‘The Kiss' Review: A Historical Drama of Human Folly
With his dozens of novels and stories, the wide-ranging Austrian writer Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) has been inspiring filmmakers for more than 90 years. The latest of many examples is 'The Kiss,' from the eminent Danish director Bille August. As is typical of Zweig's work, psychological depth combines with suspenseful plotting, in this case to serve a parable about the follies that led to World War I.
An emotionally unstable continent and an equally volatile young woman move in parallel in a tale set in 1914 Denmark, where an impecunious young cavalry lieutenant, Anton (Esben Smed), who struggles for acceptance among his much wealthier peers, is determined above all else to restore family honor after a scandal involving his father. While undergoing vaguely absurd training exercises with his neutral country's army—he and his fellow officers attack straw figures with swords, seemingly unfamiliar with the concept of machine guns—he assists an elderly driver in getting his car out of the mud. This spontaneous act of kindness turns out to have unexpected consequences.
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