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Review

While Lars von Trier might be known as the master of Danish melodrama, Susanne Bier is quickly making a name for herself with her hard-hitting and emotional family stories. Possibly her greatest achievement yet, the Academy Award-nominated After the Wedding is about facing the past and keeping secrets to spare the ones you love. Danish ex-pat Jacob Peterson has established a life for himself in India. Having built an orphanage to help young children get off the streets, he enjoys strong bonds with the kids, particularly with one who looks up to him as a father figure. Unfortunately, his pet project is a losing proposition, and if he does not find additional funding soon, it is liable to be shut down. Enter the wealthy Jørgen, a Danish businessman who offers Jacob $4 million in exchange for him returning to Denmark to take part in Jørgen’s daughter’s wedding, an event that proves to be more related to Jacob’s past than he expects. When Jacob arrives and discovers the secret motives for being brought back home, he is forced to make some difficult decisions. Featuring stellar performances from an outstanding ensemble cast, After the Wedding will leave you in awe. (Danish, Swedish, Hindi, English with English subtitles)

 -- Michael Lerman