'

The Kiss

Play trailer

1:44

The Kiss

Released May 16

1h 40m

Drama

Romance

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

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

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 16, 2025

Full Review

Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

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.

May 15, 2025

Full Review

Glenn Kenny

New York Times

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

May 15, 2025

Full Review

Jackie K. Cooper

jackiekcooper.com

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

Rated: 7/10

May 28, 2025

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Film Obsessive

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.

Rated: 3/5

May 20, 2025

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

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

May 16, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

tammy k

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/18/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Bille August

Director

Esben Smed

Anton

Clara Rosager

Edith

Lars Mikkelsen

Løvenskjold

David Dencik

Doktor Faber

Rosalinde Mynster

Anna

The Kiss: Trailer 1

1:44

View more videos

View more photos

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