I Am Dina 2002

This is my Story

5.5 / 10   46 vote(s)
Drama

In Northern Norway during the 1860s, a little girl named Dina accidentally causes her mother's death. Overcome with grief, her father refuses to raise her, leaving her in the care of the household servants. Dina grows up wild and unmanageable, with her only friend being the stable boy, Tomas. She summons her mother's ghost and develops a strange fascination with death as well as a passion for living.

Release Date 2002-03-08
Runtime 2h 5m
Directors Ole Bornedal, Dan Laustsen
Producers Per Holst, Axel Helgeland, Paulo Branco
Writers Herbjørg Wassmo, Ole Bornedal, Jonas Cornell

Quite the absorbing flick.

I wouldn’t necessarily say ‘I Am Dina’ is a special film or anything, but I just really enjoyed the whole vibe of it from beginning to end - almost 2hrs well spent, in my opinion. Maria Bonnevie puts in an excellent lead performance, she is truly this 2002 release’s heartbeat. That’s not to say she’s alone in the good acting stakes, as others add positive showings as well.

Bjørn Floberg and Gérard Depardieu impressed me too, as do Mads Mikkelsen and Christopher Eccleston - I was surprised to see the latter appear onscreen, though he is more than solid throughout... iffy Russian accent aside, that is. Overall, in fairness, it's a strong cast.

It is very dramatic but I only mean that in the most positive sense. A lot happens but all of it feels like it fits what precedes and what follows. All in all, I would happily revisit this - well worth a watch.

r96sk