Italian for Beginners 2002

Andreas, a widowed pastor with a quiet introspection, arrives in a Danish suburb, where his predecessor’s crisis of faith had reached a boiling point - literally, after punching the organist, leaving them hospitalized. Settling into the local hotel, Andreas encounters Jørgen Mortensen, a sympathetic ear, struggling to reconcile his own sense of purpose with the harsh reality of firing his temperamental best friend and co-worker, Hal-Finn, from the hotel restaurant.

Meanwhile, Olympia, a hapless baker, tends to her physically and emotionally abusive father, whose cruel words have left an indelible mark on her psyche. In an effort to reconnect with her Italian heritage and mother, Olympia joins a beginner’s Italian class, only to be dealt another devastating blow when the instructor meets their untimely demise. Returning home to find her own father gone as well, she’s later shocked by news of her estranged mother’s passing.

At the funeral, Olympia encounters Karen, who shares in her grief and reveals a stunning secret: they’re long-lost sisters, torn apart by their parents’ divorce. To protect Olympia from this painful truth, Karen keeps mum about their mother’s troubled past and addiction. As Hal-Finn finds himself fired for his short temper, he takes on the role of Italian teacher, and Olympia convinces Andreas and her sister to join in.

As Karen and Hal-Finn begin a romantic affair, tensions simmer beneath the surface. When Karen overhears Hal-Finn disparaging her mother, she ends their relationship with a heavy heart. Jørgen seeks advice from Andreas on how to navigate his own struggles with impotence and communicating with Giulia, Hal-Finn’s friend, and decides to take a chance by asking her out for a walk.

As Olympia comes into a surprising inheritance from her father, she decides to splurge, treating the Italian class to a trip to Venice. It’s in this enchanting city that Jørgen proposes to Giulia, who accepts; Karen forgives Hal-Finn after he finally takes matters into his own hands and trims his unruly bangs; and Andreas reveals his intention to stay on in the parish, suggesting Olympia join him as a chorister, acknowledging her unique talent despite her 43 failed job attempts.