A film like an impressionist painting – full of light, shiny dot expertly set next to glittering dot on nature’s canvas. What a way to paint death. IN YOUR ARMS – I DINE HÆNDER is about a terminally ill young man from Denmark, Niels (Peter Plaugborg), who seeks euthanasia in Switzerland. He needs somebody to accompany him there. His family won’t. Neither his brother – “Niels is an egotistical asshole” – nor his mother – “I want to help him, but I can’t” – dare to take that last road trip with him. His Swedish nurse, though, Maria (Lisa Carlehed) – full of doubts about herself – quite literally takes that sarcastic, bitter man into her arms. Professionally at first, with as much as blue rubber gloves, to wash him … but those two do eventually break each other’s hard shells to discover the soft, vulnerable souls beneath.
Each scene makes sense, every take has a reason and is perfectly composed. Marvellous! I wasn’t surprised to see Lars von Trier featured as creative producer, but the praise of course is the team’s: Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm wrote and directed IN YOUR ARMS, Brian Curt Petersen added wonderful cinematography and the expert cutting of Theis Schmidt played its part as well. Like Mozart’s requiem, this film stays in mind.
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