DVD Review: Troubled Water (DeUsynlige)

Can people change?

Troubled Water is the story of Jan Thomas, (Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen) a young man recently released from prison where he did time for murdering a child. He claims it was an accident. He gets a job playing the organ at a local church and soon befriends Anna, (Ellen Dorit Peterson) the priest and her young son, Jens. Thomas (he goes by his middle name now) doesn't tell Anna of his past for obvious reasons, but when Agnes, (Trine Dyrholm) the mother of the young boy he killed recognizes him at the church, she's determined to expose him to everyone.

The film starts off from Thomas's point of view then finishes up from Agnes'. It's a very creative way of telling the story and makes you feel both sympothy and anger towards both parties. Part of you wants Thomas to lead a normal life, the other part shuns him for what he did. Part of you completely understands where Agnes's anger is coming from, the other part thinks she takes it too far. One thing I didn't like about the film, perhaps this was lost in translation for me since the film is in Norweigen and I do not speak the language is the purpose of Thomas's crime in the first place. Why did he take the stroller? Was it a robbery? A joke? The movie never quite explains that or what sentence he was serving in the first place. The camera work was a bit annoying at times with all the out of focus shots they did, but overall the performances were good and the story was interesting, albeit a tad predictable towards the end.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B

Memorable Quote: "Someone has to do something, this boy is in danger." - Agnes (Trine Dyrholm)