In a Better World

2010 1h 58m DA

👍

7.1

SOLID

🍅

77%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

7.6

IMDB

★7.1TMDB · 479🍅77%Rotten Tomatoes●65Metacritic★7.6IMDB · 42,646

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Mikael Persbrandt
Anton
Trine Dyrholm
Marianne
Ulrich Thomsen
Claus
William Jøhnk Nielsen
Christian
Markus Rygaard
Elias
Martin Buch
Niels
Anette Støvelbæk
Hanne
Kim Bodnia
Lars

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Susanne Bier
Writers: Anders Thomas Jensen, Susanne Bier, Anders Thomas Jensen
Languages: Danish, Russian, Georgian, Swedish, English
Countries: Denmark, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 87% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 16 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 5 languages: Danish, Russian, Georgian, Swedish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Susanne Bier, shot by Morten Søborg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Johan Söderqvist. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pernille Bech Christensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Mikael Persbrandt and Trine Dyrholm and Ulrich Thomsen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Susanne Bier directs. Morten Søborg behind the camera. Johan Söderqvist scores. Pernille Bech Christensen cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Denmark, Sweden. Dialogue in Danish, Russian, Georgian, Swedish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 87% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 16 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 5 languages: Danish, Russian, Georgian, Swedish, English.
4International production across 2 countries: Denmark, Sweden.
5Directed by Susanne Bier, shot by Morten Søborg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Johan Söderqvist. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Pernille Bech Christensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Mikael Persbrandt and Trine Dyrholm and Ulrich Thomsen carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt1340107 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 17 themes, including "friendship", "africa", "refugee camp", "killing".

The technical file

Cinematography: Morten Søborg
Original score: Johan Söderqvist
Editing: Pernille Bech Christensen
Production design: Peter Grant
Costume design: Manon Rasmussen
Makeup / hair: Charlotte Laustsen
Stunt coordinator: Dennis Albrethsen
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Box office: $13,004,198
Return: 87% of budget
Original language: DA
Certification (US): R
IMDB: In a Better World (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 65/100
IMDB rating: 7.6/10 · 42,646 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 14 wins & 24 nominations total

European Film Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Susanne Bier

Community reviews

What people are saying

Andres Gomez2014-11-12
★ 8/10
Good script, good direction, good photography and good performances, specially from the children. This story about bullying and problematic families would have everythiing if it wouldn't be because it is too obvious and predictable. Almost, manipulative. I think I even liked it more because I'm starting to "understand" more and more the Scandinavian culture and its problems.

Production companies