R

Michael Noer and Tobias Lindholm accomplished a lot already with their debut movie called R. They proved that not only do they have great ideas but also that they are absolute professionals and the bestin their field across the whole Scandinavia. R is a brutal and pretty realistic story from prison which is not as nice as you would imagine when reading any article about Anders Breivik and his prison escapades in Norway. Quite on the contrary. It has opened my eyes to the Scandinavian prison system and the final scene has only proved that Scandinavians can do great ending scenes. (21.03.2019)

The award-winning film by Michael Noer and Tobias Lindholm finds itself in the environment of a Danish prison, which was also seen by the heroes of Vinterberg's Submarino. The film, rightly compared to A Prophet, surpasses the French film in my view with its rawness, grip and straightforwardness. The eerily authentic view of the fate of two young men destined to be torn apart by savage criminal animals stands out for its brilliant camera, heartfelt acting and minimalist sound track. A truly first-class genre film with a very bitter reverberation. [IFF KV 2010] (05.07.2010)

I ignored the film for a while, as the mere label of drama is not very appealing, but now I am completely emasculated by what a raw Danish prison drama gem I have seen. The acting is top notch (Pilou Asbæk and Roland Møller are excellent), the visuals are very bleak and authentic, the bullying is presented in a very unpleasant way, and earning respect or making friends in such an environment is definitely not easy. I also praise the harsh scenes and the shocking ending, which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. A great and authentic experience in a harsh environment. The Danes rock when it comes to prisons and schools. 85%. (25.05.2018)

I personally see the main value of the film R in the fact that the prison in it, unlike the ones from Felon or Animal Factory, is the most relatable to the Czech system, for example, and thus more than ever the question arises: what if I were in a similar mess? (21.03.2011)

Certainly the most intense prison film I've ever seen! The omnipresent oppressive atmosphere of fear and hopelessness of the situation, which accompanied the main character played by the excellent Pilou Asbæk at every step, did not make me feel good at all. The creators went so far as to leave the central character at the mercy of the local gang leaders, and then just moved on without batting an eye, which shocked me quite a bit. The final showdown with a mere henchman of the already killed prisoner R only confirmed the authenticity of the story, which was raw to the core. I could really feel it right there somewhere, brrr... The chillingly unsettling music of the closing credits sealed the deal. (90%) (11.05.2020)