Fridae

Adam's Apples is a pitch-black comedy that is a stark contrast from Hard Candy, although it shares certain similarities. Both movies feature characters that are basically unlikeable, but Adam's Apples will leave you feeling much cheerier, and most likely humming a familiar tune from yesteryear. It may not resemble most feel-good movies, as the characters behave rather appallingly to one another almost right till the end, but there is a great payoff as long as you are willing to stay till the credits roll.

Based loosely on the Biblical story of Job (very, very loosely), Adam's Apples charts the arrival of neo-Nazi Adam (Ulrich Thomsen) at a rural church governed by Pastor Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen), to perform community service after his release from prison. Ivan has led a life with a great many misfortunes, but he seems to have developed a defense mechanism that allows him to ignore any calamity and to transform any bad news into something positive.

Ivan challenges Adam to bake an apple cake, whilst Adam makes it his personal mission to break Ivan's will. Although initially very unreceptive to Ivan and the other misfits staying at the church, Adam gradually reaches an uneasy truce, but never gives up his goal of defeating the indomitable spirit of Ivan...

Director Anders Thomas Jensen introduces and fleshes out the characters very gradually, only revealing each character's flaws along the way. Once that is done, the film “descends” into a truly dark comedy — there are savage beatings, extreme cruelty to animals, irresponsible parenting, unethical doctors, conversations about rape, incest, and much more, but amazingly Jensen manages to make everything humane and touching without turning most audiences off.

And then there is the film's conclusion, which will probably take many people by surprise, but I cannot think of a more befitting end to this quirky little film. Ultimately satisfying, Adam's Apples is one of the most different and refreshing feel-good movies of recent years.

Based loosely on the Biblical story of Job (very, very loosely), Adam's Apples charts the arrival of neo-Nazi Adam (Ulrich Thomsen) at a rural church governed by Pastor Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen), to perform community service after his release from prison. Ivan has led a life with a great many misfortunes, but he seems to have developed a defense mechanism that allows him to ignore any calamity and to transform any bad news into something positive.

Ivan challenges Adam to bake an apple cake, whilst Adam makes it his personal mission to break Ivan's will. Although initially very unreceptive to Ivan and the other misfits staying at the church, Adam gradually reaches an uneasy truce, but never gives up his goal of defeating the indomitable spirit of Ivan...

Director Anders Thomas Jensen introduces and fleshes out the characters very gradually, only revealing each character's flaws along the way. Once that is done, the film "descends" into a truly dark comedy � there are savage beatings, extreme cruelty to animals, irresponsible parenting, unethical doctors, conversations about rape, incest, and much more, but amazingly Jensen manages to make everything humane and touching without turning most audiences off.

And then there is the film's conclusion, which will probably take many people by surprise, but I cannot think of a more befitting end to this quirky little film. Ultimately satisfying, Adam's Apples is one of the most different and refreshing feel-good movies of recent years.