LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

 Romantic comedy
Portions in Danish with English subtitles

Original title: Den skaldede frisør

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Trine Dyrholm: Ida, a hairdresser

Kim Bodnia: her husband Leif

Molly Egelind: their daughter Astrid

Sebastian Jessen: Astrid’s fiancé Patrick

Pierce Bosnan: Patrick’s father wealthy business tycoon Philip

Paprika Steen: Philip’s sister-in-law Benedikte

REVIEW

Unlike most movies of this genre, this one is about young love and grown-up romance. The differences make for an interesting study in human psychology. That is but one of the unusual aspects of this movie: it shuns most of the clichés associated with romantic comedies and so it comes across as more real and closer to the truth than the usual run-of-the-mill sort. How refreshing. 

Apart from a few questionable plot devices and a subplot involving one of the daughters that goes nowhere, the story evolves at a nice pace. Dyrholm’s performance is letter perfect and Brosnan has never been better.

As an added bonus we are treated to the lushness of the Southern Italian countryside. Almost makes you want to pack you bag and go. But before doing so, go see this movie: your effort will be well rewarded.

CLASSIFICATION

 for sexually suggestive scene, nudity and coarse language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

• Ida tells her doctor she does not want to have any reconstructive surgery but when she comes to shore after a brief dip it is clearly evident she had the work done.
• Philip explains that they pruned the orange trees so they would bear lemons; to accomplish this you have to graft the trees not prune them.