Review of In a Better World (2010) by Morten S — 16 Apr 2011

This film has many flaws: why is Christian such a violent boy? (I'm not sure I really buy into the his mother's death as a reason) What makes Elias change his mind and help Christian with his vandalism/terrorism? Plus, the beginning slaps on a few anti-violent messages that are a bit too obvious, especially to be at the start of the film.

However, it is pretty hard for me to say this is a bad film, because at the end of the day, was it effective? Absolutely.

Susanne Bier is probably one of the most relevant female directors working today, and this film pretty much shows it. She shows us a world where there seems to be no choice but to resort to violence, and makes arguments for both sides, those who believe violence is the only choice and those who have hope and believe that "violent people always loose.".

But at the end she obviously chooses the latter, and begs the question, what world do we live in today? Is it possible to choose to be non-violent? Is there more good than bad in the world? Is it possible for violent people to change? Bier believes so, and the film makes you think likewise.