Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Allegro (2005)
Director: Christoffer Boe
Movie review
From Time Out London
Christoffer Boe’s ‘Reconstruction’ was a visually striking, highly imaginative first feature, a little flashy in a calling-card kind of way but refreshing in its readiness to provoke reflection on love’s complexity. This follow-up takes a similar tack in introducing us – first by way of a narrated animated prologue, then through live-action drama – to Zetterstrøm, a solitary lad whose consoling love of music leads to a somewhat perfectionist determination to make it as a concert pianist. This he succeeds in, but so accustomed is the adult Zetterstrøm (Ulrich Thomsen) to feeling lonely that he’s barely able to accept the affection bestowed on him by the beautiful Andrea (Helena Christensen) after a fateful encounter in Copenhagen’s dark, but far from mean streets. Then, suddenly, she’s gone from his life, and he decides – again successfully – to forget about her and pursue a career abroad. Trouble is, his memories remain in the Danish capital, in a newly and mysteriously blocked-off area that the authorities simply designate The Zone…Cautionary fable meets science-fiction, then, as, a decade later, the pianist is pulled home by the film’s initially unseen narrator, who reckons the now unwittingly amnesiac musician should confront his past; for one thing, his technically faultless playing might improve. But it’s not just Zetterstrøm’s expertise that’s a bit cold: for all the movie’s fundamentally romantic observations on the need for openness and trust, you can’t help feeling it’s the Bach on the soundtrack providing the emotional underpinnings. Still, the film looks great, there are moments of engagingly absurd, bone-dry humour, and it’s all brisk and brief enough never to outstay its welcome. Inventive, entertaining and pleasingly bold.
Author: Geoff Andrew
Time Out London Issue 1882: September 13-20 2006
Cast & crew
Director: Christoffer Boe
Producer: Tine Grew Pfeiffer
Cast: Ulrich Thomsen, Helena Christensen, Henning Moritzen, Per Fly full cast
Genre(s): Drama
Duration: 88 mins
UK Release: Sep 15 2006
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
James Marsh on ‘Man on Wire’
James Marsh tells David Jenkins the amazing story of ‘Man on Wire’ and how he saw the Twin Towers go up – and come down
Gurinder Chada on ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’
Gurinder Chada, the director of Brit hit, 'Bend it Like Beckham' discusses her new film, ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ with Wally Hammond
A holiday guide to movie dystopias
‘Going anywhere nice this summer, sir?’ To celebrate the release of Pixar’s sublime post-apocalyptic robo-romance ‘Wall-E’, Time Out offers a tour guide of the best future worlds in film
Eddie Murphy's Crimes Against Cinema
We all remember the comic highs of 'Beverly Hills Cop' and 'Bowfinger', but Eddie Murphy has been in a fair few stinkers as well. Time Out to presents a handy rundown of his ten darkest cinematic hours...






What do you think?
Post your review now