A Bold Exploration of Connection and Conformity

Read Time:4 Minute, 33 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Acts of Love (Kærlighedens Gerninger)
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Genre: Drama
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 2h 5m
Director(s): Jeppe Rønde
Writer(s): Christopher Grøndahl, Jeppe Rønde, Rasmus Birch
Cast: Ann Eleonora Jørgensen Nicklas Søderberg Lundstrøm Jonas Holst Schmidt Henrik Birch
Where To Watch: shown at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam

RAVING REVIEW: Every so often, a film refuses to stay confined to its narrative and challenges viewers to confront more profound questions about human relationships and the boundaries society imposes on them. This story of a woman’s carefully controlled life unraveling after her estranged brother re-enters her world is just that experience. Set within a remote religious community, it’s a visually striking and emotionally raw exploration of how the past, personal and collective, shapes the present.

Cecilie Lassen’s portrayal of Hanna is pure emotion. She blends restraint with an intensity that makes her character’s journey both heartbreaking and mesmerizing. Her background as a ballet dancer shines through in her physical expressiveness, adding a vulnerability to her performance. Opposite her, Jonas Holst Schmidt takes on his role as Jakob with an unrelenting intensity, capturing a man haunted by his past. Together, their dynamic is thrilling. Each feeds off the other to create a palpable tension that underscores the film’s emotional stakes.

The secluded community, where much of the story unfolds, provides an intriguing backdrop. At first glance, it appears to be a sanctuary of acceptance and healing. However, as Jakob’s presence disrupts the balance, the cracks in its philosophy begin to show. The group’s leader, Kirsten (Ann Eleonora Jørgensen,) advocates for collective healing through unconventional therapeutic practices. Yet, the arrival of an outsider reveals the unspoken rules and hypocrisies governing even the most “well-meaning” societies. This duality transforms the community into a metaphor for larger societal constructs, where ideals often clash with reality.

Visually, the film captivates with its immersive approach. Cinematographer Jakob Møller crafts an atmosphere that feels both intimate and unsettling, drawing viewers deeper into the characters’ inner lives. The ‘mirroring’ therapy sessions are particularly fascinating and central to the narrative. Shot with fluid, almost dreamlike camera movements, these sequences merge the past with the present, allowing the audience to experience the characters’ emotions in real-time. The decision to forego traditional flashbacks in favor of these scenes keeps the narrative emotionally immediate.

One of the film's most striking themes is shame, presented as a personal burden and a societal construct. Director Jeppe Rønde uses his experiences and Denmark’s colonial history to connect individual guilt to broader cultural narratives. These elements elevate the film from a character-driven drama to a meditation on the collective weight of the past.

Mythology seamlessly integrates into the film, adding an ethereal dimension to the story. The Greenlandic tale of the sun and the moon—siblings destined to remain apart—parallels the struggles of the central characters, illustrating the universality of forbidden bonds and the consequences of taboos.

The therapeutic practices depicted, inspired by Bert Hellinger’s “Family Constellations,” form the narrative’s backbone. These meticulously choreographed sessions involve role-play to explore generational trauma. Rønde’s decision to work closely with local communities and include psychological professionals on set underscores his commitment to the craft. These scenes are not just story devices but reflect the broader themes of healing and reconciliation that permeate the film.

While deeply personal, the film’s themes of love, memory, and cultural critique resonate universally. The interplay of these elements creates a narrative that is at once specific and timeless. By intertwining myth, history, and psychological exploration, the film invites audiences to reflect on the unspoken rules that govern human relationships and the scars we carry from the past.

Rønde delivers an engaging and profound experience. Through innovative storytelling, exceptional performances, and layered themes, this film transcends expectations, challenging viewers to consider the forces shaping our understanding of connection, identity, and love. It lingers in the mind not merely as a story but as an exploration of what it means to navigate the complexities of being human.

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[photo courtesy of PALOMA PRODUCTIONS, SCANDINAVIAN FILM DISTRIBUTION, WEST DANISH FILM FUND]

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