Copenhagen (2014 film)

Copenhagen
Directed by Mark Raso (director)
Produced by
Written by Mark Raso
Starring
Music by Agatha Kaspar
Cinematography Alan Poon
Edited by Mark Raso
Production
company
Running time
 98 minutes
Country
Language English

Copenhagen is an independent US-Canadian coming-of-age adventure film. It had its world premiere as the opening narrative feature at the 20th anniversary edition of the Slamdance Film Festival 2014.[1] The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film Festival[2] and Gasparilla Film Festival.

Synopsis

After weeks of traveling through Europe the immature William finds himself at crossroads in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is not just another European city for William; it is also the city of his father's birth. When fourteen-year-old Effy, working in William's hotel as part of the internship program, befriends the twenty-eight year-old William they set off on an adventure to uncover his family's sordid past. Effy's mix of youthful exuberance and wisdom challenges William unlike any woman ever has. As the attraction builds and William truly connects with someone for the first time in his life, he must deal with the startling news that the love of his life and the only person who understands him is, unfortunately for everyone, half his age.

After several days go by and their relationship blossoms, William and Effy know that sooner or later they would have to go their separate ways soon. They go exploring at a museum where Effy manages to get William to caress her. They also go to an amusement park and enjoy several of the rides there. One night at a bar, William sees Effy being dragged out of the bar by an older drunk man, who is revealed to be Effy's mother's boyfriend. William manages to stop the drunken man from dragging Effy away and beats him up, causing both him and Effy to flee the scene.

The two of them arrive at a hotel and William manages to book a room for them, but not until before he sneaks Effy inside. After talking with him for a short while, Effy tells William that she loves him and asks him if he wanted her to which he replies yes. Effy undresses and kisses William, initially he returns the kiss before stopping and picking up a sheet to cover a naked Effy. They spend the night together, it is not said if the have slept together or not. The next morning, the two of them go for a walk in the park and decide that it will be best for them to go their separate ways for a while.

For William to accept his past, the mature beyond her years Effy must learn to be a kid again, and William, a man whose growth was stunted with his father's abandonment as a child, must learn to finally grow up. Effy returns to her mom's apartment, where her sober boyfriend tries to kiss her and get her to go out with him on a date. Effy, fed up with her mom's boyfriend sexually harassing her, rejects his advances and tells her mom about it. Effy's mom breaks up with her obnoxious boyfriend for good and she and Effy grow closer than before. William soon arrives at the home of his grandfather and begins to know about the grandfather he had never known.

While attending school, Effy quietly looks at several pictures she had taken with William and smiles at the one of her sleeping in the hotel room she had shared with William. At the same time, William stands by the seashore looking at the sunrise, thinking about Effy and of the wonderful time they had shared together. Despite being hundreds of miles apart from each other, Effy and William both know that they will be together again someday.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Fidelio Films and Scorched Films. The film was shot in Copenhagen. It is the first feature film by Student Academy Award winner Mark Raso. The film was produced by Mauro Mueller and Mette Thygesen.

Release

The film premièred in theaters on October 3, 2014 in the US and Dec 5th in Canada. It is available on Google Play, Amazon Video, Vudu, and Netflix.

Reception

The film received positive reviews upon release, and holds a 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes[3] and 7.3/10 stars on IMDB.[4]

New York Times film critic David DeWitt writes that Raso's "absorbing film has a delicate nuance that will linger after the popcorn's gone".[5] Joe Leydon for Variety (magazine) writes that "To his credit, writer-director Raso provides an answer that is both emotionally and dramatically satisfying. Better still, he gets a pitch-perfect performance from Danish up-and-comer Hansen, who greatly impresses with her unaffected spontaneity, playing Effy as both precociously wise and tremulously vulnerable".[6] The Hollywood Reporter called the film "an impressive feature debut".

Awards

List of awards and nominations
Film Festival Category Nominee Outcome
Florida Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Copenhagen Won[7]
Gasparilla International Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Film Won[7]
Special Jury for Acting Frederikke Dahl Hansen Won[7]
Milano International Film Festival Leonardo's Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated[7]
Sedona International Film Festival Director's Choice Award for Best Feature Film Copenhagen Won[7]
Slamdance Film Festival Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Won[7]
Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature Nominated[7]
Woods Hole Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature Film Won[7]
Destiny City Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Won[8]

References

http://filmmakermagazine.com/48072-marc-rasos-microbudget-production-diary-part-1/
http://filmmakermagazine.com/50735-mark-rasos-microbudget-production-diary-wrap-reflections/

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