Twist and Shout

This is, without question, one of the finest dubbing jobs we've ever seen. Filmed in Denmark, this touching story of four youths overcoming various teenage pressures and challenges, takes the Beatles music and the year 1964 for its vehicle. Bjorn (Adam Tonsberg) plays mostly Beatles music with an amateur quartet, and is chased by rich girl Kirsten (Ulrikke Juul Bondo). But Bjorn is in love with Anna (Camilla Soeberg), and his best friend Eric (Lars Simonsen) is smitten by Kirsten. Around this admittedly soap opera situation are woven some strong subplots and heavy themes. The most moving is the plight of Eric's mother, who is apparently crazier than a bedbug, and Eric's father who verbally dominates his son, bullying him beyond a childhood he never had. When Eric finally follows his father on one of his "Friday night meetings", and finds him in the arms of a prostitute, the two switch roles in a powerful confrontation scene. Although the film does not contain any significant nudity, the issue of abortion is openly and powerfully dramatized when Anna becomes pregnant with an unwanted child, and the film takes a quite serious turn. In a field (coming-of-age films) that is over crowded with junk, Twist and Shout is an exceptional story of children making the harsh transition to the world of adults. Recommended.(R. Pitman)[DVD Review--May 18, 2004--Home Vision, 2 discs, in Danish w/English subtitles, 108 min., not rated, $29.95--Making its debut on DVD, Bille August's 1984 Twist + Shout has held up well dramatically and boasts a very good transfer and one outstanding extra: August's Zappa, the 1983 prequel to Twist + Shout, featuring many of the same characters (and actors). In addition, this bargain-priced double-disc set features a director's filmography and trailers. Bottom line: August, whose 1987 film Pelle the Conqueror won an Oscar, is one of Denmark's most famed directors and this two-fer for the price of one is well worth picking up.]