Allegro

Denmark's biggest contribution to contemporary filmmaking is undoubtedly Dogme 95, von Trier's and Vinterberg's philosophy, or rules, on how to purify filmmaking. It was an interesting idea, although one that didn't always produce particularly enjoyable films. It did, however, give independent filmmakers a sense of freedom to make movies that didn't conform to the demands of the Hollywood studio-dominated film industry. The 10-point Vow of Chastity was meant to be a reaction to the megaliths, and as with Moses' Ten Commandments, very few people follow the rules to the letter, but the basic tenets have created a much freer approach to filmmaking.

Of course Denmark's other major exports have made inroads into the film world. Bacon and pastries are a staple of early morning location calls, and Carlsberg has been known to turn up during the evenings. Lego has been endorsed by Spielberg and used by Michel Gondry (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF A SPOTLESS MIND) for a White Stripes video.


Apart from the aforementioned Dogme 95, Danish films rarely make it to the screens outside their homeland, as with many other northern European productions, with Viggo Mortenson being the country's best-known actor (Brigitte Nielsen doesn't really count). Now international super-model, and former Miss Denmark, Helena Christensen has joined the acting world in a new Danish sci-fi film, ALLEGRO.


Directed and co-written by Christoffer Boe, ALLEGRO is the story of a famous, technically perfect but rather soulless Danish pianist Zetterstrøm (Ulrich Thomsen), who has an idiosyncrasy of playing hidden from public view. After ten years in New York he is enticed back to his native Copenhagen to give a gala recital. He is also allured by an invitation from a person within the mysterious, impenetrable off-limits area known as "The Zone", where he is confronted by his forgotten past and his love for the captivating Andrea (Helena Christensen).

The film is more of a surreal fantasy than science-fiction, bringing to mind the quirkiness of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH in the way that Zetterstrøm moves between the two worlds. There are some obvious Dogme influences with the use of handheld cameras, existing light and the sense of almost impromptu performances (Thomsen starred in the Dogme classic FESTEN). The whole movie has a dark, grainy look, probably due to most of it being set at night-time, or indoors, which does enhance the overall surreal feeling of the movie.

It is by no means a gripping action-packed story, but a subtler one that leads you, almost trance-like, to its conclusion, as Zetterstrøm solves the mystery of "The Zone" and his lost memories. There is some imaginative use of line animation to thread the elements together and explain what is happening.

For those that like their sci-fi/fantasy films to have European art house sensibilities then you should catch this now.

ALLEGRO is showing at the ICA in London from September 15. There will be a Q&A with the director, Christoffer Boe, on the opening night. The film will show at cinemas nationwide later.