The lowdown:  'I Am Dina' follows the life of Dina (Maria Bonnevie) from her early childhood in Norway
in the 1860s as she matures into a young woman, lover, wife and mother. Dina is haunted throughout
her life by the ghost of her mother, who dies in an accident caused by the young Dina. She is later also
haunted by the ghost of her husband, Jacob (Gerard Depardieu). Dina had a difficult childhood, as she
was shunned by her father, who blamed her for the death of his wife, and sent her away to be raised by
relatives. Dina is then forced to marry Jacob, a friend of her family who is much older, but it is a loveless
marriage, and Dina soon turns to other men for comfort. These include a Russian named Leo Zhukovsky
(played by Christopher Eccleston), who claims to be a sailor but appears to be much more. Leo is fond
of the poetry of Pushkin, and Dina suspects that he is a spy, as he sends coded messages using poetry.

Leo first encounters Dina when she views an execution while in Bergen, but they do not meet in person
until he arrives in her village, Reinsnes, and saves some horses from a fire. They begin an affair and Dina
becomes pregnant with his child. However, Leo is arrested and imprisoned in Bergen for being a spy and
an anarchist, and when Dina goes to visit him she is brutally beaten by a prison guard and loses his child.
Leo is eventually released and returns to Reinsnes, where she finds him searching her home for money,
and Dina realises that he does not really love her and has been using her. Dina shoots Leo and push him
off a bridge into a river.

The verdict:  'I am Dina' is a Swedish, Norwegian and Danish co-production, and when it was made it was
the most expensive film to be produced in Norway). It feeatures some stunning visual locations and superb
acting, particularly Maria Bonnevie as the adult Dina. Eccleston is also good, although his Russian accent
leaves a bit to be desired at times. The film is very reminiscent of a Bronte story, and is likely to appeal to
viewers who appreciate this kind of film.

Video clips:   An execution     14.2mb           Leo Zhukovsky     6.8mb           Leo to the rescue     8.7mb
                     Leo and Dina       3.8mb           Leo in prison        5.0mb           Leo dies                  7.9mb
     
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