In a Better World
A Danish doctor and two troubled boys confront the seductive logic of revenge across a fractured family life and a war-scarred refugee camp.
Overview
Two boys forge a bond amidst the complexities of family and friendship, leading to a heartbreaking confrontation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- somber
- tense
- emotionally charged
- serious movie night
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film powerful, polished, and emotionally compelling in its treatment of difficult moral and human themes, while some viewed its parallel African storyline as contrived and overly manipulative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story intercuts Anton's Danish family life with his work at an African refugee camp, making the two worlds comment on each other.
Bullying, grief, killing, and dangerous retaliation repeatedly force the boys and adults to weigh revenge against empathy.
Christian's grief and Elias's bullying draw both boys into a potentially tragic act of revenge that their parents must help them understand.
The idyllic Danish town is set against the refugee camp, where Anton treats victims amid war-related brutality and ethical compromise.
Films like In a Better World, and why
Brothers
shared moral drama, family conflict, grief, and emotionally serious treatment of violence and forgiveness
The Hunt
shared Danish social realism, painful family relationships, grief, and ethically complicated melodrama
The White Ribbon
shared intimate drama about children, bullying, parental responsibility, and the consequences of retaliatory violence
Hotel Rwanda
shared international drama structure, humanitarian crisis setting, and tension between compassion and brutality
Movie Details
- Director
- Susanne Bier
- Release Date
- 2010-08-26
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (475)
Cast
- Mikael Persbrandt
- Trine Dyrholm
- Ulrich Thomsen
- William Jøhnk Nielsen
- Markus Rygaard
- Martin Buch
- Anette Støvelbæk
- Kim Bodnia
- Tina Gylling Mortensen
- Stig Hoffmeyer
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is In a Better World about?
- A Danish doctor and two troubled boys confront the seductive logic of revenge across a fractured family life and a war-scarred refugee camp.
- What is In a Better World like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of In a Better World as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is In a Better World violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in In a Better World as moderate.
- What did critics think of In a Better World?
- Critics generally found the film powerful, polished, and emotionally compelling in its treatment of difficult moral and human themes, while some viewed its parallel African storyline as contrived and overly manipulative.
- Which films are like In a Better World?
- Films with a similar feel include Brothers, The Hunt, The White Ribbon, and Hotel Rwanda.
- How long is In a Better World?
- In a Better World runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch In a Better World?
- In United States, In a Better World is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
