"Love and Rage" by Morten Giese

"Love and Rage" by Danish filmmaker Morten Giese was screened as part of the films in competition at the 9th International Film Festrival of Marrakech.

The depths of the human soul are the source of inspiration of film-makers around the world. In "Love and Rage," Morten Giese portrays Daniel, an extremely talented piano student aiming for an international career. One day, Daniel (Cyron Bjørn Melville, who won the ‘Best Actor’ award at Montreal this year) falls in love with Sofie (Sara Hjortand) moves in with her, and for the first time Daniel's life is not all music. The problem with Daniel is his anguish, nervousness and his chronic insecurity; meeting together they cause a serious treat to his career. Therefore, his life is not devoted solely to the piano, and gradually the situation will be complicated by the romantic adventure of his teacher with his own mother, the fears of his father (a talented pianist, who also suffered from neurological problems) who committed suicide a year ago and his own morbid jealousy. Despite this handicap, driven by his piano teacher Pierre (Dejan Cukic), he finally decides to confront his fears and to attend a concert that would open the door to the prestigious Julliard School in New York. Apparently out of nowhere, rage interrupts love, as Daniel begins to suffer from increasingly violent anxiety attacks and paranoid bursts. He becomes convinced that Pierre, his music teacher, has wooed Sofie, and his life descends into turmoil as his mental health rapidly declines. Morten Giese, director and script writer of the film, presented with finesse and sensitivity the slippages related to nervousness, claustrophobia, paranoia and jealousy. His view leaves room to the understanding and interpretation of the viewer.

Combining skilfully cagey cinematography and editing alongside haunting sound design, Love and Rage makes for a harrowing, claustrophobic watch. Giese traps us within Daniel’s fragile mind, to the extent that we’re unsure whether Sofie’s infidelity is imaginary or not, an ambiguity which remains unresolved. “With wonderful craftsmanship, Love and Rage transforms a grave, dark theme into a poignant piece of art.”