The Kiss

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The Kiss

May 2025

1h 40m

Drama

Romance

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8 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Based on Stefan Zweig's German classic Beware of Pity, The Kiss is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of 1913 Denmark at the start of World War I, following the journey of Anton Abildgaard, a noble cavalry officer, hoping to complete his military training with distinction. After helping the local Baron Løvenskjold out of a tough situation one day with his automobile, he is invited to join him and his family for dinner at their castle, where he meets the Baron's beautiful wheelchair bound daughter, Edith. The two begin spending more and more time together as Edith slowly falls in love and Anton struggles with being able to discern if his feelings for her are genuine or merely out of pity, all while the ominous threat of the first World War looms over them.

Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

May 16

3.5/4

Director and co-screenwriter Bille August brings us into the world of the early 20th century, with evocative images of the soldiers on horseback and the grandeur of the castle. But he keeps the focus on the characters, their conflicts, and their emotions.

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Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

May 15

What might have come across as a soap opera in lesser hands instead feels appropriately weighty. As he steers events toward a devastating climax, Mr. August proves he’s still an able steward of refined human drama.

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Glenn Kenny

New York Times

May 15

Despite the best efforts of the cast and technical crew here, “The Kiss” winds up in the land of “meh.”

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Jackie K. Cooper

jackiekcooper.com

May 28

7/10

A touching and tender love story that will capture your heart.

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Don Shanahan

Film Obsessive

May 20

3/5

We watch the character’s mistakes—things we likely would shake sense into his shoulders to realize—and withhold finding Anton fully at fault until we, the viewer, reach our soft-hearted threshold of when empathy should have subdued pity.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

May 16

Convincing performances and stylish visuals elevate this handsomely mounted Danish period romance above its melodramatic conventions.

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tammy k

May 18

Acting was good, story wasnt a remake, it was authentic

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Bille August

Director

Esben Smed

Anton

Clara Rosager

Edith

Lars Mikkelsen

Løvenskjold

David Dencik

Doktor Faber

Rosalinde Mynster

Anna

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The Kiss: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Based on Stefan Zweig's German classic Beware of Pity, The Kiss is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of 1913 Denmark at the start of World War I, following the journey of Anton Abildgaard, a noble cavalry officer, hoping to complete his military training with distinction. After helping the local Baron Løvenskjold out of a tough situation one day with his automobile, he is invited to join him and his family for dinner at their castle, where he meets the Baron's beautiful wheelchair bound daughter, Edith. The two begin spending more and more time together as Edith slowly falls in love and Anton struggles with being able to discern if his feelings for her are genuine or merely out of pity, all while the ominous threat of the first World War looms over them.

Director: Bille August
Producer: Thomas Heinesen
Screenwriter: Bille August
Distributor: Juno Films
Production Co: Nordisk Film Production
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): May 16, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 40m