Review of In Your Hands

Introduction

Anna (Ann Eleonora Jorgensen) is a newly ordained Danish priest who starts work in a women`s prison. Almost simultaneously, a new prisoner called Kate (Trine Darham) is transferred into the prison after problems with drug pushers at her previous place of incarceration. The two meet and Kate`s initial reaction is very frosty, dismissing Anna by telling her to look after the baby in her womb rather than trying to help her. This leaves Anna incredulous, she believes that she cannot have children.

Meanwhile news of Kate`s arrival and rumours of her activity in her previous prison are circulating her wing, culminating in a late night visit from ill junkie Marion (Sonja Richter). Marion needs her help and is miraculously completely clean by the next morning, which doesn`t endear either to wing dealer Jossi (Sarah Boberg). Warder Henrik (Nicolaj Kopernikus) also finds himself drawn to Kate, although for more down-to-earth reasons than Marion, and this seems to be reciprocated on a trip escorting Kate to her sister`s wedding.

Anna buys herself a pregnancy test and her condition is confirmed, to her boyfriend Frank`s surprise. Due to her age, she must undergo medical tests to ensure the foetus is ok but initially the couple`s reaction is one of joy. This quickly turns to doubt when it is discovered that a genetic defect has been detected and that neither parent has the same defect, meaning that there is a chance that Anna`s baby may be handicapped.

The couple, and Anna in particular, must do some soul-searching and make a decision on the future of their child. Anna`s faith is also tested when she realises that help may already be at hand in the shape of Kate, who has a secret that Anna and the guards know but none of the other prisoners do…

Video

Visually this is akin to a below average TV programme, the lighting is nothing spectacular and brings to mind any number of reality TV shows where the budget consists of just a cameraman and soundman. Despite being a film about miracles and the laying on of hands, this film contains no special effects at all. This is actually a good thing in my book though.

Audio

Very much a dialogue driven film, so nothing spectacular here in terms of speaker workout. Soundtrack is in Danish with English subtitles only, the use of subtitles is voluntary for anyone who wants to practice their Danish.

Features

Q/A with director Annette K. Olsen - 32 minute session from what seems to be some sort of film appreciation class thing. Some pretentious questions from the interviewer to my ear, but then I don`t study film so some could actually be relevant.

Interview with Annette K. Olsen

Interview with Trine Darham (Kate)

Interview with Ann Eleonora Jorgensen (Anna)

Interview with Sonja Richter (Marion)

Behind The Scenes

Beyond the Q/A extra, all the rest run together in one segment to a total running time of around 20 minutes - although you can choose them individually. The interviews are badly edited with big gaps between some of the footage.

Conclusion

A very serious film that asks serious questions. Focussing on loneliness, forgiveness, the loss of faith and just bad timing, this film doesn`t attempt to give any answers to any of the questions raised. With this at its core, you are very much left to your own devices to witness the events portrayed and make up your own mind on the issues raised.

The characters are all pretty realistic and with a small ensemble cast, the characterisation is both minimal but thorough. A lot of the credit must go to both director Olsen and her actors and the preparation they did before finalising the script; all were believable in their roles and all elicit some form of sympathy bar the dealer Jossi, but you`re not supposed to like her anyway.

Despite looking like a low budget version of The Bill or Bad Girls stylistically, the writing is superb and the issues covered are not shied away from; some pretty big issues as well with no obvious right or wrong answers. Modern scepticism allows us to believe that there are no such things as miracles in modern society, but what if an opportunity such as that portrayed were to unfold in our presence? How would you react in similar circumstances?

Ultimately this is a tragic tale with no happy endings, death coming in different forms and for different reasons. Faith is tested and found wanting. Even the innocence portrayed by Marion turns her back both figuratively and literally on the hope she was presented with, proving that certain events can never be forgiven despite the help she had received. These events also come about due to bad timing. If Anna and Kate had only met a few days earlier then the outcomes could have been so different, and you really feel the sense of loss at the end of the film and wonder what might have been.

This DVD has some shortcomings in terms of presentation, but the story and performances more than make up for it. It`s never going to compete with the big releases in terms of audience share, but there is a place for it on the shelves of those who like quality cinema (foreign or not) and also like to explore for themselves some of the big issues of today.