Bardlerx Strictly average movie

Konterr Brilliant and touching

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Parker Lewis It's not often you see a Danish-Chinese movie production, and Kinamand is a gem. The acting is superb and the screen writing insightful. The ending was very heartbreaking, and I wish there was a different ending!Hopefully more Danish-Chinese co-productions can occur, perhaps a TV detective drama or something like that.

Johan Rytters Normally I'm not a big fan of these "kitchen sink dramas" that I think Danish films has brought us a lot of. I tend to find them tedious and to be honest a bit boring, but there's just something about this story, its pace and the characters (especially the actors portraying them) that really captivated me.It's a very simple story, it's fairly slow paced and not much really happens but I think that's a strong point for the movie. For me it was easy to just sit through 1.5 hour of a well told story with characters I was invested in and enjoyed spending time with. Having an internationally acclaimed actress in the movie really helped giving it an international feel. Vivian Wu seemed very out of place and played her part convincingly. Bjarne Henrikensen gave a very subtle and believable performance and I really felt for his character that seemed lost in himself. Knowing too that Lin Kun Wu who played the restaurant owner hadn't had much experience prior to acting made me even more impressed by his performance, which was decent but I bought it. I will say though that I got kinda tired of hearing him saying "for fanden" all the time, that phrase got tiresome really quickly. All in all I think it's really well-crafted story with some compelling characters, I was captivated and moved by the tale. I'd definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for these types of stories that doesn't lean on a whole lot of drama and things happening all the time.

bandw In watching this it occurred to me how undeliberative I have become in accepting quality movie workmanship. This small movie illustrates the point--it is so well done that I came to appreciate its technical qualitiesonly when I tried to come up with any negative comments.The movie details an event in the life of a Keld, a Danish plumber. That event is set in motion when Keld's wife leaves him. Keld is more of a reactive person than an active one and that is probably a reason his wife left him, although we don't get too many details on that. Bjarne Henriksen plays Keld with grace and gentleness in a captivating and nuanced performance--he can say a lot with facial expressions. I imagine that it is harder to play everyday people like Keld than bigger-than-life characters having big, dramatic scenes. Keld reacts to his new bachelorhood by frequenting a Chinese restaurant on a daily basis where he gets to know Feng, the owner (Lin Kun Wu). There is subtle humor--after running through all of the 21 selections on the menu in numeric order, Feng asks Keld what should be done next and, after some hesitation, Keld decides to start over. Feng, sensing that Keld is a kindly soul, asks him for a big favor--to marry is younger sister Ling (Vivian Wu) so that she can get Danish citizenship. The marriage is to be "pro forma," but in a sequence of beautifully filmed scenes, what does start out as "pro forma" turns into a delicate love. Maybe this story line is a bit predictable, but the relationship between Ling and Keld is developed so believably that it's hard not to be taken up with it. However, the ending is not predictable.When Keld's wife wants to come back, she is led to understand the meaning of the idiom, "Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true." She got her wished-for divorce, but that led to her being cut off from Keld later when she wanted him.The relationships between Feng and his son, and Keld and his son, offer commentary on the changing cultural dynamics of such relationships as experienced in a Chinese family contrasted with a Danish family. It is interesting to see the difference between Feng's extended family and Keld's rather lonely life.The score, while engaging, often seemed more lighthearted than what the story-line would call for.There are no villains in this vary human tale.

secondtake Chinaman (2005)A completely sweet, slow but never plodding, predictable but never boring movie. Yes, all those things. It's the sweetness of the main character, who is admittedly a bit of a lug wrench socially, who lifts this story very far. His love interest, of sorts, is perhaps too restrained (we would say inscrutable in the old days), but maybe that's appropriate. I have a funny feeling not really, not necessarily, in 2005.But overall, there is an update of what multiculti means in contemporary Europe, and in a prosaic way. Beautifully, but again respectfully, filmed, and acted with gentle, precise, grace. A nice film, a very good film, and certainly a feel good film whatever the tragic aspects. I'd not miss it.