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In a Better World

Play trailer Poster for In a Better World R,  2011,  1h 55m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 77% 119 Reviews Tomatometer 86% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 119 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) is a doctor who travels frequently between his home in Denmark and a refugee camp in Africa. His domestic life is complicated by the fact that he and his wife, Marianne (Trine Dyrholm), are experiencing marital strife and his son, Elias (Markus Rygaard), is a victim of school bullying. When a new boy, whose mother recently died, moves to town and befriends Elias, it provides solace for both father and son. After a reckless act, however, things turn tragic.
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Critics Consensus

In a Better World is a sumptuous melodrama that tackles some rather difficult existential and human themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Mullen Sight & Sound Jul 9, 2018
An attempt to grapple with the nuances of good and evil and examine the limitations of virtue in the face of pure emotion Go to Full Review
Kimber Myers The Playlist Aug 15, 2013
B
There's little flash or surprise in Bier's latest well-shot film, but plenty of substance. Go to Full Review
Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Aug 19, 2011
4/5
Bier's strength is storytelling and her ability to find actors to do those stories justice. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Oct 6, 2022
It is necessary to see it to feel it. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 11, 2020
3.5/4.0
An intelligent and thoughtful approach towards challenging issues. Go to Full Review
Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Aug 5, 2019
3/4
Bier handles tricky emotional territory with great skill, creating a solid drama with the heart of a great thriller. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Theodore G Aug 15, 2013 So many clichés, I just couldn't swallow it after a while. Christian in particular is a hideous mess of them: Kids These Days, Innernet and Vidya Games; Dead Mother-Induced Psychopathy; Mental Illness Cured by Hugs. The way everything is wrapped up in a neat little package at the end was probably the worst part. I was practically gagging by then. See more
Han P Jun 23, 2012 Beautiful, Wonderful, you know a movie is great, when it left you thinking after it ends. The human drama, the existential, the actings, the beautiful visuals, gentleman this is what cinema is all about See more
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In a Better World

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Cast & Crew

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Susanne Bier

Director

Mikael Persbrandt

Anton

Trine Dyrholm

Marianne

Ulrich Thomsen

Claus

Markus Rygaard

Elias

William Jøhnk Nielsen

Christian

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Movie Info

Synopsis Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) is a doctor who travels frequently between his home in Denmark and a refugee camp in Africa. His domestic life is complicated by the fact that he and his wife, Marianne (Trine Dyrholm), are experiencing marital strife and his son, Elias (Markus Rygaard), is a victim of school bullying. When a new boy, whose mother recently died, moves to town and befriends Elias, it provides solace for both father and son. After a reckless act, however, things turn tragic.
Director
Susanne Bier
Producer
Sisse Graum Jørgensen
Screenwriter
Anders Thomas Jensen
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Zentropa Entertainment
Rating
R (Language|Disturbing Content Inv Preteen|Violent Content Inv. Preteens)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Danish
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.0M
Runtime
1h 55m
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