a bizarre 18-minute Danish film

[Earl]

I was wasting time one day making a random Google search when I came across a video of a bizarre
18-minute Danish film entitled Dennis. Iâ??ve posted links to two You Tube videos, which comprise the film in two parts. This film is also available at other websites as well. Dennis is what I believe some people would call an art film, which means that it is obviously not intended to provide escapist entertainment of the Hollywood variety. Iâ??m not a movie critic, but I did find the acting to be convincing. This film certainly is not intended for very young viewers, although I would not necessarily consider it to be morally offensive. It might be disturbing for some.

I posted this film for the purpose of providing an opportunity to hopefully have some discussion. Iâ??ve noticed that viewersâ?? reactions to this film at other websites have been varied. Iâ??d be interested in your reactions. Iâ??d like to ask just a few questions about the film. Is the situation depicted in this film realistic? Was the film believable? How did this film make you feel? Do you find it to be offensive? How did you react to the character of the film's title? Does this film have a message? What is the exact nature of the rather disturbing relationship between the two main characters? Does Earl have bad taste? I wish one of our forum members had a background in psychology. Iâ??d be interested in the comments of a qualified psychologist about this film.

Dennis (Part 1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvUVWkO49OE

Dennis (Part 2 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QT0Z-7usyE

Professor Earl

[i_like_1981]

I watched this film. Yes, it was a bit bizarre and creepy but it nonetheless made me think. What exactly was up with Dennis? Why was his mother so clingy? Why did he so suddenly and miserably leave the party? Well, I think he left the party because he realised the girls were only using him for his looks and not because they were interested in getting to know him personally. I am sure that the girl he talked with on the phone only went out with him because a) there was a free meal involved and b) he was paying. They appeared to be the materialistic bunch. Not bad people, just slightly unaware of how an introverted person would feel when presented with such attention so quickly, and just because of his physical looks, not an interest in getting to know him as a person. They just saw him as "eye-candy". And I guess this is what happens when you live at home for too long alone with your mother. I have lived on my own for several years and yes, it can sometimes be very boring but I have coped with it well and actually enjoy independent life on the whole. Dennis appeared to be a slave to his mother's will. She owned him completely. He was just like one big child; nervous around women and with a very close relationship with his mother. Is this because he was not very socially able from the start or did his mother make him this way when she lost her husband? Did she just need to have somebody else around for her own sake? It seems she is overly reliant on Dennis and perhaps this has contributed towards his unwillingness to mix with the outside world. Probably not the sort of film you would expect to see making millions at the box office as unlike a lot of formulaic blockbusters, it does take a lot of thinking about to understand it. The points don't present themselves straight away.

Best regards,
i_like_1981

[i_like_1981]

Oh, and one last comment... it can't be that off-the-wall and unknown as the full 18 minute video has nearly one and a half million views. I guess it just makes for interesting discussion material.

Best regards,
i_like_1981

[Earl]

Thanks for responding to my post, i_like_1981. I was afraid that some of the members wouldnâ??t know what to think of this film and therefore would not respond. I can understand why. I was beginning to think none of the members would respond, which would have been okay with me.

I appreciate your comments, and happen to share your observations. I think they're right on the mark. Reading viewersâ?? comments at websites where the film could be seen, I was intrigued by the different reactions they had. A relatively small number of the comments I read were made by people who said they were disgusted by the film. Others said they found it to be funny. (How they would find it to be funny, I have no idea. The film saddened me.) But many of them said it was good or great, but found it to be sad or depressing. So, I was intrigued by the variance in viewersâ?? reactions to this film.

I thought the storyline was unusual because it makes the viewer feel very sympathetic towards someone whom you otherwise would never suspect was downtrodden. Who would think that a bodybuilder would be socially inept? But there are people who appear to have everything going for them, but actually have empty lives or face serious problems of their own. One of the viewers whose comments I read was made by a man who had worked out in health clubs for several decades. He said this film reminded him of several bodybuilders he had known over the years. I felt a great deal of sympathy for this character, and was appalled by what his mother was doing to him.

I was quite impressed that such an effective film would last for only 18 minutes. If a sequel to this film were ever produced, Iâ??d want to see it (even though sequels sometimes are disappointing). Iâ??d want to see Dennis find a happier life.

[i_like_1981]

Thanks for responding to my post, i_like_1981. I was afraid that some of the members wouldnâ??t know what to think of this film and therefore would not respond. I can understand why. I was beginning to think none of the members would respond, which would have been okay with me.

I like to express my opinion on all sorts of things. I felt I could identify I bit with Dennis even though he probably weighs more than twice as much as I do. He's shy, he's not around women much - I may not live at home anymore but my home situation is not much different. The atmosphere in his house kind of reminded me of that in my flat, solemn, the feeling of somebody having been lost, the wish for things to change. There are many points that could be raised about Dennis but I just think he didn't want to be used by those women.

I appreciate your comments, and happen to share your observations. I think they're right on the mark. Reading viewersâ?? comments at websites where the film could be seen, I was intrigued by the different reactions they had. A relatively small number of the comments I read were made by people who said they were disgusted by the film. Others said they found it to be funny. (How they would find it to be funny, I have no idea. The film saddened me.) But many of them said it was good or great, but found it to be sad or depressing. So, I was intrigued by the variance in viewersâ?? reactions to this film.

I thought the storyline was unusual because it makes the viewer feel very sympathetic towards someone whom you otherwise would never suspect was downtrodden. Who would think that a bodybuilder would be socially inept? But there are people who appear to have everything going for them, but actually have empty lives or face serious problems of their own. One of the viewers whose comments I read was made by a man who had worked out in health clubs for several decades. He said this film reminded him of several bodybuilders he had known over the years. I felt a great deal of sympathy for this character, and was appalled by what his mother was doing to him.

I was quite impressed that such an effective film would last for only 18 minutes. If a sequel to this film were ever produced, Iâ??d want to see it (even though sequels sometimes are disappointing). Iâ??d want to see Dennis find a happier life.

I personally think films like this are best left without sequels, so the viewer can make up their own mind on the events that have happened and what they think is most likely to happen next. If too much is given away then artistic value is lessened. I find it best that the viewer continues Dennis' story based on their own thoughts and not by being spoon-fed them. I too would like to see the character of Dennis find a happier life as I felt sympathy for him. I got the impression that the mother had put him in his father's position after she lost his father and never allowed him to become free from that position. I think the whole "game of cards" she was forcing him to play and the fact they both slept in the same bed proved that. She couldn't cope without having a man around; I don't think it was a problem with him as such, more her.

Best regards,
i_like_1981