Once Danish film was on top of the world. It all began in 1987 with Gabriel Axel’ “Babettes gæstebud”, which won an academy award for best foreign film, then in 1988 Billy August’s “Pelle Eroberen”, which in 1988 took the Palme d’Or, won another academy award for best foreign film, and when “Dansen med Regitze” was nominated in 1989, the entire international press basically was raving about Danish film. But we lost, fair and square, to a superior film, Tornatore’s “Cinema Paradiso”. And like that, the party was over and Danish film sank into oblivion for nine long years, until “Festen” made people take notice again.

We can learn a lot from this, mainly that foreign press is completely ignorant about film in general, unless its talked about by everyone else. So while Denmark, and many other countries, make exceptionally great films, the world as such remains completely unaware of them, while everyone knows about the latest Hollywood blockbuster, no matter how bad it is.

Based upon the novel by Martha Christensen, a novelist Rostrup seems very fond of, as he also made “Her i nærheden”, the story deals with two “ordinary people”, Karl-Aage and Regitze, and their ups and downs true a almost fifty year marriage. Rostrup chose to tell the story from Karl-Aage’s point of view via flashbacks during their last come-together.

Karl-Aage has his entire life been the quiet one, shy of confrontations, and to a certain degree being lead thru life by Regitze, who not only is head-strong, but very controlling. It’s her point of view or none, and Karl-Aage always, but not always quietly, had to follow. In Danish, one says, that he danced after her whistle, hence the title, which literary means the dance with Regitze. But the title also reflects upon their first dance together, where Karl-Aage pulled himself together and asked Regitze for a dance.

Where the Japanese have mono-no-aware, “Dansen with Regitze” notes upon its Danish cousin, the sad beauty of life. Regitze has cancer and has very little time left to live. However she refuses to let this change her life. So she decides that they should have one last come-together, all the family and all the friends, one last happy moment. And it is during the course of this, Karl-Aage looks back on his life with Regitze, their ups and downs, the sorrow and the laughter, and even though he never got to say anything, he would do it all over again.

It also excels in every other department. The narrative structure is full of ellipsis, some even within themselves, and even today, this sort of structure is very brave and original; especially for a Danish film, as we Danes like things very simple and straight forward. There is something timeless about this structure and the films mise-en-scene, yet it is so incredible Danish. Also in the department of acting, this is amongst the best acted Danish films ever. Starring two of our best actors, Ghita Nørby and Fritz Helmut, who gives one of their most memorable and greatest performances. And finally, let me just say a few words about the production design: Look at frame #1 and watch the arrangement. So typically Danish.

A film of rare beauty.

Henrik Sylow