by Zack Roddy
A romantic-thriller written and directed by Ole Bornedal, Just Another Love Story tells the tragic story of Jonas (Anders W. Berthelsen) a likeable but easily influenced mid-thirties crime scene photographer. Jonas lives in a beautiful suburb with his lovely wife Mette (Charlotte Fich) and two children. One day while on the way to the market, Jonas’ car breaks down in the middle of the road, and to his horror, causes an accident that involves the young and beautiful Julia (Rebecka Hemse).
When Jonas goes to visit Julia in the hospital, a bizarre mix-up occurs in which Julia’s family believes the Jonas is in fact her much heard about but never seen lover, Sebastian (Nikolaj Lie Kaas). Julia, who has been struck blind and now has amnesia, believes that Jonas is the love of her life, and Jonas, who is bored with his own life, gladly takes up the identity, and he falls head over heels for Julia, leaving everyone from his past behind to embark on his new and exotic life. But when Julia’s past comes knocking at the door one day, Jonas realizes he may be in over his head.
Just Another Love Story’s plot may sound like one out of Days of Our Lives, but writer-director Ole Bornedal manages to hook the audience from the first frame, and has them until the very closing shot. The exquisite cinematography by Dan Laustsen manages to turn the simplest shots beautiful, and the acting from the cast is spot on. But the best part of the film is the tension that it manages to build, up until its jaw-dropping climax, leaving you dazed in your seat.
