Based on a true story , the film creates a strange atmosphere in a small Danish town where a cop winds up ,after being estranged from his wife and his daughter (one never sees in the movie) .
Although it focuses on a husband committing acts of violence against his wife , the inhabitants conceal deep secrets ,sunk into a swamp ;thus the last sequence leaves the viewer ill-at-ease. Not terribly happy but terribly scared.
Pushing one of Fritz Lang's tenets, "every man is a potential criminal " to the limits , even though one deals with an accident ,"Frygtelig lykkelig" creates ambiguous characters (the wife ,the husband ,the cop/attentive escort, the girlie, the card players) and an intriguing atmosphere.
Although it focuses on a husband committing acts of violence against his wife , the inhabitants conceal deep secrets ,sunk into a swamp ;thus the last sequence leaves the viewer ill-at-ease. Not terribly happy but terribly scared.
Pushing one of Fritz Lang's tenets, "every man is a potential criminal " to the limits , even though one deals with an accident ,"Frygtelig lykkelig" creates ambiguous characters (the wife ,the husband ,the cop/attentive escort, the girlie, the card players) and an intriguing atmosphere.