I had been told prior to the Toronto Film Festival that vast quantities of Kleenex were necessary for this movie and by the end, was proved that the warning was 100 percent correct by the long lines of mascara running down my face. (I wasn't the only one scrubbing my face dry in the bathroom. I had PLENTY of company.)

The movie. It was tender heartwrenching angsty cinema that you'll never forget if you see it. From the big eyed orphan waif in India to the Danish billionaire and his family, every cast member was perfect for their part.

Mads was alternately driven, grieving, heartsore and furious and then committed to helping a person he'd never expected to have to. He was lured from India by promises of money to fund an orphanage. While most women are going to be thrilled by the beginning sequences and scenes (flashes of sensual dreams and a barechested Mads wandering the night, worrying), by the end they will be entirely caught up in other characters altogether. Yes, you NEED those Kleenex.

Rolf Lassgard who plays the billionaire Jorgen has a fine deep booming voice with a persuasive quality that has you agreeing that yep, here is a man who WOULD be a billionaire. He's decisive and forceful, motivating people with every means at his disposal.

I particularly liked the way the director framed the events and depicted the mood in the movie with the use of stark visuals. Pay attention to the director's use of eyes. It's all linked in a meaningful way.

Though the movie is slow moving, it is like a deep river. Underneath the top lazy current, the force is flowing through the riverbed until it reaches a smaller place and has to force itself out in a torrent. Be patient.

I will drag anyone I have to into the theater to see this. By the end of this movie, you appreciate that life is finite and family is the center pivot point of everyone's universe.

So we got up at the crack of dawn to get tickets to see it again the next day. And cried again.

It was even better the second time around.

I recently saw this at the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival and of the 31 films I saw there this made my top 3. Mads Mikklesen received the festival's Best Actor award for his role as Jacob, a man who runs an orphanage in India. Jacob's been there for 20 years and is quite content in never returning to Denmark. A wealthy Danish businessman (Rolf Lassård) has contacted the orphanage expressing a desire to donate a large sum of money to keep the orphanage going. Jacob is led to believe that if he flies to Denmark and presents his business plan it will be a shake hands-smile-done deal and he will return within a week. Jørgen, the businessman has other plans however for Jacob. Sidse Babett Knudsen is Jørgen's wife Helene who has something in common with Jacob. Stine Fischer Christiansen is Anna, the daughter of Jörgen and Helene who is getting married to Christian (Christian Tafdrop) who is employed by Jörgen's company. Jacob is encouraged to attend the wedding and the real reason why he's been summoned to Denmark begins to unravel. Following the success of 2002's Open Hearts and 2004's Brother writer/director Susane Bier again collaborates with screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen in this emotional drama. Efter brylluppet (After the Wedding) has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards but I would believe that El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) is likely the odds-on favorite to win the Oscar. This is Denmarks 7th nomination for Best Foreign Film since 1956 and it's first nomination since 1989. Denmark has won two Oscar's for Best Foreign films in 1987 for Babette's Feast and 1988 for Pelle the Conqueror. This film is good enough that it has a chance but it would be an upset. This is a very good story and beautifully photographed by cinematographer Mørtin Soberg. I would give this a 9.0 out of 10 and recommend it.