'One Way to Denmark' is a story about a man, stuck between the conventional layers of society, looking to find direction in his life. Our protagonist is Herb - a 34 year old out of work Welshman that is tired of his routine. Realising that there isn't much for him to do in his hometown, he devises a scheme of travelling to Denmark in order to take advantage of their prison system, as Herb deems it more pleasant than his current situation.
On arrival, he meets a barmaid, Mathilda and forms a connection. Shortly thereafter, Herb tries to muster up the courage to pretend to rob a bank in order to be imprisoned. His inability to do so leads him to cross paths with Mathilda again, leading to a closer relationship. Ultimately Herb holds up an immigration office, is taken to a holding cell and has a stark realisation about having to make amends with his estranged son. The policeman in charge of Herb turns out to have a connection with Mathilda, and he is set free. Herb then reveals he will return to Wales to do right by his son, intimating to Mathilda that he may return to further explore their relationship.
The examination of Herb's circumstances is explored during the first half of the film. A considerable amount of time is devoted to displaying that things are not well in his world - his social services worker has no sympathy for him, he has no job, his mother is critical of him, his upstairs neighbour is inconsiderate towards him and he even gets mugged on his way home one night. We also discover that he has virtually no relationship with his son, leading us to realise that Herb has truly reached a low point, wherein he has no meaningful intimate emotional connections with anyone.
As the character is painted in such drab tones, his idea of 'prison tourism' does not seem too outlandish. The film leads us to understanding that that may be Herbs only escape from the routine he so desperately wants to leave behind.
As Herb tries to muster up the courage to rob a bank, we are presented with his hesitation and fear to so do through a somewhat comedic sequence of going back and forth, unable to commit to the plan. Even though it is played for comedic effect, the sequence leads us to believe that it may be any life altering choice that anyone could be unwilling to make on the realisation that it will change their life drastically, leaving you unable to fall back on the life you're used to.
Herb's later interaction with Mathilda reveals a wider perspective on how the pressures of life exist everywhere. They may not be the same, but people struggle no matter where they go. Matilda reveals that she had lost her husband shortly after their daughter was born, making Herb and us realise that life is complicated no matter where you go.
The film tries to tell the story of a man coming to terms with his life and how it turned out, changing his perspective through an emotional journey and broadening his horizons. 'One Way to Denmark' does well in setting up and exploring Herb's struggle, yet it fails to deliver an emotional punch. We are presented with a man discontent with his life, yet at the end of his journey, where he reaches the conclusion of having to reconnect with his son, somehow leaves us wanting more. Of course life isn't as simple as often portrayed in film - not everything can be tied up with a neat bow, yet here there seems to be a lack of resolution. It is unclear on how Herb will proceed in his future actions. His good intentions are admirable, yet it is unclear on what he is willing to change in his life to improve it. The ambiguous nature of the conclusion of the film may leave the viewer unsatisfied.
Herb is portrayed by Rafe Spall, delivering a character that can be easily sympathised with, but more often presents someone to be pitied. As Herb navigates through feelings of disappointment, resentment and dejection we are inclined to live through his misery, and Spall truly delivers a character that embodies all the pain of an individual unable find his place in conventional society.
The other emotional anchor of the film is Mathilda, as played by Simone Lykke. Lykke delivers a subtle and sensitive character through a woman also looking to keep her life on the right track. Through the story we discover Matilda's past, and we can compare and contrast her ability to cope with grief and pain to Herbs attitude towards life. Even though the two are reeling, we get a sense that together they may be able to console each other.
Ultimately the film seems to lack a definitive emotional resolution, leaving more to be desired towards a specific change in the main characters life. The director of the film, Adrian Shergold has delivered 'One Way to Denmark' with a great set-up in establishing a troubled individual trying to changes his life. Along the way the story seems to become muddled in it's uncertainty on where to leave Herb. Overall the film is a pleasant prelude to a man changing his life, yet fails to be specific about that change.
Score: 2/4
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