Holiday

Many other reviewers on this list have split into two camps: Those that find this film an exploitative waste of time. And those who find it a masterpiece of art cinema. The truth probably lies in-between. This is a beautifully filmed portrait of the seedy low-life of a Danish mobster family in a Turkish tourist town, as seen through the eyes of Sascha, the king pin's blond arm candy and sometimes courier. In the style of Refn's Pusher II, also about low-life gangsters from the island Amager south of Copenhagen, their lifestyle is portrayed in its unadorned proletarian dullness. No witty one-liners or criminal honour here, just tedious boozing, brawling, and boasting. Not to mention awful fashion taste. But unlike Refn's preference for grainy tinted images through shaky hand-held cameras, Eklöf lets us witness this depravity in splendid technocolor and careful lingering shots. The sophistication of the script lies in the way it plays with our feelings for Sascha. At first she seems a naïve victim in deep waters. She is left to wait for her contact at an unbearable family hotel, and is punished disproportionally for spending a tiny amount of money without prior permission. Clearly, she is at the very bottom of the family hierarchy. But soon we learn that, even if she often feels above the unsophisticated mores of her fellows, she is very much an integral part of the family. The infamous explicit rape scene is hardly very shocking to anyone accustomed to recent Danish film making. To those largely indifferent to the on-screen display of genitalia or sex, it is not anywhere as shocking in context, as is that infamously grueling rape scene from Irreversible. At this time in the plot Sacha has already been drug raped at least once within a few days and has simply accepted it as normal fare. And obviously she submits to her rapist without much quarrel or protest, as if this is routine to her. In some scenes, it seems she even enjoys being abused by her sugar daddy. What is shocking, if anything, is the implied normalcy of this. Sascha, like her fellow minions, willingly subject to the king pin's strategies of domination. In turn he lavishes them with ridiculous gifts, in turn he rapes them or savagely beats them up, while the family kids watch tv shows in the adjacent room. Always he expects their compliance and gratitude. This is simply regular crime family life. As a side character finally calls Sascha out on her complicity, she responds by demonstrating her personal callousness and temper. Life goes on, as the family helps clean up the mess. What remains disturbing as the end credit rolls, are the mixed emotions the viewer is left with. Were we tricked into caring for a callous manipulative minion, simply because she is pretty and naïve? Or did we witness the ultimate perversion of a fragile young woman at the hands of an evil sadist? The film offers no definite answers. Herein lies its primary quality.

I dont know why this was made, the story line is so shallow its very difficult to describe; I suspect its the story of a sadist's woman. Start middle and end is not evident more like a window a snippet.

If your into a mix of very disturbing graphic sexual violation and poorly performed slapstick humour (scooter-scene), this might just strike a chord. To me it's pretty much the worst film I've seen in ages. It's empty, un-funny and disturbing. But not in a good way. It feels cheap. I guess the best thing I can say about it is that it's formally consistent. But it's not much help when everything else about it is so excructiatingly bad, boring and disgusting. I can't see why it got made. Much less distributed. (I am currently working for the Norwegian distributor, and I'll have to have a word with someone on Monday).

So shallow ID, its not concern anything,, terrible i cant describe..... waste my time

Holiday, Bodil Award winner for Best Film of 2018, is an interesting work. Set in an idyllic paradise, we see feel-good scenes like topless sunbathing, waterpark excursions, ice cream and dancing (it's a holiday!) but we can never shake the vibe of disturbing undertones. The plot follows Sasha, a drug dealer's girlfriend, and gives us an understated window into the world view of a battered woman. That violence manifests itself in a shocking and unexpected way in the conclusion. Stylistically, this film is a triumph: Cheerful imagery with that sense of dread hanging over everything. The performances aren't at their best in English, but Holiday is worth some contemplation. I've seen viewers profess shock at its sexuality, but above all Holiday is a statement on violence.

One of the worse films I've ever seen in my life...

From the beginning of this film the technique and quietness with bold visuals really had a feel that was Von Trier esque. From the awkward car scene in the beginning I was really enthused about where this film seemed to be taking me. When I heard this flick was "Disturbing" I immediately took time to see it. Starring Victoria Carmen Sonne a multilingual mid twenties actress who seemed as though she was born for this role. The camera angles and music for the film is also marvelous so what's my problem about this film "LAZINESS" the film had potential to really dig deep into the disturbing area it grew amazing long legs and just refused to stand up. Yes theres an Unsimulated sex scene that I'm pretty sure her whole family will never get over after watching and I'm pretty sure the R-rating doesn't cover this extreme scene that even shows fluids but besides that and another lack luster 1 minute scene this film was as tame as they *... No pun intended. The movie also speaks atleast 3 different languages and the subtitles were in Dutch and there accents were so thick it was very difficult to keep up with there broken english. There wasn't really mystery involved but when you show a scene and there isn't any follow up to why things happened it's just creating a scene for the sake of a scene, No backstory No revelations that come later what the heck was that about is what it leaves you thinking. I think if you put this much effort into creating a nerving storyline to make people uneasy those like myself who are disturbing movie fans feel like you destroyed a character who could of become memorable andwaste. wasted a perfect opportunity. Oh well the form on that shot looked perfect but your shot was an airball. Such a waste.

This is my first review on IMDb, I have been using this site for lurking since 2003 and never thought I would write a review. That was after seeing this movie and this review is only a warning. So, this movie is awful. I don't mean awful in a good way. You can't even watch it ironically. Remember those straight to tv movies the used to show at three in the morning? This movie makes those movies feel like Bergman. The sound is bad. The acting is dull. The story is boring and they try to spice it up with a graphic rape scene. They introduce things at one point and then just drop it for no reason. Like the moped crashing, what was the point? It's just a collection of Danes partying. Please, like everyone says: Stay away.

I perfectly understand why the haters hate this movie. I love it for all the same reasons. Some of the scenes will haunt me for months. Thank you for providing me with no answers but simply showing me!

It's really pointless. half way through you're left wondering if anything is going to happen. the only thing that happens is that it ends. and it ends in the most stupid moment. i'm sorry but there's nothing here. bunch of people eating drinking and talking rubbish that is so irrelevant. all the good reviews are fake. after seeing the film it becomes crystal clear. thanks