IMDb user comments for
Allegro (2005/I) More at IMDb Pro »

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Spoiler verstecken:

Seite 1 von 2:

[1] [2]

Übersicht

11 Nutzerkommentare insgesamt

---

49 out of 82 people found the following comment useful :-
Bad acting and very boring!, 10. November 2005

Author: hyti999 von Denmark

This film is one of the most over explaining and clumsy symbolic films I have seen in a very long time. It is simply straight out boring because it tries to be so "mysterious" all the time, but in fact it is quite a simple and unoriginal story. They are just trying to make it more interesting by using a lot of very heavy symbolism, instead of going in depth with the real story or the characters. It's very superficial and film school like. And almost everybody in the cinema were either sleeping or leaving before the film finished. And I wished I had done the same after wards. I just kept on thinking that something would happen. But it just didn't.

Also the fact that Helena Christensen really can not act, even though she is very beautiful, is a big problem for the film. Being a photo model is obviously something very different from being an actress. It seems like the director just wished a beautiful face instead of a real character, and that is maybe more or less the problem of the whole film. It's not like for example a David Lynch film where you can feel that the mystery comes from something real. Something that the film maker actually knows something about.

---

2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Boe is an Artist's Artist; He weaves a mesmerizing world, 22. Januar 2008

Author: film_ophile von boston mass. usa

Inspired by having seen the provocative Reconstruction last year, I watched Allegro last night and found it to be just spectacular. I think Boe is one of those amazing Renaissance people, whose skills crossover like blossoming fireworks.Above all else, I appreciate his concepts, which become his story lines.Supporting them is his very idiosyncratic visual style. The film is dark and moody, like its protagonist, and there is little dialogue. Long contemplative shots are frequently interrupted by a barrage of split-second images- the equivalent of memory flash cards. The cartoon story that plays during the film's introduction- tells the simple story one is about to see unfold. It's basically a one sentence story about the necessary role that deep feelings play in the life of any great artist. I see that simple story as a spider, and the ensuing film as the web around the spider. I particularly like it that the narrator clearly tells us, at the very beginning, what the film is about, and then we spend the next hours watching that spider web be built and travelled. What a fascinating world Boe creates.

I must say I am very surprised to have not seen much IMDb discussion of this film . I only hope that many more people will soon have the pleasure of its experience.

---

1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
a strangely absorbing mind puzzle, 14. August 2008

Author: Roland E. Zwick (magneteach@aol.com) von United States

The Danish film, "Allegro," is that rare science fiction film that uses only the barest minimum of special effects to tell its story (a slight wrinkle in the picture is about as high tech as the filmmakers are willing to go). Instead, the fantasy and surrealism play out almost exclusively in that far more intriguing venue known as the Theater of the Mind.

Zetterstrom (well played by Ulrich Thomsen, who appeared in the excellent "Brothers" a few years back) is a concert pianist who has never been able to find true happiness in his life, even after he's met and formed a relationship with Andrea (Helena Christensen), the supposed woman of his dreams. Zetterstrom may be a brilliant musician, but he suffers from an innate distrust of other people, including those who are nearest and dearest to him. When Andrea decides to up and leave him virtually without warning, Zetterstrom imposes a form of amnesia on himself that effectively wipes out all memory of his life prior to her departure. At the same time - and this is where things really get strange - the section of Copenhagen where he was born and raised undergoes a bizarre transformation, suddenly becoming cut off from the rest of the world by some inexplicable supernatural force. Though no one can physically enter this area - now officially re-named The Zone - Zetterstrom is determined to force his way in, when, after ten years of not being able to recall his past, he begins to suspect that his memories may actually be residing in that mysterious place.

Needless to say, this is not your average science fiction movie, nor is it your average tale of lost love. But by combining these two usually distinct genres into a single story, director and co-writer (with Mikael Wulff) Christopher Boe has come up with a work that is both thought-provoking and haunting in its otherworldly strangeness. Zetterstrom wanders through the maze of this "pseudo" city like one in a trance or a dream, searching for clues to his forgotten past and trying to figure out the identity of the strange woman (Andrea) who flits in and out of the shadows of his imagination.

The message of this strange little parable seems to be that even the most tragic events of our lives make up a crucial part of who we are - and that any effort to dull the pain of those events by tucking them away in a corner far out of reach of our memory only winds up diminishing us as a person in the end. Zetterstrom learns that lesson the hard way, but at least he does learn it. It reflects well on the filmmakers that they've presented their case in as uniquely fanciful and absorbing a way as they have in "Allegro."

---

2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Cerebral Aerobics A Must!, 15. Juni 2007

Author: Seamus2829 von United States

I just had the chance to check out this excellent Danish film from 2005 that is just now being screened in our area, after a two year wait (better late than never). Allegro is a dreamy allegory about a (somewhat) eccentric concert pianist who left his home country after a failed romance, only to return there after receiving word via post card that his memories have been kidnapped and are being held in a metaphorical area called "the zone" in Copenhagen. What results is the pianist trying to come to terms with his past. The bravura cast is made up of Danish actors,who I had never heard of before,as was their director/co-writer,Christopher Boe. Without revealing too much more, I would have to say that Boe's style of directing reminded me if Jean Cocteau returned from the dead, and had the chance of directing one more film, and opted to make that film for DOGME productions, it would look a whole lot like Allegro (it has that DOGME look, i.e. a grainy, kitchen sink,almost home movie kind of look,which is what I always admire about DOGME---what ever happened to DOGME productions,anyway?). This film will entrance some, while others will scratch their heads and say "what the hell is this all about?". What I also admired was the fact that the film is not just all seriousness. It has a sense of humour,too. You may have to do a bit of searching around to find this little understated gem (it's probably best seen on a theatrical screen, proper--but DVD will work, too), but will be well worth seeking out.

---

The zone, 7. Juli 2008

Author: jotix100 von New York

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Zetterstrom, a talented pianist, is seen at an early age playing a composition for his teacher. His career that takes off because of his talent, comes to a crossroad when he meets the beautiful Andrea one night when he is locked out of his apartment. It is obvious he loves her, yet, one notices a certain lack of commitment on his part. Andrea's love for Zetterman will end up in tragic consequences.

The pianist goes to New York, where he is well regarded for his brilliant technique, returns to Copenhagen where things have changed dramatically. There is a part of the city that has been cut off from the rest where no one is allowed to enter. Zetterstrom is asked to visit a mysterious man and he is given secret instructions in how to get in "The Zone". His memory, it appears, has left him. As much as he tries, he doesn't seem to reconnect with his past.

Zetterstrom receives an invitation to come to the Zone. Once there, the pianist meets a man in a wheelchair who instructs him to drink from a glass. He is leery, but decides to go along. What happens is that Zetterman's talent for playing the piano is gone forever as we searches in vain to regain it. Snippets of his past are seen in flashes leaving him frustrated because suddenly, he knows what went wrong in his relationship and personal life.

"Allegro", Christoffer Boe follow up after "Reconstruction" is an ambitious movie trying to combine on elements that we have seen in other films. The director goes into a territory that has been explored by other movies of the same subject. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Alphaville" two other movies that come to mind, must have inspired Mr. Boe in his conception of the material. Best of of all is the cinematography of Manuel Alberto Claro that serves the story well.

Ulrich Thomsen makes an appealing Zetterstrom and perhaps the best excuse for watching "Allegro". Gorgeous model turned actress Helena Christensen doesn't have much to do, although her part is not as important. Hennig Moritzen, who appears as Tom, makes an excellent contribution.

---

1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Could have been better, 19. Januar 2008

Author: collipal-1 von Argentina

I think one of the biggest challenges all the filmmakers of the world have to confront is transforming a good idea into a solid and entertaining movie.I think that thing almost destroys Allegro,which starts with an ingenious idea,but the film has difficulty in keeping it interesting in 88 minutes.I think the concept behind this movie would have worked better in a short.The main idea behind this movie has been used in The Twilight Zone and that idea totally fixed in 30 minutes.With some differences,we see that idea in almost one hour and a half of running time and,in spite of that,director Cristoffer Boe shows some good scenes and an excellent visual presentation but the film gets a little bit boring and,on some moments,I felt it was going nowhere.The ending is good,but for landing on that,we had to see redundant scenes and some tedious moments.Allegro had an ingenious idea and I totally appreciated that.But the film found difficulty to develop it and there are some tedious scenes.I can recommend it without too much confidence.

---

7 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
portrait of the artist as a damaged human, 22. Februar 2006

Author: Roger (thebucketrider@netscape.net) von Long Island

I don't understand how the previous reviewer could accuse this film of trying to be too mysterious and of being "overexplained"--these seem inconsistent to me. For my part, I found it straightforward and a bit didactic but I do think the psychological phenomena it pointed to are worth thinking about. Those who remember "Reconstruction" will find this exercise similar in style but less ambitious. It does have its flaws--for example, the devices used to attempt to generate suspense are not very effective. I would say this film succeeds more at getting those in the audience who are attuned to the questions it raises thinking than it does as pure entertainment.

---

3 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Psychological romantic drama, 11. August 2006

Author: (mino78@yahoo.com) von Mexico

I went out from the cinema crying. The movie, as all movies in my opinion, removes inside you what you let be removed... I am only 28, and yet, this movie reminds me of how many memories I want to hide, forget, just because my life is based on "keep on living, keep on acting as you decided, don't turn back, because this is imperfection". I don't think the movie is excellent, but it has a specific message (art is made of passion and passion is made of each one's history) and it knew how to express it, how to deal with this psychological side each one of us has. Also the music, mainly J.S. Bach, is beautiful. This is the kind of movie that I would call "of the moment", maybe you won't remember it in a few months, but it inspires you and lives with you unconsciously as a psycho therapy does.

---

6 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Danish film with ambitions, 10. März 2006

Author: Tobias Lynge Herler (www.philm.dk) von Denmark

Don't hesitate: watch this rare Danish movie, it's anything but typical and a delightful twist of standards in the Danish movie trends of today.

"Allegro" has this unique story that surprises and wants more than just to amuse and please: this script is simply very well written and surely ends up like nothing you've seen before.

This film is anything but boring and one of the highest recommended Danish feature films at the time being!

Really challenging and far from typical Danish, great acting and many surprising twists.

---

11 out of 34 people found the following comment useful :-
Original, complex and compelling, 1. Oktober 2005

Author: tariboventola von Århus, DK

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Following the Cannes Camera D'or winner, "Reconstruction", Danish director Christopher Boe has made a new unusual film:

Allegro

Filmed primarily with hand-held camera, the picture is almost as gritty as some Dogme 95-movies. The camera is slightly shaky and keeps fast-zooming at faces all through the movie: Faces are important. Looks are important. Ulrich Thompsen (The Celebration) is the main character, the pianist Zetterstrøm, who is the person, around whom the film centers. Zetterstrøm is not really living life and playing piano, rather he is playing piano and living life through his piano. He is the archetypical introverted person, who lives in his own world, keeping distance to other people and of course love. A chance meeting with a beautiful woman, played by Danish supermodel Helena Christensen, alters his life, but his unbalanced self cannot truly recognize or accept his own feelings, so they part.

10 years later - the movies starts. A voice-over by Henning Moritzen (The Celebration, Cries and Whispers) tells us that Zetterstrøm has forgotten about his past, that he is even more secluded from the world of feelings and drawn into perfecting his piano playing. The Voice-over is also a character in the film - Tom, in all probability some fictitious person made by Zetterstrøms own mind.

Tom wants Zetterstrøm to retrieve his lost memory. This is the central quest of the film.

Materialized in the middle of Copenhagen is The Zone - the area, where Zetterstrøm and the woman parted has now turned into a deserted zone, where people can't enter. The "walls" of the zone can't be entered. The Zone is a picture - something you can see, but not touch. The Zone is Zetterstrøms memory, his past.

An abstract story now unfolds, as Tom and his assistant invites Zetterstrøm back to Copenhagen, where he gets the chance of entering The Zone. On a semi-realistic level, Zetterstrøm returns to Copenhagen to play a concert - and this mix of abstraction, materialized psychology and realism continues throughout. --

The voice-over is constantly guiding us, but as it is also analyzing the immediate situation for us, we as audience have to think ahead of it; There's more to the film, than the voice-over tells us. The mood is very dark, very abstract - the intro somehow reminds of Bergmans "Persona", although not as Freudian in it's symbols - and the film seems very focused. It has a nostalgic feeling to it - Zetterstrøm wandering alone in a secluded world, as walking in his own self. The symbols are everywhere - symbols of past, symbols of love, symbols of frame of mind. It's very scary, although funny at certain points - the script is done by Danish stand-up comedian and quite intelligent-wise gifted, Michael Wulff (who worked with Boe on an Art House comedy-series called "Kissmeyer Basic"). The humour may be thought of as getting the mood in imbalance one or two times, but otherwise it's quite nice.

The acting is superb. Ulrich is playing his favourite kind of role - introverted, mostly quiet and Bill Murray-like, sometimes shouting. His play opposite Helena, making her debut on the big screen, is fabulous - she really has the perfect eyes and voice for this dream-like character. Also Henning Moritzen is perfect as The all-knowing guy, who is teasing us.

Not flawless, but this movie is yet an interesting film from the new major upcoming danish film director, Christopher Boe.

Highly Recommended: 8/10

---

---

Seite 1 von 2:

[1] [2]

Add another comment

---

Weitere Links

Nutzerbewertungen	Auszeichnungen	Externe Kritiken
Offizielle Website	Hauptübersicht	Your user comments
Your vote history