Should one; cry, laugh, be excited? The film is recommendable of course - Not everyone would share my critical views, and the amazing acting, after all, from Jesper Christensen is worth watching. Too many mistakes though (acting, story/plot)in important scenes and sequences is enough to ruin it, for me at least. 5 1/2 out of 10

Very touching

[monz-1 · 10/10 · 9 August 2005]

This movie is about forgiving, decay, hope, love and death. The main character is played to perfection by Jesper Christensen, one of the best performances i've ever seen in any movie. I was 100% convinced that he was a deathdrunk alcoholic, what a masterpiece of acting!!! 10 stars on his acting alone.

The story is beautiful, sad but very very true. Many of us close our eyes to these kind of people and tend to forget that behind the sad drunken facades are real people with real stories and emotions. This movie smacks these people right in your face. Some people find it disgusting, but the rest of us find that this is a masterpiece of a movie. Its in my top 3 of all time favourite movies.

The story is sitting on the bench

[knus-1 · 6/10 · 8 March 2005]

The Bench gives a no nonsense depiction of the way of alcohol. The road to early death. From an experienced and professional point of view the way is not shown 'alco-holistic' —in surround angles with context feedback from soul to skin—but it is only scattered pictures from the surface: the face of the drinking man, his physical and verbal spasms, his loneliness among alcoholic peers, his mighty thirst, his negative emotions of anger, self hatred, cynicism, and then the sudden rebound of long forgotten family love.

From the behavioristic technique of telling the story the audience might wonder what road of excess this man has wandered and why it did not lead to the palace of wisdom.

But the film itself doesn't take at stand or offers a story or history of the man and his alcohol. The fixed point of view and the main character is—the Bench. So the story can not move and will not develop. It is sitting on the bench. The love drop to this dying life is only a blurb before the long goodbye. Good setting, good sitting, good acting. Good row of still pictures.

Thus, though careful in its objective artistry —excactly why it is not 'cinéma-vérité'—the film is sentimental and deterministic. No source. No lesson. No hope. No change. In great art there is always hope. Especially in tragedy. Where you can track back and learn 'why?' In life it is karma. In literature poetic justice. This is also cinematic. Please the gods. Change the game.

Super great movie

[mia-gp · 10/10 · 1 April 2005]

This movie is the most powerful movie I've ever seen, it went right through my body and at the same time I loved it and I still watches it from time to time I never get sick of it. I know some one who unfortunately is in the same position as the main character and we watch it together and we cry our eyes out it's so realistic that it can be felt all over your body it's a heart felt and honest movie. I can only highly recommend it to everyone who has a heart. The cameras are shooting the right angles and get all action, pain and warm that there might be in every scene, great acting, directing and to sum up a wonderful film. I want everyone to see it and feel the movie in your heart, body and soul.

Therefore it gets a 10/10 I would love to give it more if that was possible.

Marvellous Dannish movie

[juliensaroyan-1 · 10/10 · 15 February 2008]

I have recently watched this excellent Dannish movie on satellite channel.Regrettably I was deprived of the opportunity to understand dialogs as there was neither English translation nor subtitles. Nevetheless, that language barrier had not prevented me from understanding the essence of the movie and conversely watching this movie in Dannish emphasized scenes regarding alcoholics, contradictions and attitude towards lonely poverty-stricken generally in Europe and particularly in Denmark. The problem of solitude is pivotal in this movie. Loneliness kills us faster that whatever disease. The movie is full of sadness and sympathy. I recommend everybody to watch it.

A socio-realistic drama of a drunk guy with no future, suddenly finding a path...

[kbilsted · 10/10 · 18 October 2003]

The most stunishing thing about this movie is the acting of the drunk guy. Several times during the movie I pondered whether they had brought in a real drunk, or if it really was an actor? All his moves, the way i talked etc. were so real.

The story as far as I recall it, is about a drunk guy on dole, with no future. Suddenly he meets a person which makes his internal flame of live rise and burst.

We as spectators get a view of how it is having no future, no family and nothing to do. Its a story without any special effects or explosions (not even a telly which is thrown out of the window from the second floor explode upon impact with the sidewalk!) But still, the story is so much better than of most multi-billion dollar movies from Hollywood.

Not a Hollywood movie

[chn65 · 10/10 · 21 September 2006]

I can see on the message boards, that this film does not come with English subtitles - only Danish for the hearing impaired, so foreigners don't get much help ... however, the Cinema version should have English subtitles.

It is actually a great shame, because this film is not really about something special Scandinavian.

Above all, it is good to see, that really good movies touching important themes can be done without a Hollywood budget.

There is an old quote in Danish culture: "People say that Jeppe is drinking, but they don't say why Jeppe is drinking". This film illustrates this point very well.

But the film is part of a trilogy, so maybe they make a boxed set in the future with English subtitles ... one can only hope.

Behind every person lies an untold story

[ej140787 · 10/10 · 18 March 2012]

This Danish masterpiece revels the story of a drunk alcoholic living in the suburbs of Copenhagen. The film represents the underclass of the Danish welfare society and is the 1st of Per Fly praised trilogy.

Kaj is an alcoholic living on the money the Danish state is providing him. Him and his friends spend their time drinking beer at a public bench. One day Kaj's life turns upside down when a young lady and her child moves in next to him.

The movie shows the life of a person fighting with depression and addiction. Subjects as social inheritance, compassion, honor and shame play a significant role in the movie.

The acting of Kaj is done by Jesper Christensen and it's remarkable trustworthy. One of the best performances I've ever seen. The story of Kaj is interesting and sad. It revels the story of a man who lost his track in life and how this affects others around him. It gives perspective on how people differently are dealing with shame, honor and love. It shows a person who have lost his purpose with life and how drinking became his only solution to deal with it. However behind the trashy clothes and smell lies a great person with honor, love and passion.

Should have stayed on the bench

[thecatcanwait · 16 November 2011]

A freebie film off the Internet. Part of a trilogy directed by Per Fly portraying the upper, middle, and under strata's of Danish society. I saw The Inheritance - the upper strata part – back in May 2008; it was – like this is – competent Sunday evening TV drama (more BBC2 than 1) Acceptable misery entertainment.

Jesper Christensen as street bench alkie Kai gives good grumpy and gruff; actually, its more than grumpy and gruff, its downright sh-tty horrible. All that swigging and puking up, and stinking beer sweat – not attractive; disillusioned hopeless weary woeness is pitched the right side of ugly: Kai is gonna drink himself to death – and you can all fcuk off! I work with park bench alkies; they swing erratically from cynical self-loathing to sentimental self-pity on a daily basis; depends on what state of boozy obliteration they're in or out of – so this gritty portrayal is pretty good as far as pretty bad is concerned. The drunken slide into down and out destitution is relentless, becomes inevitable.

Problem with this film is it doesn't have the guts to stay still - and hopeless – with the drunks on the park bench. It wants to move into movie melodrama all too readily. The whole father/daughter redemption story is too neatly plotted and packaged to be street credible "realism". Too much of what happens gets to feel conveniently contrived so as to forward the narrative as conventional cinematic drama, while running away - scared – smack into a redemptive "dying in daughters arms" ending. This guy Kai has done 19 years of alcohol abuse. He deserted – after beating her up – his wife and little daughter. He's an ugly self loathing ass-hole. He doesn't deserve redemptive endings. Get real! I would have dropped all the daughter drama. Stay on the bench. Get right in the "earth ass-hole" these bench alkies are stuck in. And mine their assholes for worms of dirty gold. But i suppose to do that you'd need Samuel Beckett writing the screenplay.

This film wants to leave the ass-hole its poking into before it gets too disgustingly sh-tty. We're too amused by distractions like "jazz popped trumpet music" and an eccentric character who seems to have wandered in lost from a Mike Leigh film "overeaten of Soren Kierkegaard" (to quote a Danish reviewer)