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Directed and written by Anders Thomas Jensen, this black comedy is the story of four small-time gangsters whose lives are united by their
fathers’ abuse in childhood, the friendships they develop with each other, and 4,000,000 kroner they steal for Eskimo, their gangster boss,
but take for their own. In the darkness of their violent past and present, the foursome see the cash as a light to lead them to a better future.
With the stolen briefcase full of kroners, Torkild (Soren Pilmark), Arne (Mads), Stefan (Nikolaj Lie Kaas), and Peter (Ulrich Thomsen) head to
Barcelona, but end up hiding out in a dilapidated, old house after their van breaks down. Unable to continue on because Peter needs to recover
from a gunshot wound, courtesy of the robbery, each of the friends slowly realize that running isn’t the answer to a new life. Turning the abandoned
house into an atmospheric, but not necessarily appetizing (trust me, cigarette ashes are hardly considered a spice), restaurant becomes the key to
building a new life together…at least that’s what Torkild believes and of which he tries to convince his three friends.
With Jensen’s typically witty script and excellent acting, you’ll find yourself rooting for the four friends to succeed in their new venture.
Through carefully spaced flashbacks and a very symbolic round window, you’ll also discover why each character is the way he is….why Torkild wants
a place to call his own, why Arne is obsessed with guns, why Stefan compulsively eats, and why Peter is a drug addict. But the past is more than
memories of traumatic events…it’s catching up with them in the form of the boss who wants his money!
If you’re a fan of the Coen brothers, Flickering Lights will be right up your alley. It’s only a testament to the greatness of the actors and Jensen
that you find yourself laughing at a truck driver being stomped on, a beer glass being smashed into a would-be robber’s face, and some bovines unable
to suitably answer the question of “What the f*** are you looking at?” Whenever I’m depressed or in a bad mood, all I have to do is stick
Flickering Lights in the DVD player to find myself grinning and laughing again! Oh, and watch out for Ole Thestrup’s memorable performance as
Alfred whose love of guns is only matched by that of Arne!
Winner of the following awards ~
2001 Robert Festival
Audience Award - Anders Thomas Jensen
Best Cinematography - Eric Kress
by Melisa
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