STILLE HJERTE

Stille Hjerte ("Quiet Heart") is the latest film by the acclaimed director Bille August, and deals with voluntary euthanasia. The wife of a doctor has an incurable disease, which will eventually paralyse and kill her. He knows how it will end, and together they decide to end her life through sleeping pills, while she is still able to make it look like suicide.

The film takes place during a last weekend with the family. There are doubts about whether it is the right thing to do, there are conflicts and tears, there are reconciliations. I thought it was rather good.

One group of local people thought it was good too, namely pensioners. The Tuesday morning showing at the local cinema was absolutely packed, with not a seat to be had. I suppose that pensioners have more interest than most in such matters. Whatever, it was good for the local cinema's coffers.

Walter Blotscher