By the Window
By the Window

By the Window

2022Movie143 minJapanese

Inagaki Goro plays a freelance writer married to his editor wife (Nakamura Yuri), who he discovers is having an affair with the popular novelist she is responsible for at work. Although troubled, he can’t bring himself to confront his wife. He later meets a high school novelist at a literary award ceremony, and–drawn to the award-winning book–he inquires about the model it’s based on, thinking he’d like to meet that person…

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes72%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users70%
Director: Thomas VinterbergGenres: Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

In this tense drama, a successful composer and conductor, Thomas, finds himself haunted by a past tragedy involving his wife and daughter. As he attempts to rebuild his life and career, he becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid, blurring the lines between reality and his own disturbed perceptions. The film explores themes of grief, guilt, and the fragile nature of the human psyche under immense pressure.

Critical Reception

By the Window received mixed to positive reviews, with critics often praising Mads Mikkelsen's intense performance and the film's atmospheric tension. However, some found the narrative to be slow-paced and the psychological elements to be overly bleak or underdeveloped. Audience reception was similarly divided, with some appreciating its artistic ambition and others finding it too dark and emotionally taxing.

What Reviewers Say

  • Mads Mikkelsen delivers a powerful and unsettling performance at the heart of the film.
  • The movie excels in creating a palpable sense of dread and psychological unease.
  • Some viewers found the pacing deliberate to the point of being sluggish, and the subject matter quite somber.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's dark atmosphere and Mikkelsen's acting, but many felt it was too slow and depressing, with a storyline that struggled to maintain engagement.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in various locations across Denmark, with a particular focus on utilizing stark, atmospheric landscapes to enhance the psychological tone of the story.

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