MovieChat Forums > Hævnen (2010) Discussion > Susanne Bier: '''Haevnen' doesn't mean '...

Susanne Bier: '''Haevnen' doesn't mean 'Heaven'. It means, 'Revenge'.'

posted 13 years ago by IceboxMovies
10 replies | jump to latest

Saw this masterful film at the Library Centre in Park City yesterday. In the Q & A afterwards, an audience member curious about the foreign title asked, "Does 'Haevnen' mean 'heaven'?"

Bier: "No, no... it means revenge."

This was without a doubt the single funniest moment of the festival. The entire audience burst out laughing and even Bier chuckled at the irony. Apparently she had to change the title because here in the U.S., a title like "Revenge" would have attracted the wrong audience. She's right, too.

"What I don't understand is how we're going to stay alive this winter."

[–] rohonnag 13 years ago

I saw this at the internation film festival at Goa (India) it was titles In a better world, and I liked the film...

most other films there (one we got to see anyway) were bloody boring or shoddily made, this one was atleast pro...

An Idea is the most resilient parasite - Inception

[–] jerry4444 13 years ago

Thank heavens for explaining that. I was wondring about the same thing too. ;)

[–] MartinP666 12 years ago

A more accurate translation would be "The Revenge", not just "Revenge"...

[–] sonickid 12 years ago

The international title of "In a Better World" probably contributes to the potential confusion as the English word "Heaven" & "a Better World" present a similar type of theme.

Doesn't everyone love "false friends" (meaning the grammatical term)?

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[–] sonickid 12 years ago

It's interesting because if you look at IMDb's alternate titles (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340107/releaseinfo#akas) for "Hævnen," many of the titles for other languages are the native words for 'Revenge.'

I'd be curious why they decided to market the film as the native translation for "In a Better World" in some countries (e.g. in Germany, "In einer besseren Welt;" or in Norway, "I en bedre verden"), & why they chose the native translation for 'Revenge' for other countries (e.g. in Finland, "Kosto;" or in Sweden, "Hämnden").

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[–] ekelks-2 11 years ago

Just finished watching the DVD, & don't understand why the English title is different from the Danish -- 'The Revenge' or even 'Revenge' would have made so much more sense. And it would have allayed some of the 'afterschool special' criticism I see here and there, including in the original 3/31/11 NY Times review -- the English title immediately gives the wrong impression.

[–] ModarNow 10 years ago

that even gives more meanings to the movie ! good to know thx

[–] ender342 10 years ago

But....'In A Better World'? What better world? I sure didn't see one anywhere. But 'Revenge' now, that is a thoroughly appropriate title for this excellent film.

[–] mastholte 9 years ago

I think "In a Better World" is a much more appropriate name for the film which, for me, does not show any actual revenge in any form. "Revenge" as a title is misleading. The only way I can understand the original title is as the hand of fate, the punishment from above (well, heaven:))