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Year: 2007
Runtime: 120 min
Language: English
Director: Susanne Bier
As Isabel journeys from India to New York, seeking aid for her orphanage, she's drawn into a complex web of secrets and revelations when an unexpected wedding invitation upends her plans. The lines between past and present blur, uncovering long-held mysteries that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and those around her.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Jacob Petersen is a dedicated manager of an Indian orphanage, where he works tirelessly alongside a small staff to ensure the well-being of the children, especially a young boy named Pramod, whom he has cared for since birth. Unfortunately, the orphanage faces immense challenges, teetering on the brink of collapse for the past eight years and struggling with potential bankruptcy. A glimmer of hope appears when a Danish corporation expresses interest in providing a sizable donation, contingent on Jacob returning to Denmark to meet the CEO, Jörgen Hansson.
As Jacob prepares for his trip to Copenhagen, Pramod becomes distressed at the thought of his caregiver leaving, particularly with his birthday just eight days away. Upon arrival in Denmark, Jacob is welcomed by a driver and a young man named Christian, who escorts him to a luxurious suite funded by the corporation. During a meeting with Jörgen, Jacob is startled to learn that the decision regarding the donation has not been finalized, despite his understanding that it was already secured when he was invited.
Amidst the unfolding events, Jacob discovers that Christian is engaged to Jörgen’s daughter, Anna. Jacob musters the strength to attend the wedding, where a familiar face catches his eye—Jörgen’s wife, Helene, who has a complicated history with Jacob, having been the love of his life two decades prior. Their reunion sparks unresolved feelings due to Jacob’s past infidelity with her best friend, which led to their split.
During Anna’s wedding speech, Jacob is hit with an emotional bombshell: Anna is not Jörgen’s biological daughter. This shocking revelation is confirmed the following day by Helene, who admits they had been searching for Jacob in India. Tensions mount as Jacob learns that Anna is, in fact, his own child. He and Anna share a touching, albeit awkward, meeting, which brings to the surface the weight of their shared past.
Jörgen delays the promised funding negotiations, putting Jacob in a difficult position. He desperately tries to communicate with Pramod, but the young boy grows frustrated and ends the call abruptly. The situation intensifies when Jörgen proposes to create a foundation in honor of Jacob and Anna, conditioned on Jacob moving to Denmark. Torn between his obligation to the orphanage and the life-changing offer, Jacob grapples with the notion of being “bought” by Jörgen.
After a confrontation where Jörgen reveals his terminal illness and the true purpose of bringing Jacob back to Denmark—to ensure the care of Anna, Helene, and his twin sons, Morten and Martin—Jacob is overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. Disturbed by this manipulation, he retreats to his hotel, where Anna unexpectedly finds him, distraught over her fiancé’s unfaithfulness. In this moment of vulnerability, Jacob comforts her and realizes that his feelings for Anna run deeper than he anticipated.
Choosing to embrace this newfound connection, Jacob signs the contract with Jörgen, accepting the terms despite his initial reservations. Tragically, Jörgen soon passes away, leaving Jacob to continue the work of building a future for those he loves.
Upon returning to India, Jacob finds that significant progress has been made at the orphanage, symbolizing hope and perseverance. He extends an invitation to Pramod to join him in Denmark, but Pramod, influenced by Jacob’s past disdain for wealth, opts to remain in India, demonstrating the complex interplay of familial bonds and personal choices amidst their shared journey.
Last Updated: May 13, 2025 at 20:30
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