Rating:

If that sounds a bit vague, it‘s intentional. “After the Wedding” - which was nominated for the best-foreign-language-film Oscar - is such an emotionally alive, engrossing experience that I‘m reluctant to get too specific. I‘d almost rather just say, “Trust me, give this one a chance” and leave it at that.

It‘s about a Danish man, Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen), who works at an orphanage in Bombay. The orphanage is in danger of closing, but Jacob learns that a businessman in Denmark is considering making a huge donation that will save it.

There‘s a catch: Jacob has to go to Denmark to retrieve it, a prospect he loathes.
But he goes, and he meets the businessman, Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard), who‘s as extroverted as Jacob is introverted. Jorgen ends their first meeting by inviting Jacob to his daughter‘s wedding. From there, the plot thickens.

Despite whatever twists the story has in store, the film is character-driven. It is primarily concerned with the inner conflicts and turmoil, and search for answers, as experienced by Jacob, Jorgen, the daughter (Stine Fischer Christensen) and Jorgen‘s wife (Sidse Babett Knudsen). All four are beautifully played; you would never guess from his sensitive performance as Jacob that Mikkelsen - who looks a bit like a young Christopher Walken - is the same actor who appeared as the villain in the latest James Bond movie, “Casino Royale.”

The story is at times emotionally wrenching, yet it‘s also fulfilling. It feels like a privilege to be allowed into these characters‘ lives, and to accompany them as they struggle in their search for their place in the world.

Tim Miller is the Times' entertainment editor. He can be reached at 508-862-1140 or tmiller@capecodonline.com

RATING SCALE: Four stars (best) to bomb (worst)
RATING: R (for sexual content, nudity, some disturbing and violent images and language)
RUNNING TIME: 109 minutes