Five star ratings and critics using terms like "intelligent", "stimulating" and "Bier's best" make for a flying start in Sweden and Norway for Susanne Bier's "In a Better World". In Sweden, the film sold 18,000 tickets during its opening weekend – an impressive figure considering that Scandinavian films usually do not fare well in their neighboring Nordic countries.
Swedish Aftonbladet labels it "a clean bullseye for Bier and Persbrandt" and draws a parallel to Krzysztof Kieslowski. "One of this year's best films," the review concludes.
"I can only think of Clint Eastwood's 'Mystic River' from 2003," writes Göteborgs-Posten, "when trying to find an equally unsparing portrayal of revenge, deceit, grief and attempts to make amends and obtain forgiveness." Göteborgs-Posten also highlights the exceptional camera work by Morten Søborg and the actors' stunning performances. In short, Bier and her "brilliant scriptwriter Anders Thomas Jensen deliver a film of hurricane strength."
For the reviewer at Dagens Nyheter, the film is "two hours of extreme excitement" and concludes that "Bier and Thomas Jensen successfully manage to render some of life's most complicated issues universal and recognisable."
Norwegian reviewers follow suit with praise of Susanne Bier's flair for telling stories full of dilemma and emotion. "Probably Susanne Bier's best film to date," as hailed by Dagbladet.
"In a Better World" was released 1 October in Sweden and 24 September in Norway. TrustNordisk handles international sales.