Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Masterful Danish period drama/love story; some nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Fortunate Man
What's the Story?
A FORTUNATE MAN opens in Denmark at the turn of the 20th century. Young Per Sidenius (Esben Smed) leaves his rural, Christian-fundamentalist home filled with both anger and ambition. Struggling to survive as a student in Copenhagen, Per's genius is apparent. His engineering concepts and designs that involve harnessing energy from nature (wind, water) and a country-wide canal system are dynamic and forward-thinking. Per could very well change the fortunes of Denmark. Hard work and a degree of cunning pay off when he meets the Salomons, a wealthy, influential Jewish family. As Per attempts to enlist the family's financial support, he falls in love with Jakobe (Katrine Greis-Rosenthal), their brilliant and beautiful eldest daughter. The family patriarch (Tommy Kenter), prodded by Jakobe and her brother Ivan (Benjamin Kitter), agrees to help the young engineer. Just as Per's future appears to be on solid ground, his romance flourishing, the young man's inner demons -- for the most part held in check until this moment -- emerge to threaten the life he has so carefully created.
Is It Any Good?
This remarkably well-crafted movie is notable for its compelling characters, visionary take on technology's future, and most poignantly, its depiction of the enduring consequences of a troubled past. In A Fortunate Man, celebrated director Bille August takes almost three hours to weave the tale of Per Sidenius, the young engineering genius who self-destructs. It's time well spent. Esben Smed's portrayal of Per is beautifully nuanced, and though it appears that aging the youthful actor was a challenge, it's only minimally distracting. Performances, directing, and writing are exceptional. Copenhagen, as it was more than a century ago, looks vibrant. The costumes and sets that reflect the city at its dreariest and at its most grand are wonderful. A must-see for lovers of complex characters in a period setting that feels contemporary and insightful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the storyteller's farsightedness in A Fortunate Man. In what ways did Per's ideas and proposed innovations predict the future? How did the film's concept of "who controls the energy holds the power and the money," as well as Per's insights about "harnessing the power of nature," prove true?
In literature (or film), a "tragic flaw" is a character trait that leads to the downfall of an otherwise heroic person. How does Per's story illustrate this concept? What were his tragic flaws? How was he "his own worst enemy"?
How did the film's depiction of Per's relationships with Lisbeth, Jakobe, and Inger help clarify his character's self-destructiveness? Was sex a positive or negative force in Per's life?
Think about the character of Jakobe Salomon. How did she reflect the evolution of women over the last century?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 19, 2019
- Cast : Esben Smed , Katrine Greis-Rosenthal , Benjamin Kitter
- Director : Bille August
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 162 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate